Apples

Apples are a source of vitamins and microelements that are beneficial for the body. Proper collection and storage will allow you to have fragrant fruits on the table throughout the winter.

In order not to lose the harvest, it is necessary to know all the features of organizing the process of preserving fruits, including the choice of location, container, and preparatory activities.

Read the article about how to properly preserve apples at home for the winter, what you can and can’t do, and how to protect your harvest from mice and other rodents.

Conditions for storing at home in winter

For long-term storage of apples, only suitable conditions are needed. Temperature is especially important. It should be in the range from 0? C to +4? C. For autumn varieties - about 0? C. Such conditions are present in cellars and basements.

A similar temperature regime can also be obtained:

• on the balcony;
• in a refrigerator;
• in the basement or cellar;
• in a trench dug in the ground.

Violation of the minimum and maximum temperature will lead to a reduction in shelf life:

1. At lower temperatures, the fruits will begin to freeze and rot.
2. At temperatures above +5? C, the apples will begin to dry and wither.

In addition to temperature, additional conditions must be met for successful winter storage:

• protection from sunlight;
• humidity – 80% and above;
• protection against flooding by groundwater;
• frost protection.

Those that do not have a whole stalk are also not suitable for storage during the winter, as they become open to fungal diseases.

At what temperature should apples be stored in winter at home, read Here.

Preparation

In order for the crop to be stored well all winter and even spring, you should:

1. Harvest correctly.
2. Sort it.
3. Choose a storage location.

Before storing apples, They should be sorted through, sorted according to the following criteria:

• damaged and intact;
• mature and unripe;
• big and small.

Varieties

The length of storage of the crop directly depends on the variety of apples. Early and autumn fruits are not suitable for leaving into the winter. Only winter varieties need to be harvested.

To popular winter varietiesthat have a long shelf life include:

• Semerenko;
• Antonovka;
• Golden et al.

Harvest time

Winter varieties should only be harvested when they are fully ripe. Harvesting too late or too early affects not only the appearance of the fruit, but also its taste.

In the middle zone, the first apple harvest is harvested in mid-August. But early varieties do not have a good shelf life.

Autumn varieties begin to be harvested at the border between August and September; they last longer, but not throughout the winter. Gradually they become soft and lose their taste. Winter varieties are intended for long-term storage; it is advisable to collect them from the end of September to mid-October.

Fruits should not be kept on the tree until frost., since frozen apples will not be stored all winter.

He will tell you when to remove apples for storage. this article.

Additional processing

Collected apples should not be rubbed, so as not to remove the natural coating on the fruit. If it is violated, the shelf life may be reduced.

Carry out additional processing:

• glycerin,
• a weak solution of potassium permanganate,
• in other ways.

You can find out how to process apples before storing them Here.

Selection of containers

Most often, wooden boxes or cardboard boxes are chosen for storing apples. These methods are convenient, allowing you to compactly place the crop in the storage area. You should try to avoid contact of the fruits with each other.

For these purposes, one of the following methods is used:

1. Wrap each apple separately in paper.
2. Sprinkling with additional materials (shavings, sawdust, peat or sand).
3. Unfolding through the gap.

Cardboard boxes, if they are chosen as containers, should first be taped at the joints or strengthened in another way so that they do not break under the weight of the apples.

Where is better?

Using boxes and crates for storage is not always possible. In some cases, a different organization is required.

A cool basement or cellar is the best place for storage.. But their absence does not exclude the possibility of preserving the harvest, since it can be organized even in a city apartment.

In a refrigerator

In the refrigerator you can store not only winter apples, but also early varieties of apples that have a short shelf life.

For better preservation, all fruits should be placed in cellophane bags (no more than 2 kg each). Each of these bags should have several small holes for ventilation.

He will tell you whether and how to store apples in the refrigerator. this article.

In the cellar

In cellars and basements that have a humidity and temperature suitable for keeping fruit, boxes with fruit are installed only after the premises have been disinfected.

To prevent the contents of the container from being pressed down, the boxes should not be filled to the very top, and even more so “with a slide”. It is convenient to install them on top of each other.

Designed for months-long storage, fruits should be compactly packed in boxes. Boxes can be installed not only on each other, but also on existing shelves. Details of storing apples in the cellar - here.

In the ground

Storing the fruit harvest directly in the ground is an option for those who do not have a cellar or basement on the site. A trench about 0.5 m deep is dug in the designated area.

Its inner part can be lined with boards or lined with branches. Apples are placed on top of them in plastic tied bags of 5 kg each.

The distance between two adjacent packages placed for long-term storage must be at least 0.2 m. Above is an earthen trench:

• laid by branches;
• covered with soil;
• covered with fallen leaves and branches.

On the racks

Organized racks make it possible to conveniently and freely arrange apples in one row without touching each other.

This method provides:

1. Easy access.
2. Ease of inspection.
3. Monitoring the quality of fruits during storage.

Racks with drawers provide additional convenience.

On the balcony

For a city dweller who does not have a cellar or basement at his disposal, the free space on the balcony can be suitable for several boxes of apples. Not every balcony is suitable for these purposes, only those that are glazed and do not have a heating system.

