North East Ohio 2023

[christopherh]

Nothing out of the ordinary here.

[Pdiamond]

It's great that you are getting to enjoy the time with your father. Treasure that time because there will come a day when you will miss him. I know.

[johnallin]

Has anyone else in the area had an unusually high amount of niter this year? This has been a great season so far but perhaps the worst niter in my syrup pan that I have experienced.

Jason
Can’t say we’ve had more, but I am cleaning the pans more than previous years as it seems I have more time between boils.
Boiled again today and put up 3 gal of real nice dark amber. Sap was clear as a bell and foam up in flue pan was nothing like earlier boils. No sap came in though as woods are still too cold. Maybe tomorrow.

[Aaron Stack]

Has anyone else in the area had an unusually high amount of niter this year? This has been a great season so far but perhaps the worst niter in my syrup pan that I have experienced.

I've cleaned so many times this year it's ridiculous. Boiled yesterday and I'll be cleaning today just to make it go faster than Friday's cleaning

[heus]

I have gotten into the habit of going to the sugarhouse on my way to work, draining the sweet from the syrup pan, and filling with a white vinegar solution that I reuse. Prior to boiling I drain the vinegar, take the syrup pan outside, and rinse with water. In the past I only had to do that maybe once every 2-3 boils but it has been needed every time this year.

[RC Maple]

Has anyone else in the area had an unusually high amount of niter this year? This has been a great season so far but perhaps the worst niter in my syrup pan that I have experienced.

I was wondering the same thing. I have tapped two sets of trees this year. I thought that when I tapped the second woods, maybe the niter would be less. I have been cleaning the syrup section of the pan after almost every boil. The same as heus, I drain the pan, leave vinegar in it for the day, drain and rinse the pan for the next boil. I have had it before but seems much more frequent this year.

[WoodButcher]

It's been fine here this year. The draw off divider usually just has a thin layer of niter on it that flakes off with a 3hr hot milkstone soak. The Orlon has been fine too. Real dark this last boil over the weekend but still Amber Rich!

[johnallin]

After a week of cold; I turned vac back on this morning and after clearing out some ice, sap was coming in.
Checked mid-afternoon and had about .5 GPT in the tank.
So far buds are still tight and sap has gone back to clear.

I don't hear the fat lady yet...but then I can't hear very good...just ask my wife <grin>.

[christopherh]

Sap on vac coming in pretty decent here. Buckets are pretty much done, not much in them if any. Sap is nice and clear.

[johnallin]

Sap on vac coming in pretty decent here. Buckets are pretty much done, not much in them if any. Sap is nice and clear.

Chris.
That's exactly what I'm seeing over here.
Don't know how much longer, but forecast looks good and today's sap was just like yours...clear, and I'll take it.
This weekend will be 5 weeks tapped in over here...I thought I was late but maybe not so bad after all.
Boiled last Sat and put up 3 1/2 gal of amber, again with amazing taste.