Anyone Tap yet in Interior SW CT

[sr73087]

It looks like this weekend may the best time to do it. Has anyone in the area tapped or plan on tapping shortly?

[lisound]

tapped in monroe.

Should be good tomorrow and starting this weekend.

[killingworthmaple]

Between yesterday and today I tapped 120 on lines not a drip of sap anywhere.

Nathan

[DaveB]

Between yesterday and today I tapped 120 on lines not a drip of sap anywhere.

Nathan

It's coming! It's going to start this weekend and really get going next week. Weather wise I think it's going to be a good seasons (at least what I can see on 3/3)!

[Pauly V]

It looks like this weekend may the best time to do it. Has anyone in the area tapped or plan on tapping shortly?

tapped in Bristol on Sunday. 40 taps. all dripping except 1 red maple and 2 large sugars (38" caliper). I have 6 gallons of sap.

[ctjim]

we are all tapped over in salem and have about 250 taps out. 155 on vac tapped late last week and i finished up tapping about 100 on buckets yesterday. sap was dripping on a few trees late monday afternoon this weekend looks promising. we have almost 3ft of snow on the ground and it was a chore to tap and get out to the woods with a tractor, snowshoes are mandatory equipment. collecting is going to be a chore as well. still need to take the snowblower and cut a path to the wood pile.

[hodorskib]

Tapped out with some of my students in Farmington today (8 total) only one was dripping slowly. Going to tap out mine at home on Sunday morning - hoping to get 75 in but with the deep snow not sure how many will go in.

[SapLover]

Tapped in Redding (FF County) Sugar is Sweet



Tapped 14 trees today in Redding.
Zero drips from the Big Guys – and barely any from the smaller and medium sized trees.
Drank the sap from one and BOY what that good!  Been too long! What a treat!
Getting through snow – not as bad as I expected.
Set up evaporator so we are ready to boil this weekend.

[sr73087]

Looks like tomorrow is the day then. I'm going to need the snowshoes. As of right now the temps next week look perfect.

[Helicopter Seeds]

20 taps in Shelton and Monroe. Got some drips, but not enough to collect. Tomorrow in the 40s so should be the start I would think.

Question - What time of day is best to collect? My guess would be later in evening after sap stops but before bucket freezes. Last year I was only watching one tree, this year I am split locations, dont want to drive more than needed.

[Run Forest Run!]

Question - What time of day is best to collect? My guess would be later in evening after sap stops but before bucket freezes. Last year I was only watching one tree, this year I am split locations, dont want to drive more than needed.

I collect in two locations as well. From my experience, the trees in each location vary with what they produce. You'll likely find that your collection schedule will be a moving target. Larger collection buckets in your remote location may be the best way for you to manage your time in the most convenient way.

[sr73087]

How did everyone make out over the weekend? I tapped on Saturday afternoon and only have 1 tree running slightly, all my other buckets were still bone dry last night.

[Outdoorsman0490]

I got about 50 gal from my 100 taps from yesterday's run, hoping today adds up to at least 100, looked like most were dripping pretty good

[sr73087]

Hopefully today I get a good run. I was surprised that yesterday yielded almost nothing.

[batsofbedlam]

1200 taps in, 200 to go.

[Sapling]

20 taps in 20 trees produced a total of 1/2 gal of sap today so far. . .

[Pauly V]

32 gallons on 50 taps today..

[sr73087]

Checked my buckets again last night and 2 were dripping slowly (maybe a pint of sap all together). :cry:

I don't recall if I had the same issue last year. I should get going soon I hope.

[Outdoorsman0490]

I ended up with only about 25 gal from yesterday's run; hoping it turns on soon

[Littlesap]

OK, reading these threads, at least I have company. I tapped everything last week and I'm getting very little in the way of sap flow. Having a hard time w/my vac pump which contributes but I just switched pumps tonight so maybe better tomorrow?

[Starting Small]

OK, reading these threads, at least I have company. I tapped everything last week and I'm getting very little in the way of sap flow. Having a hard time w/my vac pump which contributes but I just switched pumps tonight so maybe better tomorrow?

What kind of a pump do you have and how much sap is "very little." I am having the same problem with my guzzler and we cannot seem to find any leaks but am wondering if the problem is the pump of the trees. I purchased a vacuum guage from advanced auto today but it keeps reading 0 even though I see sap moving. Thanks,
-Dave

[sr73087]

Same story again today. Yielded almost nothing. Should I be concerned?

[lisound]

Same issues here. With the deep snow pack, ground is still frozen. Rain should have helped last night. It will happen.
It's hard to be patient when everyone else it's hauling loads of sap

[sr73087]

Where are you guys located in SW CT? Just wondering if a small distance may play a large factor because I am still checking my buckets and they are pretty much empty.

