35 taps and a few questions

[Mr. Red Maple]

Hey guys I am planning on tapping 35 red maples next season. I was just wondering how much sap I can expect to get and also how much syrup. I was hoping you guys would have numbers from previous seasons. I have done my calculations but it's hard to get a good idea from tapping 2 trees like I did the previous season.
Thanks mr. Red maple

[NhShaun]

The season will be here before you know it, Where in Nh are you tapping ?

I got this information off another thread on this site.

Typical tree on buckets.. 1 gal/day avg..... 2 gal Max
Avg 3-5 running days/week
5 gal/tree weekly Avg...... 10 gal Max

So using his numbers.. your looking at anywhere between 175-350 gallons of sap weekly... for about 4ish weeks... so around 4-8 Gallons of syrup.
Obviously those are rough estimates, it all depends on the length of the season and its sap flow.
Hope that helps.

[psparr]

You never know with reds. I have a couple that put out sap like they were bleeding to death, and a couple others that haven't put out more than a gallon the whole season. Also location plays a factor. North vs south facing. The only good indicator is experience with those trees.
Have fun!

[Mr. Red Maple]

Also do you guys have any idea what the sap to syruo ratio will be with reds thanks

[Loch Muller]

Two seasons ago I got 10.8 gallons of sap per tap total on 25 taps mixed sugar and red maples. Last season I got 6 point something gallons per tap on 205 taps, about 1/3 of them red maples. Both those years were all buckets/sap sacs. I think the reds produce less, but I don't have the numbers to prove it. Some of the red maples measure 3.0 % sugar others as low as 1.8% with my refractometer. Good luck

[lpakiz]

One of the "rules of the thumb" says to expect 1 quart of syrup per tap, per season, on gravity. Of course, there are many variables.....

[Drew Pond Maple]

My sap to syrup ratio last season was about 60 to 1.
In the first part of the season the sap was 2.6%, then fell off hard half way through.

Also I have a small section of 21 red maples that I tap not on vacuum and didn't give up much sap.
Maybe 15 gal all season. They are 10"-12" woods trees with minimal crowns

If you can get a small vacuum pump, it'll make a world of difference

[Mr. Red Maple]

I'm just trying to get a grasp of how many bottles I should buy

[NhShaun]

Well if you have any extra I'm sure you can use them for years to come. They do add up price wise though. But really there is no way to figure out the exact mount of Sap/syrup you will get.. There are far to many variables. But after your first season if you keep records, at least you will have something to go by for future years.

One more time, Where in Nh will you be tapping Mr. Red Maple?

[Mr. Red Maple]

I will be tapping in southern NH. Near derry

[NhShaun]

Ahh cool, that's where i was born. Best of luck to you this upcoming season.

[Mr. Red Maple]

Ha that's cool and same to you!!

[Mr. Red Maple]

Hey guys I was also wondering if anyone has tapped reds in a swampy area. I have about 200 trees there so I was wonding if it was worth tapping em

[NhShaun]

Go for it, I have seen lots of people say they tap trees in swampy areas and they produce good amounts of sap and some not so much. Any extra taps are extra taps in my opinion, especially if you have 200 trees in that area.

[Cabin]

Hey guys I was also wondering if anyone has tapped reds in a swampy area. I have about 200 trees there so I was wonding if it was worth tapping em

How do you intend to collect the sap? It should be frozen solid when you tape but how will the area be by the end of the season?

[NhShaun]

I learned that the hard way, I ended up waist deep in ice water at the bottom of a slope where the swamp area begins. Collecting sap from the swamp trees, oddly enough, those trees were my best sap producers.

[treeguy]

if you had 35 of my best taps you would be happy and in it, 35 of my worst taps and it would be a bummer. Good luck 35 should be a good start. I alwasy hear a Qt per tap is good.

[Locust Farms]

10196

This chart 2014 may be of interest 95% red maple.

Dwight