borough in New Jersey
Honey bee forage in Carteret, New Jersey
Estimated forage here is better than about 18% of sites in New Jersey. Spring, summer and fall all rank about the same against other New Jersey sites. Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 1.5 mi SE, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Carteret?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Jun 30, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- 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 Carteret, 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 22.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, summer-flowering shrubs; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- 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, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
- Corn: about 13 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.5 mi SE, 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 Carteret
Mostly: Developed, medium intensity; Developed, high intensity (paved); Open water.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.3 mi S; open water 0.33 mi S.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 97% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Carteret ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 37th | 62nd | 44th | 50th |
| New Jersey | 18th | 24th | 24th | 23rd |
| Northern Piedmont | 2nd | 14th | 8th | 44th |
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 Carteret: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Port Reading 1 mi · Avenel 2 mi · Sewaren 3 mi · Linden 3 mi · Rahway 3 mi · Woodbridge 4 mi
All towns in New Jersey · 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 Carteret (40.5838, -74.2275); 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.