My sap is only 1.2%

[skidiver]

Last year was my first to try making syrup in cheatham Co.,TN.My sap only tested 1.2%.I blamed it on a really bad warm Winter.This weekend I collected about 100 gallons of sap from 60 taps and it too only test 1.2% sugar.All my trees are sugar maples so I expected about 2% sugar.The season starts so early here maybe that results in less sugar being formed.I only got about 5 quarts of syrup it is really good but a lot of work for so little.Does anyone have any input as to why the sap is so low in sugar? Skidiver

[sugarman3]

The 1st run is usually lower,check it the next run ,hopfully it will be up for ya,soil might also have an effect,health of tree,location[woods or roadside],i believe efect sugar along with summer time weather

[Edward Howell]

Are there any pine trees among the maples ? The pines really lower the sugar , they shade the maples all year and they cannot make high sugar ....

[happy thoughts]

Last year was my first to try making syrup in cheatham Co.,TN.My sap only tested 1.2%.I blamed it on a really bad warm Winter.This weekend I collected about 100 gallons of sap from 60 taps and it too only test 1.2% sugar.All my trees are sugar maples so I expected about 2% sugar.The season starts so early here maybe that results in less sugar being formed.I only got about 5 quarts of syrup it is really good but a lot of work for so little.Does anyone have any input as to why the sap is so low in sugar? Skidiver

Just guessing but maybe it has to do with what Dr Tim wrote elsewhere today.... that starch to sugar conversion depends on the freeze/thaw cycle. Maybe yours in TN isn't along the same gradient as we expect in colder climates? Did your taps ever stop running this weekend or was the flow continuous? Dr Tim mentioned something about that, too as I remember.

[Dave Y]

At least you have sap,boil it and have fun making syrup

[spud]

Is it possible that your trees in Tennessee never really freeze up hard like they do north of you? What is the coldest nights you have in winter time? If your trees are big then they might not be freezing all the way through. If your trees are smaller then I have been noticing in my woods their sap does not test as high. I wish you the best.

Spud

[skidiver]

Thanks for the ideas as to why my sugar content is low.My maples are not near pine trees,they are all in hardwood forest.But it may be that the freeze-thaw cycle is the problem.I noticed that my smaller trees put out more sap than the larger trees that probably don't freeze as hard before the day time thaw.I have another 120 gallons of sap to boil I haven't tested the sugar content yet but hopefully it will be higher.Middle Tennessee may not be optimum for sugaring but I'm going to keep doing it anyway.Best regards,skidiver

[HyeOnMaple]

What is the best (least expensive and still accurate way to test the sugar content in the sap. I have only been sugaring for two years, and have much to learn, I know. If there is a forum or thread that already handles this topic, I am happy to go there too. Thanx

[DrTimPerkins]

Hand-held optical (Brix) refractometer for sap (so range down around 0-10 Brix). Get something with temperature compensation.

[HyeOnMaple]

Hello Doctor Tim, thanx for responding. Is this type worth purchasing: 0-10% ATC BRIX REFRACTOMETER 4 Sap, CNC Coolant $16.00 plus $6.50 shipping
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000K312Q8/sr=/qid=/ref=olp_sort_p?ie=UTF8&colid=&coliid=&condition=new&me=&qid=&seller=&shipPromoFilter=0&sort=price&sr=

[Gary R]

That looks like the one I bought, 0-10. A few dollars cheaper than the one I got. I have compared it with a long stem sap hydrometer I have and it's always on.

[tltberry]

Skidiver, This is my second year tapping maples in middle TN as well( in Rutherford Co). Im not sure about your low sugar problem but I doubt its due to weather because I've averaged 2.0-2.75% in my sugar maples despite these mild winters. However a couple of red maples I tapped for the first time a few weeks ago were low around 1.25%.