taps still dry ! Advice needed

[Leinie]

I tapped my two big trees March 6th and so far nothing is running. This is near Shakopee. I plan on 6 more trees, 2 of those will have 2 or 3 taps.

Is it OK to leave a dry tap this long ? Can I go out and put the rest in ?

This is my third season and have always had sap the same day I tapped so I'm getting a little concerned.

[Ausable]

Leinie - What is Your Weather like? If it is freezing at night and above freezing during the day I would go ahead and tap the other trees. If they are flowing - then I would pull the spiles on the trees you already tapped and clean out the holes a little with your drill and reinsert the spiles. However if You are way too warm with no flow - tap one or two other trees and see if you get a flow - never know. I have 55 tapped here and nothing - had one good day and then way too warm - my worst year in 15 years of tapping - but - I'll wait it out -- Good Luck -- Mike

[Peepers]

It was too cold and now its too warm here around the twin cities. Hopefully we'll get into some good freeze/thaw weather soon although the forecast isn't looking good for another week. We've had just a little sap oozing out of a few trees so I think they're woke up now with this warm stretch, just need some freezing temps at night to get the sap going.

[Leinie]

Things are looking bleak for getting the night freeze for a bit. :(

[SilverLeaf]

Another variable in all of this is what side of the tree the taps are on. I put out about 70 taps today, and for some reason the majority of the north-side taps were dripping right away, but on every single one of the south-side taps I was drilling thru bone dry wood.

[RileySugarbush]

Leinie,

I am about 2 miles north of you in EP and I feel your pain!

140 taps in for a week and we just put 40 gallons into the the rig just to boil and sterilize the sap so it didn't spoil. Looks like another 6 days until we get a freeze. I wouldn't put your other taps in until the first ones start running.

[Leinie]

First ones started running this morning ( or last night ? ) tapped the rest and all started right away. I might not need the cooker cause it's probably boiling in the pails :o

[RileySugarbush]

Mine started running today as well. Despite the warm nighttime temps. Put in another 15. If it continues running we may even make a gallon or two

[Riley/MN]

I just got home from a trade show in New Ulm, where I was worried about missing out on the action back home. Got here and my test taps are still as dry as a bone....

[Peepers]

I had 3 of the 6 trees I tapped running good yesterday. So while not consistent I'll take it. Better weather in the forecast Riley/MN so hang in there!

[Riley/MN]

Better weather in the forecast Riley/MN so hang in there!

Oh yeah, no worries...

Last year we put most of our taps in on either 3/16 or 3/19, so not too worried yet.

Makes me think tho... this trade fair I went to was all pre-1840 stuff. Back then the sugar was a staple to the natives... Do you think those guys got worried when they had a slow sap run in the spring?

[lpakiz]

Peepers,
Do you know a lot of people in Hastings? My old (1969-70) Army buddy Wally Tix is from Hastings and is coming to Wisconsin Wed PM to help cook syrup. He lives out in the country on Orlando Ave...Ring any bells?

[Peepers]

Ipakiz - I don't know Wally but it I'm almost his neighbor. I'm in a subdivision off of Hwy 316 between 190th and 200th streets, I drive past Orlando most every day. Does he have any maples we can tap? :D

I've never been to Greenwood, WI. My parents have a cottage in Phillips up Hwy 13 and my in-laws are Steven's Point so I breeze by on Hwy 29 several times a year. Maybe I'll have to swing by and say hi sometime.

We had some sap slowly running today, didn't freeze here last night so we didn't get a real good run. I think I have enough to sweeten the pans tomorrow tho. Yee-ha, let the boiling begin!!!!