city in Tennessee
Honey bee forage in Kingsport, Tennessee
Estimated forage here is better than about 6% of sites in Tennessee. Against other Tennessee sites it stands out most in fall (52nd percentile) and lowest in spring (2nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 2.4 mi S, grown 3 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 2.8 mi SE, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Kingsport?
- First forage: Feb 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jun 15, peaking early Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Kingsport, 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 6.
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): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
- 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 5 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.4 mi S, blooms early Jun – early Jul (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 3 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.8 mi SE, blooms late May – 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 Kingsport
Mostly: Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Southern Appalachian Oak Forest; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.02 mi N; open water 0.02 mi E.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 85% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Kingsport ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 40th | 67th | 41st | 33rd |
| Tennessee | 6th | 2nd | 47th | 52nd |
| Ridge and Valley | 20th | 27th | 48th | 26th |
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 Kingsport: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Colonial Heights 3 mi · Sullivan Gardens 3 mi · Bloomingdale 5 mi · Orebank 5 mi · Spurgeon 7 mi · Mount Carmel 8 mi
All towns in Tennessee · 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 Kingsport (36.5194, -82.5434); 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.