I have a question, don't walnut trees usually run later than the maple trees?
I have a question, don't walnut trees usually run later than the maple trees?
2004 - 2012 2x3 flat pan 25 to 60 taps
2012 2x3 new divided pan w/draw off 55 taps
2018 - didn't boil surgery - bought new evaporator
2019 new SML 2x4 raised flue high output evap. 65 taps
made 17 gal. syrup
2020 - only put out 53 taps - made 16.25 gal. syrup
2021 - Didn't work out
2022 - 25 taps on bags / 8 taps on 3/16's line - late start
2025 - No tapping for me
Trends. Not being familiar with walnut tapping, don't walnut trees usually run later than maple trees?
2004 - 2012 2x3 flat pan 25 to 60 taps
2012 2x3 new divided pan w/draw off 55 taps
2018 - didn't boil surgery - bought new evaporator
2019 new SML 2x4 raised flue high output evap. 65 taps
made 17 gal. syrup
2020 - only put out 53 taps - made 16.25 gal. syrup
2021 - Didn't work out
2022 - 25 taps on bags / 8 taps on 3/16's line - late start
2025 - No tapping for me
Pdiamond I am so new to tapping and sugaring that I really can't answer your question.I've heard the same statement from the local CDL dealer so last years plan was to watch a local Maple operation when they tapped in but they didn't tap at all so I'm still a bit in the dark.
I did start Mar 1st last year and ran thru to April 8/9 ish.
The tap on 1 tree earlier this week was to a test for a couple of things related to how a mechanical vacuum system setpoint system works and to whether it produced more sap than natural vacuum but the lines froze and spoiled that plan.
Thanks for the question
Black Walnut tapping
2021 - 3 trees 5 taps enough to boil a sample.
~ 2 acres, 35+ mature Black Walnut
2022 - 30 Southern Ontario Walnuts tapped, 69 spouts.
650 litres (143 Imp gals) on sap bags, 14 litres (3 Imp gals) walnut syrup on turkey fryer.
2023 - 35 trees tapped, 28 mech vacuum & 7 on gravity. Propane fired custom evaporator, 2'x2' divided pan, 2'x1' preheat pan.
882 litres (194 Imp gals) mechanical & gravity vac turned into 18.25 litres (4.8 Imp gals) syrup off my DIY evaporator
It will still be too cold to tap up north, but just wondering if you are tempted to tap down south in a week or so?
B9B3A457-9E67-4AB4-8979-B7129048CAAA.jpg
2022 - 5 pan block arch - 109 taps, 73 on 3/16 lines, 36 on drops into 5 gallon pails.
930 gallons boiled, 109 L (28.8 gals) of delicious syrup made.
DYI Vacuum Filter
2023 - 170 taps, mostly on lines, 1153 gallons boiled, 130 L (34.34 gals) of delicious syrup made, on a 2x4 divided pan and base stack, 8” pipe, on a block arch that boiled at a rate of 13 gallons per hour.
2024 - made 48 L, December to March, primarily over two fire bowls.
Based on what I see I don't think I will be tapping for a few weeks yet.
Looks a bit early
Weather 2023-01-31.jpg
Black Walnut tapping
2021 - 3 trees 5 taps enough to boil a sample.
~ 2 acres, 35+ mature Black Walnut
2022 - 30 Southern Ontario Walnuts tapped, 69 spouts.
650 litres (143 Imp gals) on sap bags, 14 litres (3 Imp gals) walnut syrup on turkey fryer.
2023 - 35 trees tapped, 28 mech vacuum & 7 on gravity. Propane fired custom evaporator, 2'x2' divided pan, 2'x1' preheat pan.
882 litres (194 Imp gals) mechanical & gravity vac turned into 18.25 litres (4.8 Imp gals) syrup off my DIY evaporator
Should I be tapping already? Just looked at the 14 day forecast for my area, between Guelph and Milton, and 10 of the next 14 days have above freezing days!?
