Newbie Tapper here... This is FUN!

[syvmn]

Hi everyone. I just thought I would share my first experience making maple syrup and then ask you experts a few questions.

I have a tendency (that my wife hates) to grab hobby after hobby after hobby. This year for no particular reason I thought it would be a good idea to try making so maple syrup. I brew beer from time to time so I already had a turkey fryer which I figured could do the job of boiling down the sap. I read a few things here and there about tapping trees and though I would just dive in and go for it. I am a horticulturalist by trade so I know trees very well. On 3/27 I ended up hiking 1/4 mile down a bluff to find a few maples. For some reason the only trees close to my house are oaks and pines and very small maples (1" or less, I'm assuming they get shaded out by the other trees). Anyway, after the hike I found 2 24" Red Maples (probably crossed with a bit of silver). I drilled two 7/16" holes in each tree and gently hammered in a 3" piece of PVC into the holes. I then attatched polyethylene hose onto the PVC and stuck them in a 5gal culligan bottle. I came back the next day to 4 gallons of sap! I couldn't believe how much it just looked like water. The next day (3/28) I only collected 2 gallons from the 4 taps. I took this 6 gallons and boiled it down to a pint of syrup and it is TASTY!

So my questions:
Did I do anything horribly wrong?
How long does a tap hole produce sap?
The third day I only collected a gallon between the 4 holes, do things normally slow down that fast or is it a result of the weather?
Am I too late/early in the sap collecting season?
Any other helpful hints for a brand new syrup maker?

Thanks for any/all help

[PerryW]

1) No, but plastic sap spouts are pretty cheap.

2) A taphole is good for 5-6 weeks, then it dries up. Using a vacuum system will increase yield and the taphole will last longer (or so I'm told)

3) After a run, you need a freeze to "recharge" the trees.

4) Depends on your location. The guys in northern MN are just starting their season. I'm in northern NH and we're usually all done around April 10-15

5) Helpful Hints? - Brouse this site, look at pictures, ask questions and you be up to 1,000 taps in a couple years!

[SilverLeaf]

Am I too late/early in the sap collecting season?

This year you are right on time!
Most years in MN, however, right now would be at the end of the season. In your area (Hastings) I would think normally you would want to be drilling the taps on or around the 15th of march, plus or minus.

Careful, now that you're hooked, this is one hobby you'll never stop...!

[Run Forest Run!]

I have a tendency (that my wife hates) to grab hobby after hobby after hobby. This year for no particular reason I thought it would be a good idea to try making so maple syrup.

Hi syvmn. You just cracked me up when you mentioned about your issue with hobbies. I'm not sure if you've seen the movie "The Brothers Bloom", but if you have you would relate to the scene in this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRtDx3fBbJ4

When I was watching this movie with my husband, he turned to me, raised one eyebrow and then laughed. Ever since then he's said that it was the best way to describe me - I collect hobbies. And might I add, I have a great time doing it and can't see myself ever stopping.

Welcome to the forum.