Yellow Sap?

[Tim in NY]

Been in the 60's here the last 3 days, although this morning was the first time we were not below freezing in many nights. 3 of my 13 buckets had yellow sap in them tonight. Should I pull those buckets off? Should I pull all my buckets?
I have about 35 gallons of clear sap and 4 gallons of the yellow stuff that I set aside in a pail. Should I dump the yellow? What will it do if I mix it in with the clear stuff and boil it all off?

Obviously, I'm a newbie. I did make 3 gallons 2 years ago - but I pulled my buckets before the sap turned. I was sick of boiling that year.

Thanks!

[John c]

I would dump the yellow and boil the clear as soon as possible.

[Tim in NY]

Thanks! By the way - I'm just over the hill from you (Berkshire)

[John c]

Cool! I hung around there in my teens. It's good to have another neighbor on here. Good luck to ya Tim!

[hounder]

We started pulling taps yesterday. Sap was still clear but sugar was down and we made our first batch of dark on the new evaporator. Now comes cleaning lines. Can't wait. Broke my hydrometer last night and have a batch to finish. Great way to end!

[5Gen]

The yellow sap may mean that rain water contaminated the pail. Best to dump.

[bowtie]

i have noticed that most of the time yellow buckets are on the mossy side of the tree and occur after a thaw or rain. unless it very yellow why not just boil it rather than dump it. i can not think that rainwater and the " contaminents" are any worse than all the bugs that get in our buckets. rain, wood and moss are just as natural as the sap we seek.

[Sundown]

I also agree that the yellow sap is from rain. That is when I usually see it, not signifying the end of the run. I have boiled it in the past and have seen no ill effects when diluted with the clear.

[stoweski]

Just collected 10 gallons of yellow sap...

not a lick of rain, no frost.

What else could the yellow sap be caused by... end of season? The sap was in the buckets for less than 12 hours.

Doesn't matter much. I'm only going to use it to clean my pans... just curious.

[happy thoughts]

What else could the yellow sap be caused by... end of season? The sap was in the buckets for less than 12 hours.

Doesn't matter much. I'm only going to use it to clean my pans... just curious.

Bacterial growth
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...058115/?page=1