How much longer would you say we have here in NH?

[MJFlores]

Some trees are showing signs of buds up top...mostly larger trees in the open getting full sun. How much longer would you say we have here? I have no idea how to tell when to stop by how the buds look. Just wondering what the signs are that make you stop for the year. The last thing I want to do is boil up a batch of "Buddy" syrup that the dog wouldn't even lick up. :cry:

[Dill]

We have plenty of time, accuweather is showing me good freezes right into April.

[MapleLady]

This is still the beginning - good sap weather coming in the next day!

[Russell Lampron]

Generally in NH the season will last until the end of March. You didn't tell us what part of the state you are from and that can make a big difference. Up north the season can last 2 weeks longer than in the southern part of the state. I have made syrup well into April before and I am in the maple capitol of Loudon.

[Holliemac]

Anybody in Ohio here? Got my taps in late because it had been cold clear through Feb and had good sap running 2 days then nothing. We hit 55 2 days ago, then back to the low 30's and now hovering just below the freeze zone. Still no drops...

[Wingo87]

My sap today was kinda yellow and not as clear sould I still use it or dump it out?

[meredith maple's]

keep and eye on your red's i went by one that had already bud'ed yesterday looked like gumballs on a branch, and its still early if its not a lot in the bucket and its yellow i would toss it.

[PerryW]

I dumped my yellow saw but it was only about 20 gallons wheras a good run would be 450 gallons for me.

[Shawn]

Went around today and did dump some buckets but we had hard rain last night here and I think the yellow was from rain water. The weather shows a freeze up and good days for runs, down the road it looks like right past the end of March and into April is perfect, Crossing fingers and hope mother nature does us all well.:cool:

[Marc Duclos]

I have a tight tubing system and the sap that ended up in the tank was very nill. And it was a little yellow. Rain anit yellow. I tested it and it was very low. I understand that a run starts with a hard freeze. And with out a freeze last night sugar count wasnt expected to be good at the tap hole.
When I decided to get into sugaring I ask alot of questions. The big one was when to start and how long dose this go on. I was informd that an old fashion winter would get the olden day that in southern nh was fro march 10 to april 15. I have been taped since feb 15 and I have been making syrup. I dont have an ro but shor burn a lot of wood.

[MJFlores]

Sorry, I'm in Deerfield NH. I too went around and dumped buckets hoping for a freeze tonight and run tomorrow. Just a guess, but a yellow or tan tint to the sap for me always came after a hard rain like last night. I believe it's from rain running down the tree, or dripping off branches. If it aint crystal clear I dump it. Sounds like we have a few more weeks thank goodness. We're having fun over here and dont want it to end LOL!

[Dill]

Lots of people tapping in Deerfield. My daughter just told me 2 other kids in her kindergarten class are boiling as well. And I see 4 or 5 different tappers on my way home from the office in the middle of town. We didn't pick up much sap about 150 gallons in Northwood, but my little tubing setup by the house was running pretty good at lunchtime.

[red maples]

my guess would be a warm up right after maple weekend (23, 24th) the weather pattern is supposted to change and we will warm up...so they say!!!

[Russell Lampron]

Anybody in Ohio here? Got my taps in late because it had been cold clear through Feb and had good sap running 2 days then nothing. We hit 55 2 days ago, then back to the low 30's and now hovering just below the freeze zone. Still no drops...

This is a New Hampshire thread. Start a thread asking about the season in Ohio to find out what others in your area have to say.

[Russell Lampron]

My sap today was kinda yellow and not as clear sould I still use it or dump it out?

I have boiled yellow and cloudy sap in the past and made good tasting syrup with it. Boil it as soon as you can.

[SWEETSAP]

My take on budding. We have 2 trees that bud first every year and by bud I mean the buds actually open. My observation is that when these buds open there is about 4 days before the rest of the reds on that line open. Currently the buds on these trees are swelling but not ready to open yet, I figure 7 to 10 days till this line is shut down. The other 5 lines get shut down 4 to 7 days after that. So in general 10 to 14 days left for us here in Dunbarton.

[325abn]

Had some nice clear sap in the tank today not very much though. We are in for a good run here over the next several days. No buds around here we still have 6" of snow on the ground in the woods. I think we still have 4 - 6 goos runs to go.

Its going to be one hellish mud season!!!!!!!

[BlueberryHill]

I am in Raymond too and for the last couple of weeks I might find a random tree that is putting out some yellowish colored sap. Then the next day it is clear. Can't figure out why. I figure why should I contaminate things for just a gallon of sap so I dump it when I see it. Are you getting lots of it, or just a little here or there?

[Wingo87]

I'm having the same problem. It's funny by your name I think you must be the guy right down the street from me, i live at 44 :) I usually dump them out too but the other day most of them were like that.

