Early Tapping

[SognSyrup]

Does anyone ever tap early during a January thaw to test things out before the big run starts? Temps by next weekend could have sap running.

Just curious. Anxious to try out our new gravity setup.

[motowbrowne]

3 out of the last 5 years I've tapped to early. It was the last couple of days in February each time. Forecast looked good. Last year, I brought in some good sap in the first few days. Then things got too cold for two weeks. Then too warm for ten days. Then syrup season started. I should have tapped then. Instead I had tap holes that were going on four weeks old.

I don't think tapping a few is a bad idea, but tapping out right now seems like a waste, especially if you're on buckets or bags. With vacuum, new check valve spouts and clean or new drops, maybe you can get away with it. I wouldn't risk it, though.

[jmayerl]

If you are on vacuum and can turn it on when ever temps are above freezing, then the gains of a few small early runs will negate any small drop off in sap at the end of season. This has been well documented over multiple years by proctor

[GoldyCon]

I'm eyeballing a week of upper 30's but since this is my first time harvesting I'm not sure if I should tap some trees now. Will the taps close up in 2 months when the season is supposed to start?

[spud]

I'm eyeballing a week of upper 30's but since this is my first time harvesting I'm not sure if I should tap some trees now. Will the taps close up in 2 months when the season is supposed to start?

I have found that CV2 spouts will give me good amounts of sap all the way to the 20th of April even when I tap in mid January.,

Spud

[markcasper]

I'm eyeballing a week of upper 30's but since this is my first time harvesting I'm not sure if I should tap some trees now. Will the taps close up in 2 months when the season is supposed to start?

I wouldn't tap any now. Don't know where you are in MN?, but this is not Vermont here. We have had way more colder weather to date than out east. Its nothing more than a January thaw going on and even though their forecasting 40 for a few days, its going to be rainy, cloudy, etc, not conducive to sap flow. If its mid February (another month) then that is another story.

[berkshires]

I have found that CV2 spouts will give me good amounts of sap all the way to the 20th of April even when I tap in mid January.,

Spud

On buckets, tubing, or tubing with vacuum?

[Jeff E]

I'm with Mr. Casper on this one. For the northern Midwest-I think tapping in January will be a loser on the 'cost-benefit' ratio.
I will be waiting until Feb 10 before I get the drill ready and start looking at forecasts.

[wbreitbarth]

Ughhh I have lost sleep this week about this. I live in southern MN and it has not got below freezing since 1-18-2017. They are not talking any below freezing temps until 1-26-2017 I just looked last years pictures and taps were put in 2-8-2016. My season was over by the 1st of March. Hopefully we get some really cold weather in the 1st week of Feb. or I might have missed the season

[markcasper]

Ughhh I have lost sleep this week about this. I live in southern MN and it has not got below freezing since 1-18-2017. They are not talking any below freezing temps until 1-26-2017 I just looked last years pictures and taps were put in 2-8-2016. My season was over by the 1st of March. Hopefully we get some really cold weather in the 1st week of Feb. or I might have missed the season

Hee-hee, I told my wife of your comments and she goes, "What, is this his 3rd year or what?" You have not missed a thing. You were done by March 1st last year? I didn't boil until like 3-6 or 3-7 and had good syrup til the end of March, then 10-12 days of off flavor stuff after that. I lost some last year and everyone should have been tapping by the middle of Feb last year, but I haven't even thought about tapping a sample tree yet. I guarantee you have not missed a drop yet. I'm actively going to use this warm spell to prepare, but I wouldn't lose sleep yet.

I looked back at a few of your posts and say you didn't boil until 2/28/16, but you tapped on 2/8/16??? And then you mention it was over on 3/1/16? WHAT????? Your only a few hours southwest of me and I went til 4/12/16, though the good syrup was over with about 10 days before that.