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Hello,
Anyone in or around NH pulling taps yet? Would love to know when folks in NH/Mass start doing that this year...
I have several silver maples that have really big buds right now. I am worried about adding the sap from those trees to my good sap. DO NOT want any off flavor syrup again this year. Such a waste of time and energy. Any thoughts? Is it too early to be worrying about that yet? Thanks. -brian
I know I've had a hard freeze every night for the last week and it froze last night, and it looks like it will continue doing it for the next 10 days of forecast.
i would pull the silver maple taps but definitely keep the other taps in. There is a silver maple in Franconia that has usually has flowers on it and I'm still boiling up a storm.Dill, somebody must be getting mega-sap runs south of me (or lower than 1000'). My taps really WANT to run but it hasn't been getting quite warm enough. A few of the warmer trees have gushed sap. At least maybe the people who had a lousy year (southern/central NH, etc) can make up for it this year.Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Ledoux
I'm getting mega sap runs here. Yesterday the vac bush thawed out at 11:30 and I got 200 gallons by 5. The gravity taps are running good as well. Bucket trees are half to 3/4 a bucket a day. I've been swamped. Central NH is the place for sap right now. Even Lee which usually stops in 2 weeks is still running with no buds.
Right now its a 3 way attrition fest, what's going to give out first. Wood, willpower or weather. And I can tell you its not the weather.
Check out my thread here: http://mapletrader.com/community/showthread.php?t=12334Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Ledoux
I'm wondering the same thing as you. Check out my latest post to that thread with the photo of huge buds that are starting to open!
I decided to separate my silver maple sap from the reds, and while its flavor is a bit funny, it's not unpleasant, so I'll keep boiling it for now.
after last year nothing is going to stop me. I love a nice fire and watching finished product come out. 2 cords left and one to be split(was for this coming year). I am getting my second wind about now.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dill
pulled most of mine last week...but it was not because of poor sap run...NHpete is still collecting from about 20-25 taps here if front of the house..by all acounts its still running well..he told me last night he had around 60 gals this week to boil today...
Hey Brian,
How many did you end up pulling?
I thought I was done but this last cold spell has the buckets overflowing again.
I think I am boiling last time on Tuesday then pulling them!!
Best year so far for me.
Pulled my taps today, sap is still flowing but, I am tired and out of bottles. Made close to 6 gallons. Thank you Mapletrader for all your good advice. I now can consider myself a Sugarmaker.
Dumped the sap in my silver maple taps on 3/25. Did not use any sap from these trees after 3/23 or so. Some of the silvers were clearly budding and the sap even had a different odor. No need to chance it.
Stopped collecting completely on thursday of last week. Boiled all I had thursday night and ended season with about 21 gallons. Was a good year for me. Sap is still running but am too tired to keep going! My full time job, lack of helpers, and the 5 hour collection route became too much to keep going! Was good while it lasted. Now I will try and sell some of my finished product, which teastes amazing. I think my grandfather's norway maples add a really nice flavor to my syrup!