Sap sugar content relation to freezing nights?
Hey all,
Here in Central IL it has been unseasonably warm for mid March. There has not been a freeze since last Saturday. I checked the sugar content of my sap today and it is the lowest I have ever collected at 1.6% (average here is low 2%). It is supposed to freeze this coming weekend.
My questions is will a freezing night help the sugar content in sap recover a bit or does sap sugar content lower throughout the season regardless of freezing nights?
Camp Wokanda
Peoria Park District
2023 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, sap storage shack w/ 1100 gallon tank - 123 gallons
2022 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, homemade vac filter & water jacket canner - 104 gallons
2021 - 215 on 3/16 shurflo, added 2nd membrane to RO - 78 gallons
2020 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, upgraded hp pump on RO - 66 gallons
2019 - 150 on 3/16 shurflo, Deer Run 125 dolly RO - 73 gallons
2018 - 120 on 3/16 shurflo, 2x6 raised flue w/hood, homemade arch w/ AUF & AOF - 34.5 gallons
Anyone????
Camp Wokanda
Peoria Park District
2023 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, sap storage shack w/ 1100 gallon tank - 123 gallons
2022 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, homemade vac filter & water jacket canner - 104 gallons
2021 - 215 on 3/16 shurflo, added 2nd membrane to RO - 78 gallons
2020 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, upgraded hp pump on RO - 66 gallons
2019 - 150 on 3/16 shurflo, Deer Run 125 dolly RO - 73 gallons
2018 - 120 on 3/16 shurflo, 2x6 raised flue w/hood, homemade arch w/ AUF & AOF - 34.5 gallons
Been answered many times. A freeze in mid-season will bump up the sap sugar content a bit.
Dr. Tim Perkins
UVM Proctor Maple Research Ctr
http://www.uvm.edu/~pmrc
https://mapleresearch.org
Timothy.Perkins@uvm.edu
Based on my experience, sugar counts continue to decrease as the season goes on. I’m getting 1.6 now also. This is normal for being half way through my season.
Spud
Thanks Dr Tim. I actually searched quite a bit and could not find a thread about it.Originally Posted by DrTimPerkins
Camp Wokanda
Peoria Park District
2023 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, sap storage shack w/ 1100 gallon tank - 123 gallons
2022 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, homemade vac filter & water jacket canner - 104 gallons
2021 - 215 on 3/16 shurflo, added 2nd membrane to RO - 78 gallons
2020 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, upgraded hp pump on RO - 66 gallons
2019 - 150 on 3/16 shurflo, Deer Run 125 dolly RO - 73 gallons
2018 - 120 on 3/16 shurflo, 2x6 raised flue w/hood, homemade arch w/ AUF & AOF - 34.5 gallons
I have been checking my sap sugar % every day. Mine started at 1.2% my lowest start ever, It stayed ther until I got a freeze. The reading after the freeze was 1.4%, after 2 days it dropped to 1.3%. Then the first long hard freeze it climbed to 1.6% and a very short thaw followed by another freeze. That gave me my best this season, 1.8%. Then we had several days no freeze, it stayed at 1.8 for 2 days, then dropped .1 each day until it was again at 1.4%. Tonight I will have a good freeze, short that tomorrow and then another freeze. I will check both days. For here the coming week looks better than most this season, While not every night, the forecast calls for no more than 1 night without a freeze then another freeze. It will be interesting to see what happens.
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.
I'm hoping for a good freeze tonight, minimal thaw tomorrow, hard freeze tomorrow night, and then a few freeze/thaw nights/days until next Friday. Each year I've seen low sugar for the initial run, then an immediate bump into the mid 2% range, and steady drop (even with freeze-thaws) until a hard mid-season freeze, with a corresponding bump-up to 2% or above, then steady drop to end of season. I RO'd some 1.5% sap last night and boiled today. It graded-out dark (closer to amber than very dark). Every year is different.
2023: Award Winning Maple Syrup and Honey!
2023: 200 Taps on 3/16" "natural vac"
2022: 150 Taps on 3/16" "natural vac"
2022: Lapierre Vision 2x6 with Preheater & Marcland Autodraw
2022: Brand new post and beam sugar house
2022: 4"x40" RO
Kubota L4701, Kubota BX2380
2 Black Rescue Dogs, 2 Livestock Guardian Dogs, Many Bee Hives, A Flock of Icelandic Chickens
30 Acres of Wooded Bliss
vikingmadeforge: Artist Blacksmithing & Bladesmithing
https://blackdogbeesandmapletrees.com
Fixed it for ya...
About 750 taps on High Vac.
2.5 x 8 Intens-O-Fire
Airtech 3 hp LR Pump
Springtech Elite 500 RO
14 x 24 Timber Frame SugarHouse
16 x 22 Sap Shed w/ 1500 gal. + 700 gal. tanks
www.littlehogbackfarm.com
The key word there was mid-season. After that time, a declining trend is normal.
Dr. Tim Perkins
UVM Proctor Maple Research Ctr
http://www.uvm.edu/~pmrc
https://mapleresearch.org
Timothy.Perkins@uvm.edu
Wow Dr. Tim was right. After several days of 1.6% sugar I am now back at 2% today. The freeze we had must of really helped. I don’t ever remember seeing sugar jump like this mid season. Sap is still running 300 GPH at 8:30 pm. Should run all night and all day and night tomorrow. Keep it coming.
Spud
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