It is quite simple to store apples of late varieties in the autumn-winter period. To do this, only a number of rules should be followed, among which the main ones are the timely and accurate collection of fruits, the preparation of a suitable room and high-quality styling. If you take these rules responsibly, the apples will lie until the New Year exactly and with a high degree of probability - until spring, or even until the beginning of summer.
Picking apples
The fruits should be removed from the apple tree when their full ripeness ends, i.e. when the basic color of the skin begins to lighten and the illuminated side takes on the coat color characteristic of the variety. Unripe apples are poorly stored, wither, shrivel and lose their taste. Overripe fruits are also poorly stored, their pulp quickly acquires a brown tint and resembles cotton wool. The collection time depends on the variety. For example, Golden Delicious apples begin to be picked in the third decade of September and finish in the first decade of October. And the well-known Antonovka is harvested from mid-September to mid-October (depending on the climatic zone), when it reaches the so-called removable maturity.
Picking apples should be extremely careful, trying not to damage the outer natural wax layer, which protects the fruit from germs and drying out. It is best to use cotton gloves to remove apples from branches.
If you really want to keep the apples fresh for as long as possible, don't use pickers. These devices are convenient, but often injure the fruit, and then they become unsuitable for long-term storage.
Only those apples that do not have dents, scuffs and scratches are taken to bookmark for long-term storage. By the way, they can be cut and dried, put on jams, compotes and jams. Of course, wormy fruits and those affected by diseases are not suitable for storage.
Methods for storing apples of late varieties
In sawdust. Place apples neatly removed from trees in boxes filled with dry sawdust or shavings. Of course, this must be done sequentially, in rows, sprinkling each layer with sawdust. You can use straw instead of sawdust. Boxes should be stored in a ventilated basement or cellar, where the temperature ranges from 0 to + 5 ° C.
In paper. Wrap each apple in a piece of paper (you can use old newspapers) and very carefully, trying not to bump one against the other, put it on the bottom of a box or box. It is recommended to do no more than 3 rows so that the upper fruits do not crush the lower ones. Boxes are placed in the basement or cellar during storage.
In polymer films. Recently, gardeners are increasingly using this method of storing late varieties of apples. Film with a thickness of 30-40 microns is sold in specialized stores. Place an apple and a small cotton swab soaked in ethyl alcohol in each bag. Tie the bag tightly with twine. Place the fruits in rows in boxes. Store the boxes in the basement or in the cellar at a temperature of + 1-5 ° C. This storage method is good because rotten fruits are clearly visible, which should be thrown away.
In the ground. Dig a hole 45-50 cm deep under the apple tree, cover the bottom and walls with spruce or juniper branches so that mice do not make their way to the storage. Gently put the apples removed from the branches in plastic bags and tie them tightly. Put the bags in the hole, throw them on top with coniferous branches and bury them with earth.
Apples should be stored in this way immediately before the onset of real frosts, when a thaw is no longer expected. Apples stay fresh for a long time and retain their excellent taste and aroma.
Pickled apples. Antonovka is ideal for this storage method. Wash the fruits removed from the trees and put them in the dishes prepared in advance - jars, tub, barrel, saucepan, etc. Shift rows of apples with black currant, cherry, oak leaves. Prepare a filling at the rate of 100 g of salt per 10 liters of water. Let the filling boil and then cool. Fill apples with cold pouring, place a wooden circle on top, on which put oppression (apples should remain completely covered with pouring). After a day or two, take the container with apples to the shed or cellar.
