Birch sap
- Andy Hamilton
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Birch sap
Anyone know anything about draining birch sap? I understand that it should be done in the spring as this is when the sap rises but does it damage the tree to do it now? Or will you just not get any sap?
First we sow the seeds, nature grows the seeds then we eat the seeds. Neil Pye
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The Other Andy Hamilton - Drinks & Foraging
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The Other Andy Hamilton - Drinks & Foraging
Hi Andy
Best time to collect Birch sap is in about the middle 2 weeks of March. Basically what you need is a tube of some sort a container to collect the sap and something to drill the hole with. You should only drill about 1/2 - 1 inch into the outer bark (the width of your tube). Drill the hole about 18 inches or so off the ground and at a slight angle upwards. The sap should start coming out immediately, If theres no sap try again a few days later. Most important thing is to plug the drilled hole so the trees not open to diseases and infection.
Just to add to this (just looked at your post again). If you do it now you will not get any sap, Bacause it hasn't started to rise yet. As long as you remember to plug the hole the tree will grow on unharmed.
Best time to collect Birch sap is in about the middle 2 weeks of March. Basically what you need is a tube of some sort a container to collect the sap and something to drill the hole with. You should only drill about 1/2 - 1 inch into the outer bark (the width of your tube). Drill the hole about 18 inches or so off the ground and at a slight angle upwards. The sap should start coming out immediately, If theres no sap try again a few days later. Most important thing is to plug the drilled hole so the trees not open to diseases and infection.
Just to add to this (just looked at your post again). If you do it now you will not get any sap, Bacause it hasn't started to rise yet. As long as you remember to plug the hole the tree will grow on unharmed.
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We've got a paper birch - will it still make good wine??? I rather fancy the birch sap wine.
Shirley
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YAY!!! You've just made my day. Thank you.Kev wrote:The paper birch can be used to make wine. You need about 1 gallon of birch sap.
Shirley
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Kev
Another question please - how thick does a birch tree need to be to use for tapping?
Another question please - how thick does a birch tree need to be to use for tapping?
Shirley
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- Andy Hamilton
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About 1 meter diameter I believe.
Looks like I have missed the best time for it here again.
Looks like I have missed the best time for it here again.
First we sow the seeds, nature grows the seeds then we eat the seeds. Neil Pye
My best selling Homebrew book Booze for Free
and...... Twitter
The Other Andy Hamilton - Drinks & Foraging
My best selling Homebrew book Booze for Free
and...... Twitter
The Other Andy Hamilton - Drinks & Foraging
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Doh.... that seems awfully big! mine is a shrimp at 300mm so not likely to be doing it this year then.
Shirley
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- Muddypause
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Ohhh yes - I assumed circumference as a 1 metre diameter birch would be a GIANT!! Mine is 300mm circumference. Still too small either way
Shirley
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- Andy Hamilton
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Hmm yep that would be massive. I was sitting next to Dave and I said is it diameter or circumference, he said diameter. I think he was not listening
First we sow the seeds, nature grows the seeds then we eat the seeds. Neil Pye
My best selling Homebrew book Booze for Free
and...... Twitter
The Other Andy Hamilton - Drinks & Foraging
My best selling Homebrew book Booze for Free
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The Other Andy Hamilton - Drinks & Foraging
- Dave
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I think it's common sense, if it is a sapling tree then it's not going to do very well with being taped but old sturdy trees will fair better. There is a link http://www.bushcraftuk.com/content/arti ... article=74
here to a site that says not less than 8 to 10 inches in diameter.
here to a site that says not less than 8 to 10 inches in diameter.