How to preserve grapes in winter. How to preserve grapes at home

How to preserve grapes in winter. How to preserve grapes at home

The first, most obvious and reliable way of winter storage at home is the refrigerator.
At a temperature of +2-4C, grapes are best stored. If it is possible to install a separate refrigerator in a non-residential area, for example, in a basement or on a balcony, then it can be disinfected by fumigation with sulfur, and this will further increase the chances of good preservation of the grapes. If there is no refrigerator or there is not enough space in it, storage can be organized in a cold cellar or basement. It is advisable that the basement be dry; in damp conditions you will have to constantly fight mold and rot. It is best to hang the bunches on hooks or specially stretched wire; in this form they are well ventilated and stored well for several months.

It’s even better to cut off clusters of vine sections and place their lower ends in water to replenish moisture. This method is not always acceptable, but if it is possible to use it, both the berries and the ridges will be better preserved.

If there are a lot of bunches, and the cellar is not gigantic in size, then you can save the grapes simply by putting the bunches in boxes. Large bunches are placed in one layer, the bottom of the box must be covered with paper, and there should be holes on the sides for ventilation. It is preferable to take low boxes; modern small plastic fruit boxes are a good option. An alternative could be trays made from boards with a wall height of about 10 cm.

With this storage method, ventilation is worse and the likelihood of rot development is higher. In industry, fruits and berries intended for long-term transportation and storage are treated with rot fungicides before harvesting. Triazoles (in particular Topaz), benzimidazoles, etc. are used. I cannot recommend these methods for use at home. As an alternative to chemicals, we can recommend the following: a day or two before harvesting, treat the bunches with a solution of baking soda (100g per 10l of water). For small volumes, you can use a hand sprayer. This measure does not guarantee protection against rot, but to some extent a layer of soda on the berries will prevent the development of mold and putrefactive fungi.

Another very good way to preserve grapes in boxes is to use sodium metabisulfite or potassium metabisulfite. These preparations are produced in tablet form and are used for storing fruits and in winemaking. As a result of the gradual decomposition of the substance, sulfur dioxide SO2 is released, which has an antiseptic effect directly in the storage container. Depending on the air temperature, a box of 10 kg of grapes will require from 10 to 30 grams of potassium metabisulfite. The formation of sulfur dioxide is slow, and the effect of the tablets placed in the box lasts for 3-4 months. Berries may become discolored and acquire a sulfur taste upon direct contact with the drug, so it is advisable to wrap the tablets in breathable napkins and distribute them as evenly as possible throughout the box. The best effect is obtained when using an antiseptic from the very beginning of storage, simultaneously with laying the bunches. In this case, intensive ventilation of the room and boxes with bunches is not desirable, so the walls of the container are lined with paper, covering the side walls of the box. If these preparations are available to you, this is the best way to preserve fresh grapes at home.

Preparing fruit bunches for storage

After collecting the grapes, we arrange an inspection for them. Let's sort. Remove all damaged berries, dry or moldy. It is advisable to carry out this procedure using tweezers. We dry the wet bunches. Do not wash grapes before storing. Otherwise it will not be saved.

This is a fragile and juicy berry. Grapes cannot be stored all year round. It dries up.

But it can be saved for the winter, subject to a number of conditions:

• You need to choose only mature varieties for storage. They are characterized by their resistance, dense skin, clusters with a porous structure, fleshy pulp. They are not afraid of pests and diseases. Dark grape specimens are endowed with such properties. Their sugar content exceeds 15%.

Important! The more sugar, the longer the berry will be stored.

• A berry surrounded by a waxy coating. It also affects the preservation: color, taste, aroma. And they have developed immunity to fungal diseases.
• For storing grapes, those varieties are selected that fully ripen on the vine and do not fall off. This type will last until winter frosts. That is, the bunches can be removed from the vine before the onset of cold weather.

Grape fruits of light shades can also be stored for a long time, but they are processed for presentation. Although light grapes are stored like dark ones, brown spots appear on them over time. Sulfurous smoke is used to process it.

How to store grapes in the basement. How to preserve grapes in a cellar in winter

A cool cellar or basement is one of the best places in which grapes can preserve their original taste, color, and aroma.

You can keep grapes there if the temperature in the space is kept within +1-8 degrees, and the humidity is maintained at 70-80%; otherwise, the fruits will most likely dry out. If they are over-moistened, mold or rot may form on them.

To maintain the required parameters, a ventilation system is installed in the basement; in extreme cases, it is ventilated more often or a bucket of coal or lime is placed near the grapes.

