Maple sugaring guides
Start here · 8 min read
Backyard maple syrup, from first tap to last jar
A few buckets on backyard maples can make anything from a few quarts to a couple of gallons of syrup. Here's the whole season in order, with the tool for each step.
Read the season plan →- 01Fall · find your trees
- 02Winter · gather gear
- 03Late winter · tap
- 04The season · collect & store
- 05Boil, finish, bottle
- 06Spring · pull taps
Step by step · 2 minutes a tree · 6 min
How to tap a maple tree
Tree size, drill bit, depth, angle and spacing, the research way.
5/16 in · about 1.5 in deepThe freeze-thaw rule, explained · 5 min
What temperature makes maple sap run?
The freeze-thaw numbers, why they work, and how long a run lasts.
below 30.2 °F → above 37.4 °FSap storage · by temperature · 5 min
How long can maple sap sit before you boil it?
Storage time by temperature, and the signs sap has turned.
keep it below 40 °FEnd of season · 5 signs · 4 min
When to stop collecting sap and pull your taps
Buds, buddy sap and warm nights: how to know you're done.
4–6 week seasonGrading · USDA & Canadian classes · 5 min
Maple syrup grades, from golden to very dark
Golden, Amber, Dark and Very Dark: what the colors mean.
4 color classes · all Grade A
Quick answers
Just have one question?
LuckySap for iPhone · free
Log every run. Know your season.
LuckySap is the maple syrup tracker for iPhone: a sap-flow outlook for your trees, a quick log for every collection and boil, and season stats you can compare year to year.
