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[ONandONandON]

HEY STS! anybody out there tap trees? been wanting to try this, but need more info..
been reading conflicting reports on when to tap, some say late summer threw winter,
some say springtime, just started reading on the subject.. Any good info appreciated.

ive read in a magazine article black walnut tree has syrup like maple but nuttier flavor, and more rare/valuable,
then i was wondering about pecan trees, i have lots of pecan trees that don't make many nuts.. turns out YES!
 
quick google search :
https://www.mapletapper.com/tapping-birch-walnut-and-others/
https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/heres-something-that-doesnt-fit-anywhere-syrupmaking.526207/
https://cookingwildandfree.blogspot.com/2013/01/sweet-syrups.html
https://practicalselfreliance.com/trees-species-tap-syrup/
https://homestead-honey.com/2014/03/10/beyond-maple-syrup-tapping-black-walnut-trees/
https://wildfoodism.com/2014/02/04/22-trees-that-can-be-tapped-for-sap-and-syrup/

[LIBERTYNY]

  I have successfully taped maple (norway, silver) birch and sweet gum, all in the early spring just as the ground is in the final thaw and the most liquid flows, My understanding is any time the ground is not frozen its possible to gain a 'sap' but it will likely be much less and of less quality.   Oh and pine sap but thats a little different 

[CalyxCrystals]

  I have successfully taped maple (norway, silver) birch and sweet gum, all in the early spring just as the ground is in the final thaw and the most liquid flows, My understanding is any time the ground is not frozen its possible to gain a 'sap' but it will likely be much less and of less quality.   Oh and pine sap but thats a little different

For maples:
when the temp goes from below freezing to above the sap flows. You can put your taps in early, it wont hurt anything.
You can get sap in the fall,  but spring is better. You can try both if you want, tapping 1 tree in several spots wont hurt it.

[geezer]

the size of the tree matters for how many taps you put in it

something the thickness of your leg shouldn't be tapped. something as big around as a Ford Taurus will accept several taps without depriving the tree of what it needs to restart in the spring

I messed up a few buckets of sap by not processing it quick enough. If left in the sun for too long (too warm) it starts to congeal and possibly ferment or possibly a bacterial infection - not a tasty product