I tap at my sugarhouse Sugars, Reds and a few silvers. I keep an eye on the buds. Flowers are ok, but as soon as you see any green it is over. At the first sign of green I remove all of the reds and silvers. The sugars continue for 7-14 days and last year it was 3 weeks between first green on Reds and the opening of the buds on Sugars, but that was the longest I ever saw. As others have said, if on buckets the sap will quit, it's only on vacuum that you need to watch close. Reds are not quick to give up their sap if on buckets. Do you have any slope to work with? If yes check out some threads on 3/16 tubing, it will give you vacuum if the elevation drop is there, no pump needed and gravity never breaks down or needs fuel.
Dave Klish, I recently ordered a 2x6 wood fired evaporator from A&A Sheet Metal which I will be converting to oil fired
Now have solar, 2x6 finish pan, 5 bank 7x7 filter press, large water jacketed bottler, and tankless water heater.
Recently bought another Gingerich RO, this one was a 125, but a second membrane was added thus is a 250, like I had.
After running a 2x3, a 2x6, 3x8 tapping from 79 taps up to 1320 all woodfired, now I'm going to a 2x6 oil fired and a 200-425 taps.