We will begin tapping Thursday March 11 and here is my experience and thoughts on this:
Last years 2020 temperature patterns look similar to this year. We tapped in 2020 on March 5 with perfect weather for sap runs 40s day and 20s night , followed by a warm spell of 4 nights with night time temperatures above 40. The sap ran a little and we collected about 1000 gallons of sap(minimum need to start the Reverse Osmosis) from 2500 pails. Since it was the first boil, we only sweetened the pans and made no syrup. The warm spell hit and after four days of 40’s and 60s , the “sweetened pan had soured” and the concentrated sap in the evaporator turned stringy like.
Unfortunately I attempted to cook it anyway and it boiled over like Mount Vesuvius. what a mess, do not try and boil that stuff, bad news
This years temperature pattern is very similar. No freezing nights after this Sunday and temps in the 50s possibly a 60, until nex Thurs March 11, when temperatures go back to normal with highs in the mid thirties and forties and lows in the twenties. Perfect temps and the snow will be gone!!
Maple Supplies are running low, so if you need something let me know soon. I have plenty of filters, taps, buckets, hydrometers, quart, 12 and 8 oz glass. Caps are in short supply so, I am unable to sell large quantities (>24) extra caps with your order of glass. I will have some ROBucket units in this week. Still waiting for CDL Nano mini RO units as well.
Cheers!
Don