Using water containers

When asked how to store grapes, it is most often recommended to use containers with water. This method is ideal for small quantities.

During the harvesting process, the bunches are cut off along with the vines, and the elongated tips of the branches are placed in bottles or vessels with water. To ensure that the brushes hang freely, the containers are held at an angle. It is also useful to add aspirin or activated carbon in tablet form to the water to prevent the spread of bacteria.

For reference! This method helps preserve the freshness of the bunches for up to 2 months or longer.

Hanging

The hanging option allows you to preserve grape bunches for as long as possible during the winter. They are tied together in several pieces using twine or wire, which are pulled in several rows and held in place with clothespins and threads.

All brushes should be placed tightly, but with the necessary intervals (at least 3-5 cm) for air circulation. During storage, all preparations are inspected and damaged grapes are removed.

It is best to pull the twine at different heights so that the tassels do not touch.

Attention! Place polyethylene or burlap on the floor to collect berries that have fallen.

Bunches of grapes

Application of boxes and barrels

Those who are interested in how to store harvested grapes at home should consider the method with boxes or barrels, which is ideal for a private home and long-term storage.

For containers, you can take boxes or tubs made of wood, pre-treated with sulfur or an antiseptic. When they dry, cover the bottom with straw or sawdust and place dry brushes on this layer so that they do not touch.

All rows are covered with layers of sawdust, sawdust material is also poured on top of the bunches and the containers are covered with lids. The boxes should not be filled to the top; leave a little space between the lid and the layer.

On shelves

Shelves in the cellar or basement are also suitable for storage; in addition, spacious racks with a depth of no more than 70-75 cm and a width of 40-50 cm can be equipped there.

In this way you can protect the grapes from the cold and preserve their properties to the fullest. The brushes are placed with the ridges up, laying them by hand and after putting on gloves.

This option provides the crop with excellent ventilation and makes it easier to inspect the berries.

Ridge storage

You can store berries on ridges. For this purpose, special crossbars are constructed, hooks are attached to them and suspended on wires or stretched threads.

Before hanging, the brushes are cut with a piece of vine for more convenient placement. The presence of a vine allows you to fully preserve all the beneficial substances in the grapes and extend the shelf life of the berries to 5-6 months.

Attention! With this method, the grapes will wilt well and lose moisture, but at the same time they will gain a lot of sugar.

Winter storage methods

There are many ways to store grapes in winter. They all differ in conditions and level of training. Let's look at the most popular storage methods, their advantages and disadvantages.

In the cellar

At the beginning of the procedure, prepare the room. Clear away any debris and treat the walls with an antibacterial agent. The most common and simplest method is whitewashing. The cellar must be constantly ventilated, since high humidity will lead to the appearance of fungus.

Using water containers

The use of the method is most relevant for grapes with thin and weak skins. The bunch needs to be cut along with the vine, so that shoots remain on it. Then we put the main branch in the water, and leave the vine in limbo. Alternatively, use a bottle. Place the vine in a bottle with liquid and hang the clusters in a position closer to horizontal.

Hanging

Take a thin wire or long cord and tie the bunches tightly, but without breaking. Leave some space between the berries so they don't touch each other.

This storage method will require ample space, but the hanging grapes will take their natural shape and will last for up to three months. Place a tarp underneath to catch any loose berries. Change the lining regularly, otherwise the vinegar midge will start and spread throughout the grapes.

Application of boxes and barrels

There are several options for storing grapes in containers:

1. We put sawdust on the bottom of the box, then put the grapes in one layer so that they do not touch each other. Repeat the procedure until completely filled. Do not use tall containers, as the heavy weight will crush the berries. Pine sawdust effectively blocks the appearance of fungus and bacteria, but because of it, the taste of the grapes changes. The best option is poplar wood or cork chips.
2. Place dried herbs or paper in low boxes, then place the grapes in a single layer. The maximum storage period using this method does not exceed two months, and the berries must be regularly monitored, as fungus may develop.

How to store grapes for the winter in the cellar. Storing grape cuttings in winter

Now grapes are on store shelves all year round. But how is it stored, how is it processed, and is it worth buying it for children?

Everyone who grows this crop has at least once asked themselves the question of how to preserve grapes, enjoy these delicious fruits longer, and not limit themselves to three or four months.

Some Internet sources contain descriptions of cases where the berries were preserved until June of next year.

