
Originally Posted by
Newbie18
Hi: I,m over in Warkworth and in somewhat of a dilemma with this warm weather. When do you think we might be able to tap this year? Last year I had about 45-55 taps and only used an old barrel burner outside. This year am working on a new evaporator and have a 2x4 pan. Would like to put about 30 trees on vacuum (natural) and hang about 40 buckets.
So last year I tapped on February 9th. Mind you I'm just north of Kingston and our weather always seems quite a bit more mild than folks even 30 km north of us.. Nevertheless, it was too early as we found out at the end of the season when we were pulling our spiles the sap started flowing like crazy out of the seasons non-productive trees.. We chalked it up to premature tapping, a mistake I don't want to recreate this time around.
According to the forecast we have another cold spell coming with temps in neg teens.. I'll prob hold off until another couple of weeks. I'll post my first tap though, super excited for it!
2 acres of sugar maples. Woodburning arch with small evaporator and propane burners with steamer pans Year 5.
2015 - 35 taps on 30 trees. 1556 L sap and 44L syrup!
2016 - 42 taps on 40 trees. 2274 L sap and 64L syrup!
2017 - 37 taps on 36 trees. 1573 L sap and 47L syrup!
2018 - 33 taps on 32 trees. 2314 L sap and 53L syrup!
2019 - 30 taps on 29 trees. 1640L sap and 51 L syrup!
2020 - 31 taps on 30 trees. 760 L + stopped counting sap and 25 L syrup!