If conditions on the balcony allow, you can even organize a separate thermal box. Due to the peculiarities of the organization, such a system will maintain constant temperature and humidity, regardless of external conditions.

Read more about ways to store apple harvests on the balcony Here.

Vacuum packed

Vacuum packaging also allows you to preserve apples. These packages:

• retain nutrients in the product;
• prevent the formation of moisture;
• prevents the accumulation of gases released by fruits.

Methods and technologies for protection against mice and other rodents

To preserve the harvest, it is necessary not only to create appropriate conditions, but also to prevent damage to the harvested apples by rodents.

There are several ways to deal with the problem:

1. Using poisoned baits. The disadvantage of this method is that dead rodents can become a source of infections.

   In addition, with this scenario, domestic cats can be seriously harmed, even killed.

2. Laying elderberry branches near containers with fruits.
3. Use of repellers.

Deadlines

The length of time harvested crops are stored depends on a number of factors, including:

• fruit variety:
• quality of apples;
• room temperature, etc.

In addition to the factors listed above, the shelf life of fruits in winter is also affected by fertilizers applied during the season.. An excess, as well as a lack of fertilizing, can significantly shorten the shelf life and affect the appearance of the fruit and its taste.

It is also necessary to take into account that apples collected from old trees last longer than from young ones. And from the outside of the crown, and not from the inside, where the fruits receive much less light.

How to store apple juice?

Natural apple juice, obtained by squeezing fresh fruit and not subjected to processing, is not stored for long. It should be drunk within an hour after preparation..

Before use, it should be kept in a glass container, covered, and in a cool place.

If the juice is being prepared for future use, after squeezing and filtering, it is heated, without bringing it to a boil, and poured into jars, which are sealed. Store the product after cooling in a dark and cool place..

You can find out how to store apple juice, including for the winter. here.

How to properly store dried fruits?

Drying apples allows you to save part of the harvest in the form of dried fruits. The convenience of this method is the ability to use absolutely all varieties of apples and not throw away spoiled ones, since it is enough to simply cut off areas that are not suitable for food.

After drying by any of the methods (from drying naturally in the open air to processing in special dryers and ovens), dried fruits are packaged in one of the following options:

1. They are placed in glass jars.
2. They are packaged in thick paper bags.

After this, the dried fruits are placed in a dry place for storage. Read about the rules for storing dried apples Here.

We save seedlings

Depending on how long the seedling should be stored, the approach to solving the issue differs.

In cases where the seedling needs to be preserved for a long time, a more serious approach is required, including several stages:

1. Unpacking and inspection of roots.
2. Root pruning.
3. Soil is poured into the container and roots are dug in.
4. The earth is moistened.
5. The seedling with the container is placed in a cool, dark place until it is planted in open ground.

He will tell you how to preserve an apple tree seedling before planting in the spring. this article.

Paste

Natural marshmallow is one of the ways to prepare apples. This dessert keeps well. You can choose any of the methods:

• in glass jars;
• in linen bags;
• in parchment and containers.

The product is stored under the following conditions:

• temperature about +14°C;
• air humidity – up to 60%.

Before sending for storage, the marshmallow must be dried very thoroughly. Read about ways to store apple marshmallow here.

Problems and solutions

In the process of preparing apples for long-term storage, various difficulties may arise, many of which are completely solvable. Gardeners may encounter the following problems:

A number of problems can be avoided if you first send the apples to a six-month “quarantine”, and after two weeks, sort them again, discarding those that are damaged.

What can and cannot be done together?

When planning to leave apples for the winter, you must take into account that they are stored separately from other vegetables and fruits. This limitation is due to the fact that apples stored for storage emit ethylene. This chemical stimulates the ripening of nearby fruits.

Is it possible to store apples in the cellar along with potatoes? Here.

Secrets of experienced gardeners

Advice from experienced gardeners will help you better preserve your apple harvest. The main recommendations include the following:

1. Collect apples as carefully as possible. They cannot be wiped, poured from container to container, and especially not washed, since such actions can damage the natural waxy coating on the fruit.
2. Sorting before sending for storage must be carried out.
3. The paper that is used to wrap apples before storage must be intended specifically for contact with food and not have a specific odor that can be transferred to the fruit.
4. If during storage the fruits are sprinkled with additional materials, it is necessary to ensure that they are always dry and cover the apples completely.
5. Each unit of storage container (box, plastic bag, etc.) must contain fruit of the same variety.
6. Wormy fruits are not suitable for winter storage.
7. It is recommended to pick apples in good dry weather.
8. It is recommended to harvest from the lower branches, gradually moving to the upper ones.
9. Apples should be placed with their tails facing up.
10. Bulk storage saves space, but often results in the loss of a significant portion of the crop. This is due to the close location of the fruits and their contact. Moreover, if one apple spoils, the neighboring ones begin to rot.
11. Improper fertilizing, untimely spraying, harvesting too late and other gardener mistakes can lead to fruit damage. Such fruits should not go into storage.

Conclusion

Despite all efforts, creating ideal conditions for storing fruit in a private home or city apartment can be difficult.

By following time-tested recommendations and carefully monitoring the harvest left for storage, it is quite possible to save it. At the same time, if everything is done correctly, apples will retain their aroma, appearance and taste.