community in Florida
Honey bee forage in Southgate, Florida
Estimated forage here is better than about 76% of sites in Florida. Against other Florida sites it stands out most in summer (97th percentile) and lowest in spring (52nd). Expect a dearth from early Oct to early Dec.
When is the honey flow in Southgate?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jan 1 to Mar 31, peaking early Feb (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Dearth: Oct 1 to Dec 15
- Fall flow: Jun 1 to Jun 30 (garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Southgate, 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 Jan 31.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs; 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
No rated bee crops within about 3.7 miles of the town center. The forage here is wild plants, trees and gardens.
The land and water around Southgate
Mostly: Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, medium intensity; Open water.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0 mi S; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.02 mi N.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 98% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Southgate ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 77th | 66th | 31st | 49th |
| Florida | 76th | 52nd | 97th | 73rd |
| Southern Coastal Plain | 76th | 47th | 96th | 77th |
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 Southgate: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Ridge Wood Heights 1 mi · Pinecraft 1 mi · South Gate Ridge 2 mi · South Sarasota 2 mi · Sarasota Springs 2 mi · Bee Ridge 3 mi
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 Southgate (27.3048, -82.5123); 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.