[BlueberryHill]

Wow, that is funny. Whenever I am driving up and down the road I am always scoping out all of the trees to see if anyone has a spot worth asking if I can tap. You would think that I would have seen your buckets. You should stop by. Up the driveway behind the red barn is where I am set up. If you see lots of smoke and steam I'll be up there. Should be boiling this weekend as long as mother nature cooperates!

[Wingo87]

Most of my buckets are behind my house in the woods. I just pulled them tho after 5 weeks. I was getting tired of using so much propane, time for an upgrade for next year! I may just stop in and see your set-up, I'm new to all of this so I love learning new tricks.

[half-full-buckets]

Wow, lots of folks from the Raymond area on here. I love it. I have about 90 taps off of Langford Rd, toward the Candia line. Good luck to you all!

[greenleafmaplecoop]

we are located on 121 in Atkinson. Hoping for another run or 2, made 18 gallons so far. Our 2x4 evaporator just cant keep up with our 120 taps!
stop by if you see the roof open here most nights.

[MapleLady]

I've collected fair amounts over here, but no big runs yet. Tell me that we're not at the end.... :*(

[PerryW]

I am in Raymond too and for the last couple of weeks I might find a random tree that is putting out some yellowish colored sap. Then the next day it is clear. Can't figure out why. I figure why should I contaminate things for just a gallon of sap so I dump it when I see it. Are you getting lots of it, or just a little here or there?

It happens to me too. It seems more common to find yellow sap in a few buckets after a rain. I will usually dump it.

[MJFlores]

Lots of people tapping in Deerfield. My daughter just told me 2 other kids in her kindergarten class are boiling as well. And I see 4 or 5 different tappers on my way home from the office in the middle of town. We didn't pick up much sap about 150 gallons in Northwood, but my little tubing setup by the house was running pretty good at lunchtime.

My 6 year old son (my sap buddy!) is also in the Deerfield kindergarten, he mentioned the same thing that some of his class mates were talking about syrup. Between Deerfield and Raymond there seems to be a good amount of us tapping trees and boiling sap.

[Dill]

My daughter is in Mrs Powers class, so that make at least 6 kindergarteners that I know of that have parents who tap.
As for how long in Deerfield for time left. I can't believe this extended forecast, can ask for a better stretch of weather. Now I just have to get over this sunburn and more importantly get my voice back, lots of maple weekend visitors in Barrington today.

[MJFlores]

HAHA, I got a bit of a sunburn too yesterday...sat out in the sun just about all day watching the boil. I'm just a hobby operation, 15 taps all buckets but we ended up with 42 ounces of syrup by last night, not bad for how slow the sap run was all week. I'm thinking next weekend should be a record breaker after looking at the weather...we'll see!

[BlueberryHill]

Noob question. Looks like tomorrow is gonna be good too, but Wed and Thu its looking like 30 for the low and 47 for the high. My question... is 30 low enough to keep it going. Just trying to plan out which day would be the best for me to take off of work to boil. I have limited sap storage. Do I need to plan for 4 more days of it running like this? I hope so!

[SmellsLikeSyrupNH]

Im expecting it to run all week long...I think you should too. :-)

[325abn]

Its running here but not much. Cloudy, breezy, about 39 and spitting snow with a 2 minute peek at the sun every now and then. Just not shaping up to a good year yet.

[MapleLady]

I think it's going to be a steady flow all week. We'll take that!

[MJFlores]

Noob question. Looks like tomorrow is gonna be good too, but Wed and Thu its looking like 30 for the low and 47 for the high. My question... is 30 low enough to keep it going. Just trying to plan out which day would be the best for me to take off of work to boil. I have limited sap storage. Do I need to plan for 4 more days of it running like this? I hope so!

You have a bigger operation than me, but I have very limited sap storage as well. I store everything in gallon jugs and try to keep it all in the fridge. If I cant it gets packed in snow under the desk. Because of my low sap storage, I boil a few nights per week. I try to boil 4 gallons down to 1 gallon and then put that in the fridge. By weekend, I'm ready to boil what sap I have and then pour in the condensed stuff I did during the week. Ypu may already do this but figured I'd mention it, it's been working good for me.

[Homestead Maple]

Had a small run yesterday afternoon but not enough to boil. This is the first run since March 13th. Sap ran a little today. Tomorrow's forecast says temps will be somewhat colder here, so maybe a better run Wednesday or Thursday.

[MJFlores]

Do you think it's time to pull the taps? I got very little sap the day before, and nothing yesterday. The weather doesn't show a dip below freezing for the near future. Would love one more big boil before it's all done but with this warmth I dont know. Thinking about pulling taps this weekend.

[blac]

Some of the red maples are starting to get real buddy but its still running slowly, I don't think it's getting cold enough at night. I am going to put my last 350 gallons through tonight and call it a season, as I am out of wood.
Derek

[MapleLady]

It's been a warm week over here and taps are dry. I think this is it for the season - long range forecast is looking too warm. Last night, I boiled down the last of what I had in storage -- about 22 - 25 gal. I'll finish the near syrup tomorrow. Hate to see the season end. :(

[325abn]

Don't believe its over, it just started! I still have full snow cover in the woods. 2-3 good runs still to go.

