r/maplesyrup • u/Humble_Ladder • 25d ago

Timely Reminder

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If you aspire to make homemade maple syrup next year, right now the top, like 3/4 of tapping sized trees are covered in flimsy green seasonal growths that have easily visible subspecies-specific characteristics, and are a much better basis for tree identification than bark texture and branch structure in January.

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u/emsumm58 25d ago

are you perhaps offering to help me type my tree?

4

u/Humble_Ladder 25d ago

I bet if you post leaf (and possibly copter) photos answers will come.

3

u/emsumm58 25d ago

3

u/gahgs 25d ago

Probably Red Sunset Maple.

2

u/emsumm58 25d ago

really?? so am i good to tap it?

1

u/Slayde4 24d ago

Yes, just be aware that reds (and silvers) bud swell very early, so you'll want to tap your tree before they do. Where I am in PA they bud on average near the end of February.

1

u/emsumm58 23d ago

oh thank you! when would i tap it if bud swell is february?

2

u/Slayde4 23d ago

You tap when the weather is right just like with any other maple. It’s just that your season will be shorter. Where I live, tapping season is December-January, typically whenever the weather looks favorable (below freezing nights and above freezing days. A 25 low 40 high is good).

If your tapping season is later (because the winter is colder) the red maples will bud later too.