Tapped a few trees today and got this. Not bitter at all! Am I too early?

Yes

Is that cooked down or just sap from the tree?

After I check traps and put out a few more sets I'm planning on working on getting my taps out this week.

That looks very dark if it's not evaporated. My raw sap normally looks clear as water until late in the season.

It's only mid January

For my part of wisconsin yes its too early but guys in parts of new york and indiana might be starting much earlier based upon what ive read on maple syrup forums in the past . Maple trader is a good forum to get info on. The earliest ive started is the middle of February during a warm spell. It ran well for a week or so then we had a cool spell and didnt really start going good again until march which is pretty typical. Were usaully done around end of march / first week of april.

If that’s the color direct from the tree then we have a problem in NY. lol. Up in Northern NY looks like most temps not warm enough for more than a week. Then only people with vacuum. I’m guessing mid Feb for us.

Its will be early for us but if I dont get the taps in when I have time I will end up being to late. That and we have had weather in the past so odd I didn't get them out early enough. My wife normally wants to get them out in January since she knows if I wait it may not get done in time.

Question for the experts. I have 3 Sugar Maple trees probably close to 2 ft. In diameter that I have never tapped. Would I get enough sap to cook down to syrup?

How may taps would I use in those trees?

I also have 3 Norway Maple trees. Would these trees be worth tapping?

Do taps do any damage to trees?

When is the optimum time to tap these trees?

Thanks

I would put two taps in each tree. You should get enough out of them but it will depend on the day. Some days you might not get any and others you may have a full bucket.

I believe you would be fine tapping them.

You have to drill a hole in the tree about 2.5" deep, so, yes it does do some damage.

I wait til February. Watch the weather and wait for a week that is going to be above freezing during the day and below freezing at night. It is best to get your taps out before this time, I try for a few days before.

Wow, that is very early in my opinion. I can't start to tap here until at least March.

Yes, it's cooked down.

I like to put my taps in on the south and east sides. They will start to run earlier, as the sun warms that side up earlier.. Try and tap over a big root and under a big limb if available. slope , your bore holes down slightly. The sap travels in the lay just under the bark, so don't damage the bark, or they will leak. I help my neigbor most years, Great spring project. You can solve a lot of the worlds problems, sitting around watching sap boil. old243

Too early?

You can get sap just about any time the day is above freezing and the night, below. You might not get much, and the holes will seal themselves long before a decent flow.

So, as a practical matter it is far too early.

Beetman, if you tap the Norway maples I would keep the sap separate. I am unsure if they make good syrup. But worth a try.

I tap mostly box elder. In march.

Bit too soon sonny boy.Our real winter is a little late this year but is coming this week.Dont tap them trees yet.

To early for here anyways.

One disadvantage of tapping too early to get a small amount is the tree will start to try and close the hole or wound and you may have partial blockage etc. when the real sap season runs occur. We may be early here to but from past experience for us late February would be early, not mid January, but I can see those south and east of us would have warmer weather then we do.

Bryce