Taking colonies into the target crop at the correct time will greatly enhance pollination. If colonies sit too long in a crop before it starts to bloom, flight patterns may become locked in on other plants, hindering maximum visits to the crop to be pollinated. Place colonies in the crop only after the flowers become attractive to bees. In some tree fruits 10 to 25 percent bloom is recommended. However, if primary blossoms produce the choice fruit, apples for example, bees should be present either at the start of bloom or when the king bloom on the south side of the tree starts to open.

When a colony is moved two or more miles, the flight pattern is broken and the field bees again start to search for nectar and pollen. The colony spends a day or two establishing a new flight pattern. It is important that there be a good supply of bloom present when they begin searching for this new feeding area.

During cool weather in early spring, bees may have to be taken into the orchard when about 10 to 20 percent of the blossoms are open and remain there until petal fall. In warm sunny weather, bees can be taken in when 25 percent of the flowers are open and removed shortly after full bloom. Actually, one good pollinating day with plenty of bees and pollinizer bloom present is enough for setting a crop.

If bees in or near a crop are not working the target crop, it sometimes helps to move them away and take in other colonies from more than two miles away. Flight patterns of the new colonies may include greater activity in the target crop, at least for a while.