Wishfull thinking or reality?

[Dill]

Some of the red maples are starting to get real buddy but its still running slowly, I don't think it's getting cold enough at night. I am going to put my last 350 gallons through tonight and call it a season, as I am out of wood.
Derek
Are you tapping up on center hill rd? I'm over on Griffin road and I've been wondering who put all the new tubing up in Epsom.

[blac]

That's me Dill, I'm over on Mountain rd second place down on the left just before the bridge.Are you on a hill on griffin just after Whittier rd? I see an evaporator in a barn possibly?

[Dill]

Yup, we moved over there this summer. Eventually I'm going to build a big sugarhouse down in the log landing after Whittier road. But next season I'm going to convert that garage over to a sugarhouse.
Did you run low on tubing, cause I've been wondering why there are sap sacks in the middle of the tubing setup.
Good to meet so many neighbors on here.

[BrianL]

Not keeping up today. Odd, we got no sap yesterday, running like a faucet today. My 2 x 2 pan is not keeping up.
Love it

[Homestead Maple]

Collected 1,700 gals. Monday, 1,200 Tuesday, 1,000 Wednesday, 1,100 Thursday, and 1,000 today. Maybe half way through the season here. We have 18 inches of snow in the woods here.

[PerryW]

I'm at 70% crop at 77 gallons. The syrup has all been very light fancy. The red wing blackbirds just showed up a couple days ago; no moths out yet and still decent snow cover. Unless the weather is not cooperative, I am about 1/2 way through the season.

[Russell Lampron]

I'm at 70% crop at 77 gallons. The syrup has all been very light fancy. The red wing blackbirds just showed up a couple days ago; no moths out yet and still decent snow cover. Unless the weather is not cooperative, I am about 1/2 way through the season.

There haven't been many moths here this year either. I have made 168 gallons so far making this the 2nd best season out of the last 5. We're not getting the freezes right now and it doesn't look good for the future. We may be done soon.

[Tmeeeh]

The National Weather Service is predicting 20 degree nights this coming Tuesday and Wednesday. I don't think the end is in sight for us. Yesterday our 2,200 taps gave up 2,100 gallons of sap. Still making Medium.. no Dark or B yet. Last night we reached a yield so far of .5 gallons of syrup per tap. We are closing in on our 2011 yield per tap. We're pretty tired but this could be a record year for us. We also face an interesting challenge of marketing nearly 500 gallons of Light syrup to customers who generally prefer stronger flavored syrup.

[325abn]

Not much of a run yesturday but a run none the less. Looks like a nice run tommorow and the temps looks ideal for next week starting Tuesday.

BIG SAP WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT!!

[Homestead Maple]

Collected 1,100 gals. Saturday and another 1,100 today. The weather forecast for Waterville Valley where my trees are says 24 for Monday night, a high of 32 for Tuesday, 22 for Tuesday night and 34 for Wednesday, so sap won't run much for a couple days but I need a break.

[PerryW]

grade dropped just into medium for one 5 gal drum, then back up Fancy. Now at 87 gallons (80% crop). Should make another 10 gallons tomorrow with that ran after I gathered.

[Homestead Maple]

Making dark now. Collected 950 gals. Apr. 1, 1,600 gals. Apr. 8, 1,200 gals. Apr. 9, 1,000 gals. Apr. 11, to cold today for any sap. Snow and ice. Next three nights show freezing temps, so this will probably be the last of the runs. 309 gals so far.

[PerryW]

Hoping for 1 more run up in the Littleton area when it finally thaws out.

[325abn]

Mainline is gushing sap today, the bucket holes are bleeding as well and it has not frooze here in days.

[PerryW]

Cold taps in lyman ran well boy my 600 taps in Littleton only ran 3 gallons. Ended up w/ 75 gallons of clear sap and dumped about 20 gal. yellow or cloudy sap. Made another 2 gal of good tasting B but grades to Vermont Commercial by color. Still no metabolic taste. Up to 141 gallons! Maye another couple gallons of syrup on Monday and will probably pull.

[Shawn]

Ended the 11th here with a small gather of 65 gals. Most were yellow and dumped and the moths were present. Pipeline slowed to nothing so pulled the plug. Was the best year ever for us with 40 gallons and one pint and I dont know what it is about it but the syrup tasted better then ever this year to us, real real sweet, or were getting better at it.:cool:

[Homestead Maple]

Gathered only 700 gallons yesterday. It was a slow warm up yesterday so the trees didn't get going until late. Today I collected 1,100 gallons. Looks like it will freeze tonight, so a run tomorrow might bring close to another 1,000 gallons.

[PerryW]

I'm guessing a couple more days for me. Great year even if I get no more sap. 143 gallons which is the best year since 2000 and the fourth best year in 24 years.