Comments on: How to Know the Perfect Time to Stop Tapping Your Maple Trees

By: Michelle

Michelle — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 20:00:59 +0000

In reply to Treva Shipp. nope, it won't hurt your trees at all. Plenty of folks get tired of the work before the season is over. :)

By: Treva Shipp

Treva Shipp — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 21:15:39 +0000

Hi Michelle!
Thank you for sharing all your wonderful information and insight! I’m in my third season of syrup making and I have heavily relied on your posts to learn the ins and outs of syrup making! My son and I produced about a gallon of syrup our first season and two gallons last year, we are up to 6 gallons this year and the sap is still flowing strong! I know this is going to sound crazy, but is it ok to pull your taps early? It’s hard to believe that one could have too much maple syrup, but it has been a crazy productive year here and I can’t keep up with it all! I would hate to do something that might harm the trees. Would appreciate your help!
T. Shipp

By: Michelle

Michelle — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 23:39:47 +0000

In reply to Rob Thorne. That's great! I'd play it day by day. As soon as the buds start to open, you're done.

By: Rob Thorne

Rob Thorne — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 00:31:23 +0000

I live in NJ and this is my first year tapping. Started a little late but have been pretty successful. Been boiling for 4 days since I collected over 60 gallons which I did not expect. I see some first signs of buds today as weather has been warm but expecting 20s at night and 40s during days next week. Should I pull my taps as planned or wait another week?
Thank you.
Great info btw

By: Kay Erie

Kay Erie — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 02:28:07 +0000

Thank you for your expertise, I live in Minnesota and the weather is very volatile. Recently we have 3-4 days of weather that has temps fluctuations that are 20’s at night and then 40’s in the day. Then we have a cold snap and the taps freeze. Then all of the sudden we have temps in the 50’s.with nights in the 30’s. I have been researching, this is my practice/learning year. I am guessing that you are having similar issues this year.
I am guessing this is the new normal so to speak. So that being said what makes the sap bitter. What is bud break. Like pictures to know what it looks like
I have maple trees that are “budding”.
How do I avoid bitter sap?

Thank you for your patience and assistance
Kay

By: Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 04:53:19 +0000

In reply to Kay Erie.

Not personally, but I write a lot about them in Sweet Maple. You will definitely want to RO the sap, which is less than 1 percent sugar… See this for more on RO: https://soulyrested.com/2019/01/08/build-your-own-reverse-osmosis-system-for-maple-syrup/

By: Kay Erie

Kay Erie — Mon, 21 Mar 2022 12:44:08 +0000

Thank you, have you tapped birch trees? And if so any hints or tips.
Kay

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 19:04:11 +0000

In reply to Kay Erie. Yes, depending on the temperatures and if the bags are in direct sunlight? It's fine for sap to sit for a few days as long as it stays cool. You should know by the smell and the appearance if sap has gone bad. It gets cloudy.

By: Kay Erie

Kay Erie — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 00:16:05 +0000

I am new to collecting sap. Is it ok to leave sap sacks for a couple of days,
I am collecting at our lake place. And I have to leave them for 2-3 days.
Kay

By: Michelle

Michelle — Sun, 13 Mar 2022 03:22:27 +0000

In reply to Suzanne. Hi Suzanne, I think I would still try to tap if I were you. You just never know, and you might be very glad you did... I also would definitely think about switching your set up next year to small pieces of tubing that feed into 5-gallon buckets on the ground. While they can still blow over, they're much sturdier and can even be braced if need be to keep them upright.