city in Delaware
Honey bee forage in Wilmington, Delaware
Estimated forage here is better than about 1% of sites in Delaware. Against other Delaware sites it stands out most in fall (59th percentile) and lowest in summer (1st). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 2.0 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years); sorghum (nearest 1.9 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Wilmington?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jun 30, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Fall flow: Jul 16 to Sep 15 (garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Wilmington, from what grows within flight range (about 3.7 miles) and when it blooms here. Dates are the model's estimate for a typical year; the spring index for this spot falls on Apr 21.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), garden flowers; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), garden flowers; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
- Soybeans: about 3 acres in a typical year, nearest 2 mi S, blooms early Jun – early Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Sorghum: about 3 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.1 mi S, blooms late Jun – late Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
From USDA's crop maps for 2021–2025; fields rotate, so a crop counts by how often it was grown. Listing a field says nothing about its owner.
The land and water around Wilmington
Mostly: Open water; Developed, medium intensity; Developed, high intensity (paved).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.02 mi W; open water 0.02 mi W.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 68% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Wilmington ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 25th | 55th | 39th | 45th |
| Delaware | 1st | 26th | 1st | 59th |
| Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain | 3rd | 7th | 44th | 88th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
The national forage map around Wilmington: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Edgemoor 2 mi · Bellefonte 3 mi · Elsmere 3 mi · Newport 4 mi · Wilmington Manor 4 mi · Greenville 5 mi
All towns in Delaware · National map · How the scoring works
An estimate from public maps (USDA crop maps 2021–2025 averaged, LANDFIRE vegetation), not a survey of the ground. Maps can't see garden plantings, understory density, other beekeepers' hives, or this year's weather. The point is the Census Bureau's published center of Wilmington (39.7357, -75.5321); a yard a mile or two away can differ, so check your own spot. The FEMA flood map was not checked for this page. Benchmark 2026.5, built 2026-10-19. How this works · All sources.