The foundation(s) are made to fit the specific sized frames. You can't really put medium foundation in deep frames as it will be too short. Save the medium frames as they can still be used in the medium box as a honey super... Since you are so far north and have a short season, you may have to feed your bees throughout the summer of the first year. It's not a big deal, it's just to make sure they build a strong hive that can last through next winter. When I started, I was told right up front; don't expect to get any honey in year one.
The bees will probably need all they make to get established and make it through the winter. As it turned out I was able to get 1 medium super almost filled; 26 pounds worth, and I lost that hive in January, not from lack of honey/stores, but most likely due to vectored diseases from varroa mites. I treated for varroa, but I believe it was too late in the season when I did so and the damage was already done. When the bees realize they are diseased, they leave the hive and don't return (they don't want to spread the sickness), so you end up with a virtually empty hive... no or very few dead bees. If you find frames with lots of bees dead with their heads buried in the comb, they most likely starved.
The bees will probably need all they make to get established and make it through the winter. As it turned out I was able to get 1 medium super almost filled; 26 pounds worth, and I lost that hive in January, not from lack of honey/stores, but most likely due to vectored diseases from varroa mites. I treated for varroa, but I believe it was too late in the season when I did so and the damage was already done. When the bees realize they are diseased, they leave the hive and don't return (they don't want to spread the sickness), so you end up with a virtually empty hive... no or very few dead bees. If you find frames with lots of bees dead with their heads buried in the comb, they most likely starved.
