How to keep apples fresh for the winter at home

Winter varieties of apples stored until spring

Not every variety is suitable for long-term storage. Winter varieties will do well.

In each region, special varieties of apples are grown for winter storage.

Suitable for the middle band:

Northern synap, Melba, Antonovka vulgaris, Mayak, Bogatyr, Cortland, Vityaz, Orlovskoe winter, Zhigulevskoe, Izbranitsa, Welsey, etc.

Winter varieties of apples grown in the south of the country

On South:

Renet Simirenko, Jonathan, Olympic, Aurora Crimean, Starking and others.

The winter harvest is harvested from September 20 to October 10. If you remove fruits earlier than the specified period, they will not be sweet enough, and if later, they will very quickly lose their freshness.

The Mackintosh variety lasts very well in winter; it does not lose its taste and freshness and lasts until April.

How to store apples in an apartment

The most optimal option for storing apples in an apartment is an unheated, but always glazed, loggia or the same balcony. It is not recommended to choose a storage room - even if the humidity there is suitable, the air temperature is unlikely to be acceptable.

Balcony

On a balcony, loggia or pantry, it is easiest and best to store apples in wooden boxes, if possible placing the fruits with the stems facing up. Do not forget to periodically check the crop and, if pockets of rot occur, eliminate them immediately.

It is advisable to cover the top of the container with apples, for which you can use clean and dry paper or sawdust.

If your winter is especially cold and the air temperature on your balcony is too low, try building a thermal box with your own hands. To do this, take an ordinary box and cover or cover it with foam plastic on all sides. This way the apples will stay fresh for a long time and will not freeze.

Photo: DIY thermal box for storing apples

Pantry

If you are trying to keep apples in the pantry, you can try pouring them. Any bulk materials, such as sand, wood ash or sawdust, as well as hardwood shavings, are suitable for this. Sometimes onion peels, dry leaves and even peat are used.

By pouring, you can protect the fruits from contact with each other. First, be sure to add a layer of sand or other material to the bottom of the container, then place the first row of apples on the sand. Lay them out so that there is some free space between them. Then fill this row with sand again.

This way, layer by layer, you will fill the entire box, and the apples will retain their freshness and taste longer.

Even if apples are stored according to all recommendations, you can additionally play it safe and isolate each fruit with paper or a napkin. The paper in which the fruits are wrapped will become a kind of barrier to the transfer of rot from one fruit to another. The main thing is not to take newsprint, the paint on the pages contains lead and can be poisonous.

Photo: Paper insulation is a barrier to the spread of fruit diseases

What about the refrigerator?

When you have very few fruits at your disposal, but you still want to preserve them, you can use the refrigerator. Wrap each apple in paper or place in plastic bags and place in the vegetable compartment. The main thing is that there is nothing there except apples: other vegetables and fruits can speed up the production of ethylene by apples, and they will disappear faster.

Cellar or basement

Without a doubt, this is the best option for storing apples at home. Before storing apples for the winter, the room must be disinfected and dried well. Temperature, humidity and container should be the same as we have already described above.

Photo: Option for storing apples in a cellar or basement

Rejection

After harvesting, the fruits must be sorted. Remove those fruits that are not suitable for storing for the winter.

Damaged apples should be discarded

When culling, fruits that have dark spots, as well as any visible damage, are removed from the total harvest.

The waxy coating that occurs on many winter varieties of apples should not be touched. This is a natural defense.

How are apples processed for long-term storage?

Before storing apples in an apartment, keep them in a cool room for 10-14 days, and then treat them with a special solution.

Before storing for the winter, apples must be carefully checked.

If fruits with defects appear during quarantine, discard them. Sort the rest by variety and size.

It is recommended to make a light pink solution of potassium permanganate and spray the fruits.

You can soak a soft cloth in glycerin and wipe the apples with it.

Another processing option is to dip the apple in a four percent calcium chloride solution for a minute.

Before eating, wash the fruit thoroughly with clean water.

Treatments for long-term storage of apples

There are many additional ways to extend the ripeness of fruits stored for the winter - these are various types of coatings: wax, paraffin, and also soaking for several minutes in a soda solution. But it is worth remembering that washing and soaking fruits is not recommended, and applying available coatings at home is tedious.

Many gardeners use two effective methods to keep apples fresh for a long time, which you can take advantage of.

Carbon dioxide treatment

This method involves storage in bags in which pre-selected fruits are placed. Carbon dioxide is pumped into the bag through a small hole using a siphon, after which it is quickly and hermetically sealed. Such bags of apples can be packed in a box and placed in a cool place; freshness is guaranteed for 5-6 months.

