Tapping in Ontario 2010

[Rockwood]

Looks like is almost that time of year.
Down in my neck of the woods the temperature is going to slide over the 0 mark in a week or so.. Although mybe I just have the itch.

Gentlemen start your tapping..

[KenWP]

Your further north then me a bit but probbably not as high. Our forecast so far hasn't any light untill March it looks like. I watch for when Ennis Maple starts and hope it's time here also. Last year took untill the end of March to actually get enough to make it worth while collecting.

[H. Walker]

I always go by the Full Moon as a long range forcaster and this year that's Feb. 28 + Mar. 29. So, I predict that we'll get some early March sap with a freeze up then the big runs at the end of March. But remember even the Groundhog is wrong 2/3's of the time!!!

[ennismaple]

Ken -If you're judging when to tap based on what I do you could be in trouble my friend! I'm flying by the seat of my pants - just with more taps! We've kept dates of when we tap and first boil for over 20 years and we've made syrup March 10 or earlier only twice so I'm not serious about charging batteries until after March 1. Harold may be up to a week earlier than us as he's far enough south to make his bush a few degress warmer. I may tap the one 450 tap bush with CV's at the end of February to get it finished early.

[thenewguy]

Around the peterborough area locals generally tap the first weekend in march. its usually early enough to get the first big run. last year we tapped that weekend and were boiling the following monday. but i have seen the sap not starting to run till 2nd or 3rd week.

[Rockwood]

Looks like I've jumped the gun. But so so close to being over the 0 Deg mark for next week.. And your all right the temperature will drop off for the first week of March.


I'll though I still don't get the moon thing.

Just inpatient I guess

[KenWP]

If I follow Ennis I can blame him instead of my impatient self. I have to have somebody to follow unless I drive over a few miles and check the other sugar makers.

[halladaymaple]

Hi guys: Yeah, when to tap is always the question. Look for the warmer trends and listen to the tress (no I'm not one of those) the birds man, listen to the birds and smell the air, if that fails check the weathernetwork.com forecast

The only thing I can advise on, is "Be ready to go when the sap flows!" thats my personal moto, make sure everything is ready at the recieving end and ready to crack the valve and let the sap slow, light the match and wait. Dont be running around fixing stuff that should have been done before first sap flow. All the best to fellow producers. I am located near athens Ontario and have never tapped before March 10.

Darrell

[cheesegenie]

Like my father always said, tap on St Patricks Day(Mar.17) in this area, and that always has worked for me. Somebody told me there was no snow in Brockville now. Still a foot or so here
in the bush, but has frozen, great to get around and cut wood.

[KenWP]

I know this year to tap either later or not get to excited and just wait for it to come. Made most of the syrup in a 10 day period and just wasted time the other 4 weeks. If I tap by the 10 of March I am good till the end of April almost.