For those of you that tap your maples and make syrup, my question is how many days ahead of a projected sap run can you tap? Is a day or two before prime weather too soon or must you wait until the run has begun? I'm located in NW NC and our window of activity is limited to late January and early February. We're not in the mountains, and this year especially I'm feeling the squeeze on time. Next week however our forecast looks really good, mid 20's at night and low-mid 40's by day, and sunny. I just won't have a chance to tap during the week and didn't know if I could tap this weekend and just wait for the run to begin? I'm new at this so any thoughts are much appreciated. Our normal temps in this period are upper 40's and mid 20's. We do have occasional periods of staying below freezing, but they don't last long and red maples often begin to bud in late Feb. We have red, sugar, and silver maples on our property. Thanks all.
When to tap maple trees?
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johneh
Minister of Fire
Tap now or wait it is up to you
The early run and first run make the best syrup
As far as I am concerned .
You can also tap White Birch , Black Walnut
and others . You will need a lot more sap to make a gal. of syrup
The early run and first run make the best syrup
As far as I am concerned .
You can also tap White Birch , Black Walnut
and others . You will need a lot more sap to make a gal. of syrup
Thanks for the replies. It is my understanding that all maples can be tapped, but the sugar content is lower in anything other than the sugar maple. Goes in order of sugar, black, red, silver, and somewhere boxelder is in the lower end too. We mostly have red maples, with a few sugars and silvers. I'm primarily going to focus on the sugars and reds. Johneh, we do have lots of black walnut and I know someone who has made something similar from hickory as well. Thanks for the responses guys.
Buzz Saw
Minister of Fire
I've seen some woods in the region that appear to stay tapped year round. I could be wrong as I only drive by there in late Fall and Spring. The reason I think it's tapped year round is because there is a web of tubes running through the woods. The tubes tee together and flow to large storage tanks(hundred of gallons).
A little update, my sons and I tapped 5 trees yesterday afternoon. We tapped 2 sugars and 3 reds. The reds were dry, but I am hoping the weather this week will get them going, but the sugars amazed me, they were flowing the second we broke through the bark. One of them was almost "weeping" before we even began. So, we'll see how this goes and what we get? Again, this is my first experience at this so, no, I don't really know what I am doing, but we had fun anyway! Probably going to check the sugar's later this evening to see how much we got through today. Thanks all!
Warm_in_NH
Minister of Fire
There's a fee guys on here, myself included, who make syrup in the spring. I can't believe you're already tapping trees, guess Spring is on its way!
I usually try to tap within a week of expecting the sap to flow. Tajt said, I've tapped and waited two weeks. Only down side to tapping too early, that I know of, is the hole can heal before it flows. I've yet to really have any issues.
My understanding is all maples give sap that can boil into syrup. Sugar maples have the highest sugar content thus are most desirable, beggers can't be choosers. It's a lot of fun, it's addictive, enjoy!
I usually try to tap within a week of expecting the sap to flow. Tajt said, I've tapped and waited two weeks. Only down side to tapping too early, that I know of, is the hole can heal before it flows. I've yet to really have any issues.
My understanding is all maples give sap that can boil into syrup. Sugar maples have the highest sugar content thus are most desirable, beggers can't be choosers. It's a lot of fun, it's addictive, enjoy!
Warm_in_NH, I guess our winter is like your early spring! We never have sustained temperatures below freezing for more than a few days and most of the time we're in the 40's by day and 20's by night with sun, so I guess its time? I talked to some folks locally who are Vermont natives and they even admit they wouldn't be sure when to tap around here based on our weather, but they agreed the temperatures seem right? Our trees start budding about the time many of you begin tapping. I checked my two sugar maple taps last night, had over half a gallon of sap in one and 1/4-1/3 a gallon in another. This was a 24 hour period. So, I should just wait on the reds and they will begin to run at some point? If the hole doesn't heal over? I was surprised the sugars were flowing so well and the reds were bone dry.
homebrewz
Minister of Fire
The screwy weather we are having this winter makes it difficult to figure out when to tap. In a warmer than average winter, wait too long and you miss the window for good flow. During warmer winters, it's not uncommon to tap in mid January, even here in the northeast. You may get some flow from the red maples, you will just have to wait and see.
As previously stated, most or all maples can be tapped, it' s just that some have a higher sugar content. The taps need to be pulled at the end of the season so the trees can heal themselves. The tubing you see in the woods other times of the year is just the infrastructure left in place for convenience.
There are some good guides on-line that show how to tap, how deep, and where.
I tap just a few trees, but I'm using the sap to make beer.
As previously stated, most or all maples can be tapped, it' s just that some have a higher sugar content. The taps need to be pulled at the end of the season so the trees can heal themselves. The tubing you see in the woods other times of the year is just the infrastructure left in place for convenience.
There are some good guides on-line that show how to tap, how deep, and where.
I tap just a few trees, but I'm using the sap to make beer.
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