4% sugar?!

[ADK_XJ]

I just re-tapped a stand of mature sugars after the weather cooled out here and I'm getting a steady 4 percent sugar content on my new refractometer...am I reading this right? See picture:

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[Ontario Ian]

yup. 4%.some trees have more some are less, you can calibrate it using distilled water and set it to zero.

[MaxJ]

I used a new refractometer out of the box and had reading, then I zero'd it with distilled water as it showed 1 then I took the reading again. Not sure how often one should recalibrate with distilled water?

[SeanD]

The more important question is - How did you take that picture? Is it as easy as putting your phone up to the eyepiece?

[Wanabe1972]

I bought a new refractometer this year and seems like I have to calibrate it every time I use it. It sits on the dash of my truck as a paper weight and I stick to my hydrometer. My sugar has been creeping back up after each freeze so I'm sure 4 is possible. Jeff

[Urban Sugarmaker]

I bought a new refractometer this year and seems like I have to calibrate it every time I use it. It sits on the dash of my truck as a paper weight and I stick to my hydrometer. My sugar has been creeping back up after each freeze so I'm sure 4 is possible. Jeff

I have one of those $25 ones like the one shown in the picture by the OP. I have to calibrate mine every day and sometimes more often. I don't think the automatic temperature compensation on these is all that great. When it's calibrated it does match my sap hydrometer closely. Otherwise it's off my as much as 0.5% which does make a difference.

[Atgreene]

We have trees that routinely run 7%. Roadside or field maples are great for high sugar content. That, and sugarbushes that have been thinned. 2.5-3% is our average due to years of thinning and selecting.

[Burnt sap]

All though I have never had 4% from my trees I guess I would double check it just to see. And if it's correct tap every tree you can :cool:

[ADK_XJ]

The more important question is - How did you take that picture? Is it as easy as putting your phone up to the eyepiece?
Yup, that's exactly what I did...

[ADK_XJ]

I have one of those $25 ones like the one shown in the picture by the OP. I have to calibrate mine every day and sometimes more often. I don't think the automatic temperature compensation on these is all that great. When it's calibrated it does match my sap hydrometer closely. Otherwise it's off my as much as 0.5% which does make a difference.
Maybe I'll try a recalibration - mine is one of the $25 models but I read they are fairly accurate. Still showing 3.5-4% as of this evening.

[ADK_XJ]

We have trees that routinely run 7%. Roadside or field maples are great for high sugar content. That, and sugarbushes that have been thinned. 2.5-3% is our average due to years of thinning and selecting.
Most of out acreage is on former farm fields but at least 100-150 years fallow according to the county sawyer I had in this Fall. I have a number of very mature maples that he suggested were easily 100+ years old and well above the lower canopy...they're also the ones cranking out 4+ percent...

[Atgreene]

Is it a sugar maple? We only tap sugar maples, which contributes to our higher than average sugar content. 4,5,6 & 7% is pretty common on our larger roadside and field trees.

[bowtie]

My few yard trees routinely run at least 3 percent and I one mature tree that has a big canopy that I measured at 5.3 one year , this year it running right about 4 percent give or take a couple tenths depending on the day. Yard or field trees usually, Run higher sugar than woods trees, they generally have more nutrients available to them.

[ADK_XJ]

Is it a sugar maple? We only tap sugar maples, which contributes to our higher than average sugar content. 4,5,6 & 7% is pretty common on our larger roadside and field trees.

Yes, sugar maple. I've predominantly tapped the sugars this year. I have yet to do any real clearing around my trees, so look forward to significantly increased output and growth when I start making selective cuts around the younger maples.