Selfsufficientish.com

Posted: **Fri Jan 05, 2007 11:39 am**

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?

Posted: **Fri Jan 05, 2007 1:14 pm**

You would get very little sap, it would also be lower in sugars so not as good for wine making (which I presume is your plan)

Posted: **Mon Jan 08, 2007 1:20 am**

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.

Posted: **Mon Jan 08, 2007 9:16 am**

We've got a paper birch - will it still make good wine??? I rather fancy the birch sap wine.

Posted: **Mon Jan 08, 2007 4:02 pm**

The paper birch can be used to make wine. You need about 1 gallon of birch sap.

Posted: **Mon Jan 08, 2007 4:04 pm**

Kev wrote:The paper birch can be used to make wine. You need about 1 gallon of birch sap.

YAY!!! You've just made my day. Thank you.

Posted: **Wed Apr 04, 2007 10:57 am**

Kev

Another question please - how thick does a birch tree need to be to use for tapping?

Posted: **Wed Apr 04, 2007 11:44 am**

About 1 meter diameter I believe.

Looks like I have missed the best time for it here again.

Posted: **Wed Apr 04, 2007 12:27 pm**

Doh.... that seems awfully big! mine is a shrimp at 300mm so not likely to be doing it this year then.

Posted: **Wed Apr 04, 2007 1:05 pm**

That's one hell of a birch tree.

Posted: **Wed Apr 04, 2007 1:24 pm**

should that be diameter or circumference?

You've got me worried..

Posted: **Wed Apr 04, 2007 2:36 pm**

Ohhh yes - I assumed circumference as a 1 metre diameter birch would be a GIANT!! Mine is 300mm circumference. Still too small either way

Posted: **Wed Apr 04, 2007 3:13 pm**

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

Posted: **Wed Apr 04, 2007 3:16 pm**

Nope weren't listening to him. 1m tall I meant

(Joke)

Posted: **Fri Apr 06, 2007 9:39 am**

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.