A wagon full of sap buckets means the maple season has begun!
The Time to Tap
In order to produce the best maple syrup, Coombs Family Farms watches for signs to know when it is time to tap our maple trees. While the typical Vermont sugaring season begins in March and lasts from four to six weeks, there is no set time to tap maples. First and foremost, the maple farmer must be aware of the weather. The length of the winter, the amount of snowfall, and the temperature are just some of the variables that influence when the sap begins to run – and how long the run will last. To know when it’s time, you must watch for the signs.
When freezing winter days give way to the milder daytime temperatures and melting snows of spring, the sap begins to run. The best conditions for sap to begin to run are freezing nights followed by warming sunny days. After a few consecutive days and nights of these ‘cold to warm’ temperature swings, you’re ready to harvest. The annual run is over when the freezing nights end and the trees begin to bud.
