Shame on me- Too Early

[GSCampChris]

Looks like the early warm weather tricked us down here in central Ohio. We tapped in about half of our trees on a warm day in January, and got a good run and then nothing. Now it looks like we are not looking at another run for a while.

Obviously we are waiting for better weather to tap in the other half... but what do we do with the taps we have out? Will they dry up before we get better runs? Should we reset those taps at an appropriate distance?

I gotta learn some patience!


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[Urban Sugarmaker]

I don't think they will dry up if it's consistently cold. Bacteria won't grow and multiply at a significant rate when it's below freezing. They may not last to the end of the season with your other half that you will be tapping, but they should do okay. This happened to me last year. I tapped 1/27/16 and got a little sap, then nothing for over 2 weeks.

[johnpma]

February looks cold here in New England!!

[Woodsrover]

A good opportunity to do a little experimenting. Document what you've already tapped and compare it taps you put in later in the season.

[berkshires]

February looks cold here in New England!!

First half of Feb, yep, looks like it. Second half though could go either way. Fingers crossed for Saint Valentine to bring warm hearts and warm sun to all of us in the region!

[michael marrs]

I have only done this 3 years, my buddy , who helped me has done it a lot, he told me, if it happens, don't worry, leave it alone, it will be fine, good luck

[Sugarmaker]

NW PA had same temps. Very easy to start early when the weather first warms. We will only know by April 1st! Several folks tapped here, one or two good runs then no freeze for almost 2 weeks.
We now wait for the next season to start. After 40 years you gain a little patience, but not much!
Regards,
Chris

[DrTimPerkins]

...but what do we do with the taps we have out? Will they dry up before we get better runs? Should we reset those taps at an appropriate distance?

As others have said, these may dry out a bit earlier than those you tap at a later time, but what is done is done. Do NOT drill another hole -- this creates double the amount of internal wounding, and is not great for the health of the tree. You tapped them....live with it and learn.


I gotta learn some patience!

You are not alone. We get periodic short thaws every winter. If you're on vacuum and use very good spout/tubing sanitation, then drilling early is less of a problem. If you're on gravity....best to think long and hard before jumping the gun. When to tap is an art, a science, and a crap-shoot. Listen to the old-timers, consult the oracle, shake the magic 8-ball, look at the long-range forecast....then wait at least a day or two before doing anything.

[buckeye gold]

I put out some early taps every year, but they are not my regular season taps. I done fairly well with them this year (I tapped December 25th) here in southern ohio. However, I have noticed a trend the last few years. It seems we are having prolonged warm periods from mid/late December and into January, and then the cold sets in later and we have more winter in February. I put my regular season taps out yesterday and I will be done by early March. It seems seasons are shortening. If I did not have surplus trees I would hold my taps until close to traditional dates. With that said, it seems the start dates are coming earlier, but still with in a week to 10 days of traditional dates. I just looked at my woods and I have a really good run going on right now.

[fresh spout]

Don't beat yourself up. Sugarin is all about experimenting. I will say however that the trend has been here in Ohio that too many people have been waiting too long to tap and losing a fair bit of their season. Those who have tapped in January have traditionally made some good syrup. They may not have the big run later in the season, but then again usually late season syrup isn't as nice as the early. Just make sure you don't retap your trees. Once they are tapped they are done for the season. Cross your fingers, I see good sugaring weather coming in over the next few days!

[ADK_XJ]

I'm lucky enough (and small time enough) to get to expirement, so I did an early run on a set of trees I wouldn't normally tap and just produced a killer batch of syrup (sample in picture below). For me, it does seem a little odd to be collecting in January but there was a good 7-8 day run here in our neck of the woods and it let me whet my appetite for what's to come...

15278

[ADK_XJ]

As others have said, these may dry out a bit earlier than those you tap at a later time, but what is done is done. Do NOT drill another hole -- this creates double the amount of internal wounding, and is not great for the health of the tree. You tapped them....live with it and learn.



You are not alone. We get periodic short thaws every winter. If you're on vacuum and use very good spout/tubing sanitation, then drilling early is less of a problem. If you're on gravity....best to think long and hard before jumping the gun. When to tap is an art, a science, and a crap-shoot. Listen to the old-timers, consult the oracle, shake the magic 8-ball, look at the long-range forecast....then wait at least a day or two before doing anything.

Curious for my own benefit what you would define as "very good spot/tubing sanitation"? I scrub mine in a vinegar/water solution, rinse hot and cold and then sanitize in a big vat of StarSan no rinse sanitizer that I also use on buckets...is there more to it aside from simply buying new spouts each year?

I'm managing a very, very small number now but plan to expand in the coming years so I figure it's worth identifying good habits.

[berkshires]

First half of Feb, yep, looks like it. Second half though could go either way. Fingers crossed for Saint Valentine to bring warm hearts and warm sun to all of us in the region!

What a difference a few days makes in long-term forecasts. Now it looks like, for New England at least, the prediction is for a warm and wet first half of Feb. Anyway, I'm still holding off on tapping, and holding out hope for a good end of Feb.

[DrTimPerkins]

I scrub mine in a vinegar/water solution, rinse hot and cold and then sanitize in a big vat of StarSan no rinse sanitizer that I also use on buckets...is there more to it aside from simply buying new spouts each year?

I'm managing a very, very small number now but plan to expand in the coming years so I figure it's worth identifying good habits.

That last line is important. There is no one thing that will work for everyone. You can do your cleaning procedure with 13 taps and aren't making syrup to make a living....you probably won't want to when you have 1,000 (or 10,000 or 100,000) and are making syrup to make some profit.

The important thing is to find something that works for you. For small producers, good spout cleaning practices are probably sufficient, especially if you're not that concerned about getting good yields. Large producers typically want to maximize yield and minimize cost and effort. The best approach in that case is to not clean (too much labor cost involved), but to replace with new spouts or adapters annually and put in new droplines every 2-4 yrs OR to use CV spouts or adapters and not replace droplines.

[ADK_XJ]

That last line is important. There is no one thing that will work for everyone. You can do your cleaning procedure with 13 taps and aren't making syrup to make a living....you probably won't want to when you have 1,000 (or 10,000 or 100,000) and are making syrup to make some profit.

The important thing is to find something that works for you. For small producers, good spout cleaning practices are probably sufficient, especially if you're not that concerned about getting good yields. Large producers typically want to maximize yield and minimize cost and effort. The best approach in that case is to not clean (too much labor cost involved), but to replace with new spouts or adapters annually and put in new droplines every 2-4 yrs OR to use CV spouts or adapters and not replace droplines.

Makes sense, thanks Dr. Tim!