OK to tap in low temps?

[Too Tall]

Fairly new guy here.

I won't be able to tap when it warms up around here in (give or take) 10 days. Is it OK to tap my trees when it is 20 degrees out and won't warm up to 32+ for a few more days?

I'm using plastic spiles on 5/16 tubing, if that helps.

Thanks for any advice.

[Michael Greer]

A hole is good for four to six weeks before the tree starts to heal up the leak. Tapping too early may cut into yields at the end of the season.

[adk1]

Check valve spout greatly lengthen your season if you are on tubing

[Too Tall]

OK. Thanks for the advice.

[Greenwich Maple Man]

[QUOTE=Too Tall;239316]Fairly new guy here.

I won't be able to tap when it warms up around here in (give or take) 10 days. Is it OK to tap my trees when it is 20 degrees out and won't warm up to 32+ for a few more days?

I'm using plastic spiles on 5/16 tubing, if that helps.



Will not hurt at all . Every larger producer has been tapping and will make syrup till the trees wont give it anymore ! Lots of producers with a lot of taps start as early as the end of Dec. My taps are all in !

[maple flats]

With only a few taps to put in, why start early?
However, I tapped mine 2.5 weeks ago, my help was going back to college. Operations with 10,000+ taps start early.

[Russell Lampron]

With only 25 taps waiting the 10 days will get you more sap before the holes close up. It is okay to tap when it's too cold for sap to run but be very careful because the frozen wood will split if you drive the tap in too hard. I am going to start tapping my vacuum woods this weekend but I won't tap my buckets until the first week of March.