It is worth noting that the berry does not tolerate long-term storage and therefore, in order to achieve good results, it is necessary to choose the right variety and create optimal conditions.

At home, grapes are usually stored in the cellar. Let's look at how to store grapes in a cellar or some other suitable room.

Fruits should be stored in a dry, clean, sun-proof room with a temperature range of 1 – 4°C.

What to avoid during storage:

• sunlight and fresh air
• the influence of these two factors reduces the quality of the grapes, under their influence sugar is destroyed and the acid content changes, as a result of which the taste is lost; – sudden changes in temperature;
• moisture and dampness in the room.

The walls of the storage facilities, before planting a new crop, are treated with lime every year, and the premises are treated to disinfect and prevent the appearance of mold and mildew.

For treatment, use sulfur dioxide or formaldehyde (30 ml of formaldehyde per 1 square meter of area, followed by ventilation every other day) or fumigated with sulfur (using 40 - 45 g of sulfur per cubic meter of room, followed by ventilation).

To reduce air humidity, you can place a container with dry quicklime, charcoal or salt.

Storage methods

The most common storage method at home is hanging it in a whole bunch by the stem of a comb or with a small piece of vine. The advantages of this method are that the bunches are always in sight.

Carrying out an inspection once a week or two, it is convenient to inspect them and remove spoiled berries. The downside is that you can’t hang many grapes this way.

It should be remembered that they must be hung so that they do not touch each other.

During harvesting, a bunch of grapes is cut with a piece of vine so that one eye remains above the bunch, and below is a shoot 20–25 cm long.

Place the shoot with the brush in a container of water, and to avoid the need to change the water frequently, add tablets or pieces of activated carbon. Please note that the bunches should not touch each other or the walls of the dish.

What to do if it is not possible to store it in a storage room or cellar? Or, for example, you are just going to buy berries in season and are wondering how to preserve them longer. The solution is to store it in the refrigerator.

Before buying, be sure to inspect the fruits; crumpled, rotten, or wet fruits should not be taken.

Pack into bags. There is absolutely no need to wash or rinse before packaging; excess moisture will contribute to the development of harmful microflora.

It is better to choose a place on the shelf for vegetables and fruits, where the temperature is kept within 1 ° C.

If you took out the berries for eating, but some remained after dessert, put them back in the refrigerator as soon as possible and eat them first.

When there are a lot of berries, no one will be involved in hanging and storing them on the vine; in such conditions it is better to store them in special low boxes. The bottom of the box is covered with sawdust or peat, then the clusters are laid in one layer and again filled with sawdust or peat. Please note that the material for spilling must be dry, free from mold and odor.

To prevent spoilage of berries and the development of harmful microflora, the room is fumigated with sulfur once a week (using 2 - 4 g of sulfur per 1 m3 of room area, followed by ventilation every other day).

The powder is mixed with the material that is poured into the bunches at the rate of 20 g per 6 - 8 kg of berries or poured in a thin layer on the bottom of the box between two layers of paper.

The spring period and most of the summer pass for most gardeners in work. Taking care of fruit crops takes a lot of time and effort, but what a pleasure it is to harvest.

But it’s too early to relax, because you need to think about how to distribute the fruits for processing and create favorable conditions for long-term storage at home.

This review will discuss how you can preserve grapes for the winter.

How to choose the right one

Each winegrower must choose for himself the most suitable method of storing the harvest. However, you should know that there are certain conditions, the fulfillment of which will extend the shelf life of the fruit until spring.

It is necessary to understand that:

• Late varieties are best suited for long-term storage; these berries have thick skin, dense pulp, and have good transportability;
• Fruit picking should be carried out with the utmost care, since if you wipe off the waxy coating from the berries, they will not last long;
• The grapes are collected in dry weather, preferably in the morning, but you just have to wait until the dew dries;
• If the weather is rainy or the fog cannot clear in the morning, it is better to postpone harvesting until another day.

When removing the brushes, it is necessary not to shake them, if possible, remove them with one hand, and support them from below with the other. It is better to cut the bunches with pruning shears.

Storing grapes in refrigerators. Storing grapes in the refrigerator

If you want to preserve the berries for the maximum period, then use the refrigerator. If all conditions are met, the grapes will retain their beneficial properties for more than six months. You can store it either in the freezer or in the general compartment, but the result will be different. If you do not want to freeze it, then place it in the vegetable compartment, having first cleared the bunch of green and overripe berries.