2019 - 60 buckets, 85L of syrup, 2x4 pan outside
2020 - 100 buckets, 105L of syrup, 2x6 flat pan in a Redi Rack Shack
2021 - 137 buckets, 110L of syrup and a homemade RO (why didn't I do this sooner?)
2022 - 154 buckets, 201L of syrup
2023 - 166 buckets, 343L of syrup, cold sap float box, walking beam sap trailer, 4Walls vacuum filter
2024 - 177 buckets, 200L of syrup
2025 - 177 buckets, 235L of syrup, 2x8 raised flue evaporator
Not my business and I am still a rookie, asking the question more to learn, but starting Sunday in the location I looked at there were 12 consecutive days and counting with possible flow.Originally Posted by Willen
My rookie derrière would go all in. This is where I would bow to more experienced south western Ontario sugar makers. It is early, but it has been a totally different winter.
B49B85AB-689D-4617-AF72-388D67F480B3.jpg
2022 - 5 pan block arch - 109 taps, 73 on 3/16 lines, 36 on drops into 5 gallon pails.
930 gallons boiled, 109 L (28.8 gals) of delicious syrup made.
DYI Vacuum Filter
2023 - 170 taps, mostly on lines, 1153 gallons boiled, 130 L (34.34 gals) of delicious syrup made, on a 2x4 divided pan and base stack, 8” pipe, on a block arch that boiled at a rate of 13 gallons per hour.
2024 - made 48 L, December to March, primarily over two fire bowls.
It’s really a tough call. I haven’t seen anybody else around me tapping yet but maybe some of the bigger operations have started. Feels early to me but I’m sure thinking about it. I’m gonna hang the lines and do as much pre season as I can then make the call. Family day weekend I think is the earliest I’ve ever put taps in and that winter was one like this one is also. Maybe not as crappy. I will test the sugar content before I put them all in.
225 taps 180 on vac 45 on natural gravity lines.
2x6 drop flue with auto draw.
Home built 3 x400gpd ro
2017 kubota M7060hdcc12
2019 can am defender
2017- first year 80 taps 22x36 home made arch and pan.
You are sort of north southwestern Ontario and I can see why it is tempting. My weather will be similar to yours, not quite as warm, but I would sure like to see the weather after Feb 20. If it stayed cold for 10 days after the 20th, then the answer would likely be no, if it rose above freezing again during that time period the answer might be yes.
I still have to set up my stack which I hope to do by this weekend. If next week’s warm spell is still forecasted and they forecast some above freezing temps after the 20th, which I should be able to see by Sunday, I might start tapping in a week’s time.
South Bruce Peninsula
AED20EEF-EBBE-4223-8269-79B5F99616D1.jpg
2022 - 5 pan block arch - 109 taps, 73 on 3/16 lines, 36 on drops into 5 gallon pails.
930 gallons boiled, 109 L (28.8 gals) of delicious syrup made.
DYI Vacuum Filter
2023 - 170 taps, mostly on lines, 1153 gallons boiled, 130 L (34.34 gals) of delicious syrup made, on a 2x4 divided pan and base stack, 8” pipe, on a block arch that boiled at a rate of 13 gallons per hour.
2024 - made 48 L, December to March, primarily over two fire bowls.
Pretty much ready to go but will wait until the end of the month and tap the last week of February.
I have updated my vacuum pumps to the Shurflow 4048's and have added a remote sap monitoring system to my 2 vacuum pumps.
The idea behind using the RSMS - my trees are located at my cottage 3 hours away. With the remote sap monitoring system, I am able to text the controller and it will tell me the temperature, if my pumps are running, how long they have been running, vacuum and even tank level.
I purchased the RSMS units from Mountain Maple in Princeton MA.
Here is the link to their site www.mountainmaplefarm.com
Last edited by Sugarmaker Dave; 02-07-2023 at 07:36 AM.
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