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Thread: When is it too early to tap?

  1. #11
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Uxbridge,Ma
    Posts
    196

    Default

    Ha killingworthmaple where in CT are you ? Are you close to Mass?
    27 x 66 homemade arch
    10 taps 2008
    200+taps 2012 (180 will be SS)
    5 years and going strong and looking to get bigger

    2005 John Deer Gator w/a trailor and 130 tank


    www.facebook.com/blackstonevalleysugaring
    http://www.blackstonevalleysugaring.org/

  2. #12
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Caledon, Ontario
    Posts
    2,176

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    I guess the bottom line is you won't know you've tapped too soon until it's too late.

    Specifically, your holes are dried up and everyone near you is still getting a good run. Down your way I'm guessing that would be about the end of March or early April. Up here we don't tap till mid March.

  3. #13
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    SE Missouri
    Posts
    289

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    So starting now in SE Missouri Probably wouldn't hurt? Last year was my first year, and I tapped Jan 30.
    Now I have an outdoor hobby for all 12 months. Like I need anything more to do
    About 1000 taps on gravity tubing, MicRO2 RO, 2.5 X 8 Leader King, and a 1953 Willys Jeep to run around the maple woods with.
    http://www.gihringfamilyfarm.com/

  4. #14
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Ayer's Cliff Quebec
    Posts
    3,185

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    I tapped March 5 for some of my trees and they ran until April 20 then stopped when it stopped freezeing. They never ran until the 11th of march and then only a few cupfulls a day. This year who knows. Am worried if I don't tap early enough Theron will suck the trees dry on me.
    maybe 50 taps for 2011
    Finally ready to boil when I get enough sap
    I just might be crazy.( make that I know I am)
    Trees all tapped except the ones with 5 feet of snow.
    Enough rabbits to keep Elmer busy..

  5. #15
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Killingworth, Connecticut
    Posts
    230

    Default Where am I

    I am the in southern part of CT down by the sound. Killingworth is where the sugar house is we tap trees on the Madison and Killingworth line.

    Nathan

    75 taps and growing
    2x6 evaporator
    16x16 finisher
    3 Kids (sap Haulers)
    1 Maple Widow (wife)

  6. #16
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Allegheny National Forest
    Posts
    1,443

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    Aunt stella,
    If you have trouble fitting sugaring into a 40hr work week do like i do extend the work week to 80hrs you will have more time. If you have an extended period of weather that has a good freeze thaw cylce through that period go ahead and tap. I have tapped presidents Day weekend for the last 7years, never made much syrup until march

  7. #17
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Bow, NH
    Posts
    622

    Default Tapping

    In Scott Nearing's book he talks about his experiments of tapping in Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb etc. and the results, which were pretty good. He did this back in the 1940's and obviously had metal spiles and buckets. The results he reported were drastically different from what people report today especially the length of time his tap holes produced sap. The only differences I see are: (1) his tap holes were slightly larger and (2) his metal spiles and buckets versus todays plastic and tubing. I suspect the bacteria rarely had a pathway back into the tree back then and perhaps the bacteria strains are becoming more resistant to the various washing techiques today.
    Bruce Treat
    825 Sugar Maple Taps
    3/16 w/ DSD .225 Spiles
    H2O RO
    H2O 2.5 X 8
    Bow, New Hampshire

  8. #18
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    BECKLEY, WV (SUGARHOUSE DAWSON, WV)
    Posts
    6,621

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    Weather was much warmer back then and they had more freezing and thawing in Nov, Dec, and Jan. Before Al Gore came along and came up with global warming and now it is too cold those three months! LOL!
    Brandon

    CDL dealer for All of West Virginia & Virginia
    3x10 CDL Deluxe oil fired
    Kubota M7040 4x4 Tractor w/ 1153 Loader hauling sap
    2,400+ taps on 3/16 CDL natural vacuum on 9 properties
    24x56 sugarhouse
    CDL 1,000 2 post RO


    WEBSITE: http://danielsmaple.com

  9. #19
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Martinsville, Indiana
    Posts
    311

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    I tapped today in central Indiana. Today is the first day we have had above freezing in probably three weeks. Our ponds are frozen to a depth of 5-6 inches. I drilled this afternoon and as soon as I pulled the drill out most were trickling. The larger trees seemed to be frozen more so than the smaller average trees.

  10. #20
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Ayer's Cliff Quebec
    Posts
    3,185

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    In the old days we used to get more days that were warm and cold nights. Now we either get cold or the nights stay warm. Extremes of each now. Spring is not like it was 30 years ago even.
    maybe 50 taps for 2011
    Finally ready to boil when I get enough sap
    I just might be crazy.( make that I know I am)
    Trees all tapped except the ones with 5 feet of snow.
    Enough rabbits to keep Elmer busy..

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