![]() (We use ordinary 5 gallon plastic buckets that have never been used for anything else, but we washed them well, and store the sap in them at cold temperature for no more than a few of days before boiling off.) It is recommended that this be made of food grade material. Collection buckets or washed, recycled 1-gallon milk jugs.A drill with 7/16 inch drill bit (or whatever size is necessary for your particular spiles).What you needĮverything that is going to touch the sap should be washed and rinsed thoroughly, because impurities can give the syrup an off flavor. You might get a day’s worth of sap if you tap early, but if you then get an extended cold snap (longer than a few days), the sap flow might stop completely and you will have to re-bore your holes. Now, you might get an occasional warm sunny day in early February, but you want to wait until day time temperatures are rising above freezing somewhat consistently. Here in Massachusetts, that’s usually late February or early March, and continues for about a month. Tap your trees when the sap starts to flow, which happens in late winter when day time temperatures rise above freezing, but night time temperatures are still dropping below freezing. Unlike buds of any other maple, sugar maple buds are narrow, pointed, brownish-purple, and have many scales. The edges between the main points (see photo below) of sugar maple leaves are smooth, while those of red maple are serrated.Ĭloseup of red maple and sugar maple buds. ![]()
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