What Would Others Do?

[MT Pockets Producer]

We have taken in about 350-400 gallons of sap over the past two days. The temps have been low to mid 30s during the day and 27 - 28 at night. The tanks had a little slush in it last night when we shut down and I would guess more this morning. We were hoping to have a couple hundred more gallons before we fired up so we can keep a gradient going without starting and stopping. Do we dare wait a couple more days to use our sap? Temps down in low 20s tonight and upper 20s after that. Daytime temps In mid 30s. Sap will be in enclosed shed out of sunlight. Not that sunshine has been a huge risk around here lately.

[maple flats]

As long as the sap has slush in the tank, it will keep a few days. I'm doing the same thing right now. I have about 300 gal in the tank, with a thin layer of ice/slush. I'll get another 2-300 gal before I boil, as long as the temps stay cold enough.

[bowtie]

With your 2x6 if you are not using a ro, I would personally start boiling to stay ahead of the game. If the sap starts to flow you could looking at 10-12 boil, which if you have time can be fun but if not can be tough. The way this year has gone maintaining a gradient has been tough.

[motowbrowne]

Early in the season with ice in the tank I wouldn't worry about it spoiling. I think it was last year or the year before (I should really start taking notes) we had a pretty good run much earlier than we normally do and then the temps plunged. It stayed come for over a week, maybe ten days. I didn't have my cooker cleaned, and it was so cold I didn't want to mess with hoses to clean it and I didn't want to run pumps either. So I left it in the tanks. Probably 4-500 gallons. It didn't freeze solid, but I had big blocks of ice in both tanks. When I did get around to cooking it it made great syrup and the icebergs that remained in the tank kept sap from the next couple of runs nice and cold.

[MT Pockets Producer]

With your 2x6 if you are not using a ro, I would personally start boiling to stay ahead of the game. If the sap starts to flow you could looking at 10-12 boil, which if you have time can be fun but if not can be tough. The way this year has gone maintaining a gradient has been tough.

We do RO and have been boiling when we have about 500 gallons or a little more as that is what the work schedule has allowed. Pretty much the same routine as in the past but we are having issues keeping a good grade this year. Sounds like others are too. We just get rolling and start getting a little lighter grade and it's time to shut down and start the process over. I guess we will gamble with sap that is a few days old vs starting and stopping. Thanks to all for the replies.