Originally Posted by
paulslund
So what's the verdict on next week? I've been quite surprised with the warmer weather and thaws we've had this year considering the forecast was for a long, cold and snowy winter.. sure has put a damper on the snowmobiling.
Starting Sunday the Ottawa area forecast is calling for highs of 1-2 degrees and below zero nights...is that enough to thaw the trees to get sap going or should I just wait and see if we get back to freezing temps into March. My preference is to wait.. primarily because I'm no where near to ready and don't want to rush but I will if that's the right call..
Thanks!
Paul.
Hmmmm...sledders out here having a fine old time with all the snow we have. Some years they barely get out a half-dozen times. They've been out an awful lot this year.
In terms of tapping, I peeked at the forecast for next week and yes, it does look promising...for now!!! For example this time last week it was calling for Tuesday to be zero. Now it says -6 for a daytime high. (btw I'm SE of Ottawa so we're usually 2-4 degrees warmer.)
If you have smaller trees, and temperatures actually do go with what the forecast says now, then it might be worth tapping. But if you have gigantic old trees like I do - like big enough that two adults might be able to reach around their trunks - I could tap next week and probably not see a significant amount of sap from my biggest trees for another 2-3 weeks. And if I get a lot of NW winds, then that usually kills the run til it warms up or I get a wind from the the South. Hope this helps!
Been tapping since 2008.
2018 - 17 taps/7 trees...819l sap, approx 28l syrup
2019 - 18 taps/8 trees...585l sap, 28l syrup...21:1 ratio
2020 - 18 taps/8 trees...890.04l sap...gave away about 170l, 30l snafu'd....23l total for me from approx 690l
2021 - 18 taps/8 trees...395l sap, 12 l syrup
2022 - 18 taps/8 trees....7 sugars 1 red due to #2 having surgery so had the season off....582l sap, 18.5l syrup
2023 - 18 taps/8 trees...all sugars again. 807l sap, so far approx 14l syrup