Ultraviolet treatment

Most gardeners have such a lamp at home. Ultraviolet light kills pathogenic bacteria on the skin, which reduces the risk of rot. To process, just lay the apples on the table and turn on the lamp for 30 minutes, then put the fruits in the prepared container and put it in a storage place.

Storage conditions

In order for fruits to last for a long time, you need to know where, in what container, at what temperature and humidity the apples are stored.

Place

Apples in boxes. Photo: Diana Miller

You can store the harvest in the pantry, cellar, basement, balcony and even refrigerator. The main thing is that the conditions for the fruit are optimal.

Tara

Apples are stored well in wooden boxes

The most common containers for winter storage of apples are wooden, cardboard or plastic boxes and various baskets. Remember that good ventilation is needed.

The size of the boxes should not be too large so that the apples do not press on each other with their weight. A small container is also not suitable, since the fruits will be cramped in it.

Metal containers and boxes will not work!

Storage temperature for apples in winter

Storing apples in the cellar

How well the apples will be stored depends on the temperature. Its optimal value is plus four degrees.

Nothing bad will happen if the temperature is a little higher or a little lower.

If we talk about the minimum limit, then the critical values ​​will be the thermometer readings minus one degree.

In your apartment you can store apples in the refrigerator or on the balcony.

The freezing temperature of apples, after which they lose their quality, ranges from minus two to minus four degrees.

Humidity

Use instruments to measure humidity in storage

The most important indicator affecting the long-term preservation of the crop is air humidity.

Its optimal value is 85-90 percent.

To humidify the air, you can place a couple of basins of water next to the boxes.

Ways to keep apples fresh for the winter

There are several ways to keep apples fresh for the winter. The choice of the appropriate method depends on the number of apples, the availability of containers and free space:

1

One of the simplest, but not the most durable methods is to carefully place the fruits in a wooden box with the tails facing up. If the stalks are excessively long, they can be shortened, the main thing is not to tear them off completely.

The top of the fruit must be covered with paper. To increase the shelf life of fragrant fruits, before storing, each apple must be additionally wrapped in paper or a napkin .

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2

To preserve fruit until spring, apple stocks need to be layered. To do this, pour a layer of sand mixed with ash onto the bottom of a cardboard, wooden or plastic box.

A row of apples is placed on top, making sure that they do not touch. All free spaces are covered with sand and ash, and a second layer of apples is laid out.

The procedure is repeated until the box is filled to the brim.

3

If you don't have much fruit, you can store it in the refrigerator. The fruits are pre-wrapped in paper, placed in plastic bags and placed in the vegetable compartment.

Apples emit ethylene, which accelerates the ripening and spoilage of fruits and vegetables. Therefore, the main condition is not to place them next to other products and periodically change the wrapping paper.

4

The next option is perfect for owners of storage rooms. 2-3 kg of fruit are placed in a plastic bag, tied tightly and secured with tape. Using a toothpick, make 5-6 holes, and then hang the bags on hooks in the pantry.

5

Owners of private households can store apples in the ground. The implementation of the method begins as soon as the daytime temperature drops to -7 degrees. To do this, you need to dig a rectangular ditch 0.5 m deep and lay juniper branches on the bottom.

Distribute the fruits into plastic bags and tie them tightly with a long rope. The bags are placed in the ditch at intervals of 15-20 cm, and the hole is filled with soil, leaving the ends of the ropes on the surface, which are additionally secured to sticks.

From above, the underground storage facility is insulated with branches and dry leaves. To get a bag of apples, just pull the ends of the rope.

6

Treatment with a bactericidal ultraviolet lamp directly when placing apples in containers will help preserve fruits longer.

To do this, the lamp is placed at a distance of 1.5 m from the fruits being treated for 30-40 minutes, periodically turning the fruit over so that the effect is uniform.

7

A cool cellar is great for storing apples. Here you can use various options: simply save them in boxes, wrap the fruits in paper, or sprinkle them with bulk materials.

It is also popular to store fruits in plastic bags, in which apples are placed and left for 2 days without tying. After time has passed, the air is deflated from the bags, tied tightly and placed on shelves in the cellar. After approximately 20 days, a special gas environment is formed in the package, which will protect the apples from rotting.

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8

The best option for storing fruit on the balcony is a thermal box. You can make the container yourself: you just need to insulate the cardboard box on all sides with sheets of foam plastic.

9

Treatment with carbon dioxide will help prevent the development of putrefactive processes during long-term storage of apples. The fruit is packaged in bags into which carbon monoxide is slowly forced in using a carbonated water siphon.

After which the packaging is quickly and carefully sealed.

