community in Tennessee
Honey bee forage in Ooltewah, Tennessee
Estimated forage here is better than about 58% of sites in Tennessee. Against other Tennessee sites it stands out most in fall (88th percentile) and lowest in summer (46th). Biggest nearby bee crops: sunflower (nearest 1.2 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 3.4 mi E, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 3.4 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Ooltewah?
- First forage: Jan 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Mar 1 to May 31, peaking late Mar (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Ooltewah, 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 Mar 26.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering shrubs; 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, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; amber
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, early trees (maple, willow, poplar); 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
- Sunflower: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.3 mi E, blooms late May – early Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 23 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.4 mi E, blooms early May – early Jul (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.4 mi E, blooms late May – late Jun (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 Ooltewah
Mostly: Southern Ridge and Valley / Cumberland Dry Calcareous Forest; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Allegheny-Cumberland Dry Oak Forest and Woodland.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.22 mi SW; open water 0.33 mi SE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 51% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Ooltewah ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 73rd | 93rd | 40th | 46th |
| Tennessee | 58th | 72nd | 46th | 88th |
| Ridge and Valley | 81st | 89th | 45th | 58th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 51% of the land here is scored with national averages for its vegetation type rather than measured plant cover, so the wild-plant part of this estimate is rougher than the crop part.
The national forage map around Ooltewah: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Collegedale 1 mi · McDonald 5 mi · Apison 5 mi · Harrison 6 mi · South Cleveland 9 mi · Lakesite 10 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 Ooltewah (35.0723, -85.0545); 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.