village in Ohio
Honey bee forage in South Charleston, Ohio
Estimated forage here is better than about 86% of sites in Ohio. Against other Ohio sites it stands out most in summer (75th percentile) and lowest in fall (35th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.2 mi NW, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.2 mi NW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.1 mi NW).
When is the honey flow in South Charleston?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Aug 15, peaking early Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Aug 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of South Charleston, 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 28.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): soybeans, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; 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
- Soybeans: about 13,614 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi NW, blooms early Jun – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 14,444 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi NW, blooms late Jun – late Jul (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 17 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi W, blooms early Jun – late Aug (grown 5 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 South Charleston
Mostly: Soybeans; Corn; Northern & Central Ruderal Meadow.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.21 mi NW; pond, lake or river 0.22 mi N.
How South Charleston ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 97th | 56th | 96th | 33rd |
| Ohio | 86th | 36th | 75th | 35th |
| Eastern Corn Belt Plains | 82nd | 63rd | 57th | 71st |
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 South Charleston: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
South Solon 6 mi · South Vienna 7 mi · Clifton 10 mi · Cedarville 10 mi · Springfield 11 mi · Midway 11 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 South Charleston (39.8248, -83.6437); 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.