[valleyman]

I have 30 or so gallons from 10 taps since Sunday. 5 in Norwalk are running very well and 5 in Ansonia slow to medium flow. All sugar maples

[valleyman]

Just checked around 2:30. Still flowing on this breezy day in Norwalk.



http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy67/Valleyman_bucket/2015%20Maple/NORWALK-1WEB_zps19qphulc.jpg (http://s778.photobucket.com/user/Valleyman_bucket/media/2015%20Maple/NORWALK-1WEB_zps19qphulc.jpg.html)

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy67/Valleyman_bucket/2015%20Maple/NORWALK-2WEB_zpshfwkjm0g.jpg (http://s778.photobucket.com/user/Valleyman_bucket/media/2015%20Maple/NORWALK-2WEB_zpshfwkjm0g.jpg.html)

[sr73087]

I'm in Trumbull about 400ft in elevation and have had almost nothing still. Checked my buckets this morning and yesterday once again yielded close to nothing. Just one tap had minimal flow and the others are all bone dry.

[valleyman]

I have some tapped in Ansonia and same deal- barely a flow yesterday. In my previous post with the sap saks, they produced less than half than the previous days. Tough start for us CT folks

[Helicopter Seeds]

I collected 6 gallons on 20 taps on tuesday night, since then maybe a gallon. Very surprised with the warmth, an thought snow was supposed to be a good thing.

Boiling outside, so was hoping to have first boil this afternoon, evening to avoid the rain. But if I only have ten gallons, which may not even be that high sugar (My hydrometer is presently in a batch of homebrew), I may get enough for the first pancakes Sunday morning.

[Sapling]

A little progress today. 2.75 gallons from our 20 taps. Our best run so far this season. Last year the same trees gave me a 20 gallon day and a few 10 gallon days.

[sr73087]

Yes I had similar runs last year around this time. The season did go into early April so I guess we still have some time.

[wildlifewarrior]

Started looking up here today.

Mike

[Outdoorsman0490]

I just collected about 70 gals from my 115 taps just now, trees didn't start dripping till noon or so, but still dripping now. I have about 90 sugar maple taps, 20 red taps, and 7 silvers and all of them were dripping today. I did have 3 sap sacks blown off from the wind yesterday, which would have given a few more gals. Will check sap sugar % tomorrow before run, but the 125 gals or so I ran during the week, I had between 2-2.5%. Hoping after the rain tomorrow, things get even better.

[sr73087]

Just checked my buckets as well. All of mine are dripping and still dripping now. I only gathered up 2 gallons maybe alittle more from my 8 taps but its a start. I am measuring 2.7% on all reds.

[Outdoorsman0490]

I only got about 35-40 gal yesterday eve whe I collected, which puts my total for season at about 220gal. Last year at this time I had already collected and ran 700 gals off the same or a few less taps.
Last season, March 16 was my biggest single day run, 165 gals; tomorrow's temps look good, I hope we get close to that good of a run

[Littlesap]

Oh, not more than 10-15 gallons, i've spilled more sap in prior years than i've collected this year. I can't remember the horsepower of this little vac pump but it's the same one i've used for several years. I only have about 75 taps in this year and use a small 80 gallon water tank that can handle the vacuum pressure.

Just for kicks i tried changing out w/a different pump and got the same result. Walked the lines twice and finally found a tap that must have been pushed out by the frost, tapped it back in and back to normal vacuum pressure. I'd say the sap flow is gradually building but still well below average

[Littlesap]

That last post was in response to Starting Small's question, thought it would connect to the quote.

[Helicopter Seeds]

Collected another 10 gallons on Friday, and boiled it that night on the new brick block arch. I suspected the first sap was not as strong based on others comments. Yielded 1.5 quarts. Pancakes with walnuts..yummm.

[sr73087]

Collected maybe another half gallon since Friday. Buckets had more moths and small bugs than sap...

[sr73087]

Despite the cold, yesterday actually had a decent run. Don't get me wrong, other years this would have been a terrible day, but to have most of my buckets 1/4 to half full was exciting. Probably my best run so far, which obviously is not saying much.

[Outdoorsman0490]

I collected 215 gal Sunday morning from Saturday's run, and another 100 gal last night from yesterday's run. Saturday's run was the best run I have ever seen.

[sr73087]

I pulled about 17 gallons between, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Pretty decent off 8 taps. Looks like it starting around here...finally.

[wildlifewarrior]

35 gallons between 1PM and 1 AM on Sat, on 15 taps, then another gallon per tap yesterday! More days like that we will be in a ….sweet spot!

Mike

[sr73087]

So I took about 18.5 gallons of sap between Thursday and Monday and ended up with slightly over a half gallon of syrup, putting my trees around 2.4%. I noticed this morning the tree that always buds first is beginning to. I have all reds. At what sugar content should I pull the taps where it would be considered buddy? Last year I had a batch that was alittle too late, basically I got the sap mostly boiled off and tasted a slight bitterness.

BTW I tap all red maples.

[sr73087]

Had another nice run over the last few days. Another 20 gallons of sap to boil.

[Brenden]

Has been flowing nicely in North Stamford recently. Looking forward to boiling this weekend.

[sr73087]

Based on the long range forecast how long do you think we still have of sap weather? Obviously long range forecasts are terribly inaccurate but just wondering what other think in this area.

[markct]

Im optomistic we have atleast a week left.

