I think Sunday or Monday will be the end for me, depending on what the late week temps go. I seem to usually stop on March 21st, so this is right on schedule.
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I think Sunday or Monday will be the end for me, depending on what the late week temps go. I seem to usually stop on March 21st, so this is right on schedule.
I noticed this morning on one of the reds close to the house the buds are already swelling. All of a sudden, I didn't notice these just a few days ago.
The first buds to break on red maples are flower buds. They do not cause buddy off-flavor.
So which buds on the reds mean buddy sap is here?
Leaf buds.
Great temperatures this year. Amazing. Last two days have been magical even though no snow left on the ground.
I taped about 34 sugar maples on or about Feb 3, on about Feb 15 I tapped about 6 more. The past two days have shown some of my best flow of the season in my runs. Every single tap is still running. Boiled yesterday and today and am still boiling my sixth run of the season. i have made close to 10 gallons of syrup, all of it Red Lined on the hydrometer. I have boiled over 400 gallons of sap on three steam pans and am getting pretty tired of it. It would not be so tiring if I had more dry firewood, but I am about to cut into my wood stove supply of Black Locust and White Oak. Burned a standing dead dogwood and it put out some great heat, burned clean too. Some dead trees seem to hold no moisture on the stump ( dogwood is one of them ) and some will. Very interesting. Nothing like a clear stack and lots of steam.
Spilled about 2 ounces of syrup today as my upside down mason jar top was over tightened and leaked for some seconds.
Reluctant to put any sap in the ground. To date my sap loss is less then 1 gallon.
Lots of lighter colored syrup this year. Most of it in the second half.
I wonder why the low yield? We're about 6 miles apart, I just went past last year yesterday, and should be all time year tomorrow. Some of my trees are running better now than a month ago, go figure - Weather is showing frost / freeze again for Fri or Sat, maybe both, then again Tue / Wed next week. I'll stay till the last drop falls -Quote:
Originally Posted by Woodsrover
I had my best run all year today! I wasn’t feeling the best yesterday now it’s timw to play catch up going to be a late one tonight. I have a total of 13 gallons on the year
Went to bed at 3:30 this AM and woke up at 6:30 AM for more punishment for drilling holes in trees.
Well I say that and then pumped 600 gallons into the milk tank last night. Not the best looking sap...a little cloudy...but its flowing pretty good right now. All of a sudden next week looks good too, at least the first part of it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Van
Unfortunately I think I’m done for the year. Had a nasty sickness go through the house finally checked today and all my sap was spoiled, was sitting since Wednesday. 200 gallons down the drain. Sometimes you have to take the bad with the good total of 13 gallons on the seasons
Boiled another 300 gallons today. VERY dark compared to even just yesterday. Trees starting to bud (here in Cornwall anyway) and I pulled the last few gallons of syrup off the evaporator and am finishing it on the stove as I type. Done for the year.Quote:
Originally Posted by Woodsrover
Do you tap Reds or Sugars?Quote:
Originally Posted by Woodsrover
All sugars.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sugar Bear
Anyone in CT still running? Looks like today will be some and maybe Mon-Wed next week?
Still going in Watertown. My trees are located in a very cold area so usually 2 weeks behind everyone else.
I picked up 35 gal sap yesterday, i'm 75 away from 2000 gal - trying to reach that number
tapped Feb 1 and pulled taps yesterday but sap was still flowing slowly on most taps whether a CV tap or regular tap.
40 taps
508 gallons sap boiled about 3 gallons discarded.
over 11 gallons of syrup made
drop lines into individual buckets more productive then tubing as usual. Got about 18 gallons per tap on my 8 individual buckets.