When Should I Tap My Maple Trees?

Every year, maple producers ask the question “Is now the best time to tap?” It is tempting to put in your taps on the first 40º day of the year. However, it’s often better to hold off. This video discusses why it’s best to be patient, but also acknowledges some exceptions in which early tapping makes sense.

[@squirrellyacres]

Great advice on when to tap. Watching the weather near Amberg,WI looks like March 12 should be a good time. Good luck with your season.

[@jbilly24]

As usual, great logical advise from Jim.
500 miles south of you in Missouri, and my season just ended. Tapped on 1-27-23 and our last boil was 2-19-23. A shorter season this year but we’ve been in the mid to upper 60s for too many days now. The maples buds are swelling rapidly. Strange weather this year, but admittedly, we are in the southern range for syrup production.

[@greatnorthernviews3052]

Good advice

[@billjohnson9343]

Here in VT we have similar weather. You mentioned planting gardens on memorial weekend..same here, thats what old timers taught us..
When to tap according to old timers..town meeting day. Not sure if you have that, but its the first Tuesday in March.

[@802louis]

Vermont 😊
This year was very unusual I tapped February 10 and the first time I’ve ever broke my rules but Worked out for me this year thanks for sharing

[@donkdonkelly6225]

Thank you for this video !! Small operation in Maine with 300 taps. Every season I carefully watch the forecast to figure out the best time to put out our buckets which are 1/2 of our total taps. I usually start getting “are you tapping yet” questions around Feb 1st…….I’m now going to give folks the link to your video when they ask 😂😂😂. Have to ask though, did the bullet hit the maple tree before the deer or after?

[@benbritch4696]

I tapped in February here in Vermont and made 3 gallons of syrup the last two weeks and on the first of march looks like I will boil again 😊

[@johntaylor4695]

Good video. In your experience when do the holes start to heal to a point where sap yield is effected? Also is there a difference in healing time from taps under vacuum to taps on gravity?

[@mattkolaszewski7942]

Tapping up here by Tebo's in Carney, MI. We'll have 8,000 out by Friday.

[@200cdl]

LoL if your waiting this yr, you missed half of it