Premature Tappulation?

[ScottyWelden]

I couldn't help myself! Reasoning that the nights are freezing and the days are thawing, I tapped until I was out of spiles. Not much sap on day 1.

[jamesd14]

Please let me know how it goes i am chewing on the bit waiting to tap, this is only my second year and last year it was cold all winter and then perfect weather after so it made it very easy to figure out when to tap, this year not so much.

[valleyman]

As far as I know the con to tapping too early is the tap may produce less sap later in the season due to healing microbes busy closing up the wound. I'm keeping an eye on the 10 day and I'll probably start tapping this weekend. I know a couple CT guys who tapped and one of them boiled a small batch already and got some nice syrup!

It'll be pedal to the metal real soon! Good Luck

[reepss]

I tapped on January 1. overall the flows have been slow and sporadic. Yesterday was good. Hoping that this week will produce well. I have boiled twice and the pan is just now sweet.

[ScottyWelden]

sunday/monday gave me 5-6 gallons of sap (smallish trees)

[Samuelvw1]

Tuesday emptied my buckets 50ish taps led me to 10 gallons just reporting in my fridge I have 15 gallons waiting to be boiled down
Sam
Shelton
https://www.facebook.com/SamandSons2/

[Calycanthus]

The last few years I was the first person to tap in my neighborhood, and I did so President's day weekend, and I generally beat the other folks around me by a week or so. This year, I'm the last. Started yesterday. Maybe finish today, maybe not.

What I noticed while I was out: When I started tapping in the morning south and west sides were flowing quite well. By early afternoon north side was as well. .02, which given inflation, may not be worth that much.

[MonasteryMaple]

I am fully tapped. Had a good flow today around 320 gallons of sap

[Johnmaubin]

We have had good sap flowing the last few days. On my 20-25 taps I have out I have been averaging 15 gallons of sap a day. We also have boiled already and have just about a gallon of gold this year so far. I tapped January first and have been gathering every little drop so far. Next few days look great too.

[valleyman]

Hey Monastary- Any idea of the sugar content?

[ScottyWelden]

so far....3 days, 10 galllons (33 taps of smallish trees)

[Samuelvw1]

Anybody every use a refractometer before getting one in the mail tomorrow so I'll finally know my sugar % I have 38 gallons of sap in the fridge to see if it's worth boiling or tossing out depending my my % is

Sam
Shelton
40ish taps on buckets and drop line
2x6 evaporater pan on a double propane burner
Boiled 2 weeks ago And got 1 quart of liquid gold

[khuberpt]

I put 22 taps in today in Wolcott and when I checked tonite i had roughly 8-10 gallons. i hope to get another 30 or so in tomorrow and possibly boil Sunday. This in only my third season but have never tapped this early.

[DaveB]

Personally, I'm waiting to around my usual time - mid-February to tap. I know the next week looks great but the long range weather pattern is going to change on the 4th and it's going to be a lot colder. That also gives me some time to get some new lines in and have everything else ready to go. Time will tell if my gamble is right but that's what I'm going with.

[valleyman]

Personally, I'm waiting to around my usual time - mid-February to tap. I know the next week looks great but the long range weather pattern is going to change on the 4th and it's going to be a lot colder. That also gives me some time to get some new lines in and have everything else ready to go. Time will tell if my gamble is right but that's what I'm going with.

Same here. I'm confident there will be weeks of good flow to come. Though it's sure tempting! I know I missed out a little.

[valleyman]

Sam-Oh don't toss unless it's spoiled. I'm thinking about getting a refractometer this season myself. Our buddy in oxford got a 2% reading using his friends home brew refractometer.

[ctjim]

im with dave b im going to wait it out and tap around the 2nd week of feb weather permitting, long range looks like another cold spell will come. i was very tempted to start this past week but another sugarmaker near me started tapping and the few tanks of his that i pass by had very little sap and same with a few trees that the tree trimmers working my area have trimmed. i figured the trimmed branches would be pouring sap but they're just barely wet. still need to finish up a few odd and ends in the sugarhouse this week. good luck this season everyone.

[Tom59]

I'm holding off till next month also. Will give me some time to get ready too.

[Samuelvw1]

I just hit my new refractometer and tested my sap 1.5 on my reading with 52 gallons gives shy of a gallon

Sam
Shelton
40ish spile and buckets and taps and drop lines

[jamesd14]

Did 20 taps this afternoon here in South eastern CT and got 18 gallons of sap, some were flowing almost solid stream, others not much, wh I collected at 8pm tonight sap was still flowing.

[MonasteryMaple]

another 320 today

[Starting Small]

another 320 today
Monastery-How many taps do you have? Thanks-Dave

[MonasteryMaple]

260 on pipeline 100 on buckets

[ScottyWelden]

of course--this year i rotat
ed all my taps to the east side!

[MonasteryMaple]

Another good day 345

[mhovey]

Extended forecast for the entire next month shows no signs of upcoming cold spells according to accuweather. I was planning on tapping around the second week of February or even closer to the end of February. (Last year I didn't tap until the first week of march!). Keep in mind that the average temperature for February last year was 15 degrees. Have I missed the first week of the season or is it still to come? I feel like if I wait any longer I will miss half the season. Any thoughts?

[valleyman]

I'm in n southern CT and this morning before work I popped in 10 and the flow was instant and constant.

[Agent914]

what is your sugar content on the SAP?

[ScottyWelden]

not sure what the sugar content was...I turned 60 gallons of sap into 1.2 gallons of syrup, so far = 50:1 ratio. All red maples