[Helicopter Seeds]

I had 85 gallons to boil on Friday, less than a week of collecting. None Saturday, collected another 20 gallons yesterday. Since we froze a bit last night, I expect some more today, same tomorrow. After that it won't freeze for a few days. If the buds open, we are done, right?

[scottdevine]

gearing up for first season in Oxford, CT. hoping for 12-15 trees (have to negotiate with neighbors), in the process of constructing a re-purposed pallet sugar house, gathering buckets from local shop rite bakeries, scrounging CL for pots, pans, bricks, fire pit grates, cinder blocks, wood splitter, chain saw, and pallets. been having a ball collecting everything. Evaporator is built (55 gal drum)...have the pans and pots, need to cut the holes in the drum, but first burn was done paint is removed. hoping it gets colder (imagine that), and that my first season is as great as i imagine it. turning 50yrs old in april, and this is first season...mid life crisis? wife thinks i'm crazy, 14yr old mad it took 10 years to build a fort! hahahahaha. cant wait to get started...looking to tap mid feb. we'll see

[Samuelvw1]

Scott I'm located in Shelton my name is Sam 2nd year doing this I'm up about 40 taps I feel the same way as you my wife comments about me being crazy and how I'm obsessed join my Facebook page
Sam
https://www.facebook.com/SamandSons2/

[Helicopter Seeds]

I tapped one tree today, nothing coming, but it was not freezing last night. Week ahead is freezing nights and 30's days. If this one runs, I will start tapping the others.
I am not ready to boil yet but close. I got more neighbors enlisted, but need to buy more taps and buckets.

[Helicopter Seeds]

Freezing temps, then warm yesterday, but no sap in the bucket. Froze again last night, through tomorrow. Will check again.

[Samuelvw1]

I'm located in Shelton within 2 days I've collected 8 gallons of sap

Sam
https://www.facebook.com/SamandSons2/

[scottdevine]

Sam from Shelton convinced me to tap early! set 15 taps today (Woodbridge, CT)...have about 25-30 more to do (Southbury)...going to wait a bit on those for now. First year...got the bug BAD! Got my Brother-in-Law helping me collect and boil...can't wait to get started.

[Helicopter Seeds]

I got about two gallons sap from the three taps this first week, so a start anyway. Good cold weather this week, so expect another flow window maybe next week, as it will stay in the 30's. Only things holding me back was concern that the tap wound would heal before the season is over, and that I am not quite ready to boil in my shack.
Coming quick though. Last year, tapped in mid Feb, but we went through a month long cold snap. Crazy flow came late March.

[Helicopter Seeds]

Braved the storm and got 30 taps in. Thanks again to Sam, good to have others close too.

We shall see what flow we get.... now there is snow to pile around the barrels for storage.

[scottdevine]

yea, Sam is Great!! i'm tapping at least 10-12 more tomorrow and found a bank owned empty home, with some trees...going to try my luck and hit them! hahahahaahhaaha

[markct]

Wow didn't think most banks would think outside the box enough to allow that, my luck they would have so many insurance policies etc that by the time the paperwork was done the season would be over lol! I started tapping today while the weather was nice, hope by the end of next weekend to be all tapped in but time will tell, looks like ok weather coming!

[Helicopter Seeds]

Good idea about that bank owned home.
I have 47 taps in as of yesterday, and just collected around 30 gallons. some 5 gallon pails were to the brim, and one I spilled half:( Expect more the next two days, so Saturday or Sunday will be first boil. Early next week will be near 50 with lows above freezing for a few days, so want to boil it before then.

[Helicopter Seeds]

Boiled 70 gallons last weekend from 47 taps. Added four more taps to a gusher of a tree on Sunday, it filled 5 gallons in 6 hours, and another 8 the next day. So Tuesday night had another 75 gallons ready to go. Did not collect with the warm rain yesterday. Freezing tonight, so expect another good run Friday before boiling Saturday. Extended forecast for SW CT looks favorable through the 13th.
I need to do some welding on my Arch top to seal off the fire.

[scottdevine]

Hey Seeds, we both know Sam (your neighbor), we'll have to get together in the near future for taste testing. I fired up again last night and got 54 gallons simmering into 1 25gallon pot that has probably 16 gallons of concentrate brewing. I will try and finish that off tonight in my pallet shack. I fired that up the other night (after some exhaust roof modification), and its still standing, so I am ready to go at it tonight. Really glad i tapped early for my first season, and experienced this process all the way through twice. The experience has been awesome, and the syrup killer...of course batch 2 had a learning curve, but it all worked out thanks to an awesome Maple community...got candy, AND syrup! Batch 3 will be half and half, (the correct way of course)

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[Canary2323]

I tapped 8 trees in ri a couple days ago and trees are flowing good. Almost two gallons of cooked syrup so far. BTW I New here, nice too meet everyone.

[valleyman]

Scott-You da man! Nice recovery.

[valleyman]

I tapped 8 trees in ri a couple days ago and trees are flowing good. Almost two gallons of cooked syrup so far. BTW I New here, nice too meet everyone.

Welcome aboard Canary2323!