Methods for storing apples

The technology for saving crops in winter is quite simple.
There are several main methods that are popular among people. If you have a cellar at home, then do not place apples close to potatoes. It's good when they lie next to straw or hay.

In paper

Wrap the apples in paper and place them in a box with straw

This is a labor-intensive but effective way to preserve apples.

The fruit is wrapped in paper and then placed in rows in a box or basket, stalks up. The number of layers is no more than three.

Wooden, cardboard, and plastic boxes with holes for ventilation are used.

Oiled paper allows you to preserve the harvest longer

The disadvantage of this method: upon inspection, it is difficult to see the fruits that are beginning to deteriorate.

In polyethylene

Place apples in bags and seal them tightly.

Plastic bags will help store the harvest until spring.

Procedure:

1. Place selected fruits of the same variety and approximately the same size in plastic bags in batches of 2 kilograms.
2. Pack tightly.
3. Put away for storage.

A favorable microclimate is created inside the bags. Safety is ensured by the released carbon dioxide.

You can store apples this way even until April or May.

In the ground

The photo shows the place where the apples were buried.

Surprisingly, you can simply store apples in the ground. When using this method, it is important to remember that laying the fruits in the hole is carried out at a stable air temperature of plus seven degrees.

Here's how they do it:

1. Dig a hole about 0.5 m deep;
2. To protect against rodents, the bottom of the recess is lined with spruce or juniper branches;
3. The fruits are packed in plastic bags of 5-6 kg, after which they are lowered into a prepared hole and covered with earth.

When choosing this method, you need to make marks above the places where the fruits are located. To do this, you can use a tall stick on which to hang a flag.

In sand

Apples are covered with layers of sand

1. Take a box and add up to 10 cm of sand to the bottom.
2. Place apples in one layer.
3. Add sand again on top until the stalks are hidden.
4. Place a new layer of apples.
5. Make a sand layer again.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5.

The humidity of the sand should not exceed 5%, otherwise the fruits may rot.

In sawdust (video)

A simple method for long-term preservation of apple harvest in sawdust in the video by Alexander Pidronov

Helpful advice

High air humidity negatively affects the shelf life of fruits.

To “dry” the air, you can put a bucket of quicklime. If possible, do not forget to ventilate the room where apples are stored.

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About the author: Nikolay Golubev Experienced gardener with 20 years of experience

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The best apple storage methods and optimal conditions

There are a great many ways of where and how to store apples. Over the years, each gardener develops his own technology that allows him to save the harvest from his own garden. The following options are considered correct.

As already mentioned, only whole fruits without signs of damage or damage by diseases or pests are stored. Substandard specimens and carrion are sent for processing, but most often they are dried. There are many options for storing dried apples.

Suitable places in the apartment are:

• pantry;
• lockable kitchen cabinets;
• mezzanine.

Optimal storage conditions must meet the following requirements:

• room temperature – up to +10°C;
• humidity – up to 30%;
• lack of light.

Important! If there are only a few apples that have been dried, it is convenient to keep them in an airtight container made of glass, plastic or metal. A large amount of dried fruit is stored in linen or cotton bags, paper bags, boxes, and cardboard boxes.

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Discussion: there is 1 comment

1. Arthur Pavlovich, Voronezh:
   03/10/2020 at 00:18

   I put apples in the cellar for winter storage. It is important that they are not damaged, otherwise they will not last long. Well, you need to sort through them periodically. A lot also depends on the variety; we kept Aidered and Sinap almost until June.

   Answer

Creating conditions for long-term storage in winter

Let's move on to creating ideal storage conditions for garden apples. Remember: everything is important, pay attention to each point.

Apple storage temperature and humidity

Temperature readings should be in the range from -1 to +1 degrees, this is ideal. The main thing is to prevent deviations towards lower temperatures. Plus temperatures can reach +4 degrees, but not higher.

85-95% is the most successful indicator of air humidity. As a rule, it is much easier to maintain the humidity level in a storage area than the temperature, but this indicator cannot be ignored.

Room

The most suitable storage rooms are: cellar, basement and unheated balcony or loggia (but always glazed).

Tara

To store apples, choose wooden boxes with a capacity of up to 30 kg. If there are no boxes available, take cardboard boxes or baskets - plastic or wicker. Make sure that the container is strong and clean; to do this, first rinse it and dry it thoroughly. Potassium permanganate (pink solution) is suitable for disinfection. Apples will last from six to eight months in treated containers.

Photo: The ideal option for storing apple harvests is a wooden box and insulated layers

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If large doses of nitrogen fertilizers are applied to the apple tree, their skin will become thinner and will release ethylene more actively, which will not allow the fruits to be stored for a long time. ________________________________________