Freezing in the freezer

The freezer helps store grapes for up to one year, but to do this you need to perform several sequential steps:

• carefully inspect the grapes and select only ripe and elastic berries;
• tear them off the bunch and put them in a container;
• rinse with running water;
• place in the refrigerator for 2–3 hours to cool;
• Place the berries in a container or plastic bag and place in the freezer.

If you want to freeze grapes in small bunches, then first hang dry them.

How to defrost grapes correctly

To ensure that the berries retain their beneficial properties, move them from the freezer to the main compartment of the refrigerator for 18–20 hours. To defrost the grapes quickly, fill them with water at room temperature. It is advisable to consume the berries within an hour, as they will then lose their properties and spoil.

Do not defrost berries in the microwave under any circumstances, as almost all the beneficial substances will disappear immediately. To make compote or jam, you don’t need to defrost the grapes at all.

Shelf life of grapes

The shelf life of freshly preserved grapes depends on the chosen approach:

How to preserve grapes after harvest. Features and rules of harvesting

Harvesting grapes is a labor-intensive process that requires skills and technology, depending on the variety and further use of the product.

Table varieties

Table grapes are harvested in a state of full ripeness, which is assessed by taste and external characteristics described in the previous paragraph. In addition, pay attention to the sugar level: for ripe berries this indicator should not be lower than 12–14%; the higher the sugar content, the better the harvested product will be stored. It should be taken into account that the grapes ripen unevenly, and accordingly, harvesting in this case is carried out in several stages as the berries are ready.

The table variety product is harvested in dry weather, in the first half of the day, the clusters are cut by hand using garden shears, and then placed in wooden boxes with the stalks facing up. Place paper or grape leaves on the bottom of the container. Filled boxes should be immediately put into the shade. You cannot cut the fruits immediately after rain; it is better to postpone harvesting for a couple of days so that the moisture evaporates.

Important! When picking grapes by hand, you should try not to damage the wax coating on the berries, as it not only improves their appearance, but also protects them from rotting.

Technical varieties

Harvesting technical varieties of crops is slightly different: as a rule, in this case, harvesting is done not by hand, but by special machines resembling a combine harvester. This method significantly speeds up the work, but significantly spoils the presentation of the berries; accordingly, it is used only for a product that will be used for further processing, for example, for making wine or juice.

Technical grape varieties are harvested without waiting for all the bunches to ripen; usually in this case they are guided by the percentage of sugar in the juice of the berries (as soon as it reaches the maximum level for a given variety, harvesting can be done).

What grape varieties are suitable for long-term storage?

Grape bunches with elastic, ripe berries have the best keeping quality. Unripe and overripe ones are not suitable. The amount of sugar in the fruit plays an important role - the more sugary it is, the longer the shelf life will be.

Grape bunches with elastic, ripe berries have the best keeping quality.

The most resistant varieties are mid- and late-ripening, with a slight waxy coating (pruin). The latter protects the berries from negative external factors, including parasites.

For long-term storage, select clusters with large, intact berries.

The following varieties of grapes are ideal for winter storage:

• Moldova.
• Taifi pink.
• Muscat of Hamburg.
• Lydia.
• Alden.
• In memory of Negruli.
• Muscat of Hamburg (Alexandria).
• Senso.
• Nistru.
• Crane anniversary.
• Kutuzovsky.
• Autumn black.

These varieties withstand the negative effects of external factors and retain their consumer qualities and taste for about 6 months.

What conditions must be adhered to in order for the grapes to remain fresh for a long time?

If you choose a certain grape variety, you still will not receive guarantees that it will survive. It is imperative to adhere to the rules of cultivation and collection.

Preparing the grapevine from the summer

To keep the fruits fresh, you need to care for the vine all summer months.

And here there are specific technology features for their future storage

• Before harvesting, 40-50 days before, the bushes stop irrigating. Fruits do not need excess moisture, but require sugar. The bigger, the better.
• It is advisable to remove a quarter (25%) of the ripening berries from the vine until the harvest is complete. Then the remaining bunches will be preserved longer. This approach is necessary to unload the vine. Otherwise, the berries will crumble and wither.
• Stop feeding plants with nitrogen in the form of fertilizers, and add a phosphorus-potassium mixture to their diet for foliar feeding.
• The addition of nitrogen fertilizers does not have a very good effect on grape storage. It spoils quickly. Phosphorus and potassium, on the contrary, will contribute to the sweet taste of berries and increase their shelf life.
• Don't forget about preventive measures. Prevent fungal and viral diseases. Because if even a few berries become infected, then the storage of the grapes will be in jeopardy.