When to collect apples for storage? When to collect summer and winter varieties

The nearer the autumn, the more urgent the issue of harvesting becomes. Apples are no exception. When to collect apples for storage and how to determine their maturity - these are the main questions that concern gardeners, especially beginners. Understand this is not so difficult.

How to determine the readiness of apples to harvest

Everyone has already developed their more or less proven methods of determining the maturity of apples. Someone tries them to taste, someone can say about readiness in appearance. However, the most effective is such a technique. Ready to harvest will be those apples that begin to fall off and in this scavenger there are very beautiful and large specimens.

If the summer varieties are all more or less simple, because they mostly go for processing, then when to collect winter apples for storage, it is much more difficult to decide. After all, overripe fruits will not be stored for long, and those that are not ripe, will not get the right amount of sugars.

Signs of the maturity of apples

There are some signs of a definition of maturity, which can be generally understood when collecting apples for storage. If the dent disappears when pressing on the fruit, then the apple is not yet ready for collection. But if the skin breaks with this procedure, the fruit has already recovered. In this case, it is suitable only for processing.

If you press on the fruit, and the peel from it bends, but does not align back, the apple is fully ripe. You can safely embark on harvesting. On external grounds, you can also determine the availability of fruit. It should be of medium size, without any wormholes, to have a bright coloring of the skin. The fruit should be sweet and sour to taste and very juicy. Under the exception of varieties with individual taste characteristics.

It is better to be a little underfed, especially when collecting winter apples for storage, than later they will rot from overripe.

Collection of apples sort antonovka for storage

Antonovka again gaining popularity among gardeners. Every year more and more amateurs planted it on their household plots. However, later a person becomes a question: when to collect apples antonovka for storage?
This class has consumer and removable availability. The first occurs when the fetus becomes softer, and falls around the end of October. But with regard to removable readiness, we can say that it is ahead of the consumer in terms of almost a month. This period falls at the end of September. The fruits at this time are distinguished by the appearance of a characteristic yellowish color. However, do not wait until the fruit is completely yellow: it threatens with poor retention and overripe.

Collecting an Antonovka is best in the morning, with the disappearance of dew. To collect, you need to choose dry weather, avoiding getting on the fruits of dampness before putting it in the box. Collection begins with the lowest branches and gradually moves upwards. Those apples, which during the harvest themselves fall, should not be put in a common storage box: they can be damaged and have much worse shelf life.

Collecting apples for storage of Simirenko

Apples of the variety of Simirenko do not lose popularity from the very moment of its appearance and up to the present. In addition, it continues to grow steadily. Despite the abundance of varieties, many gardeners prefer this and want to see it as an honored guest of their site. However, with the advent of the first harvest, gardeners wonder: when to collect apples Semerenko for storage?

Simirenko refers to late varieties, bred by one enthusiast in the territory of modern Ukraine. Complete maturation is observed in them approximately in the middle of autumn. In early October, you can harvest, choosing for this dry and clear weather. When collecting, you should try to remove the fruits as carefully as possible, without damaging them. The pedicel also should remain whole.

Picking apples Spartan

Spartan, as well as the two varieties described above, refers to winter varieties of apples. Their distinctive feature is the sweet taste and the presence of a characteristic taste of melon and strawberry. Those who decided to get it on their site, it is necessary to decide when to collect apples Spartan for storage. They refer to those varieties that are most preferred for long-term storage.

Fruit collection begins at the end of September, when they are just beginning to fall to the ground. Hold a collection better on a cool, sunny morning, there must be dry weather. In no case should moisture penetrate into the apples, which can significantly shorten the shelf life.

Stacking of apples

After you have decided on the question, when to collect apples for storage, you need to know where and how to best save them. Lay the harvest in wooden boxes, lay the hay or straw on the bottom. If they are not there, then paper will do fine. Between the layers of apples are also interlayer straw or paper. You can use other material, but remember that he must "breathe".

You do not need to restrain the harvested crop in the sun or outdoors, it must immediately be put on storage. You can store the crop in the basement, but it will be better if the room is cool, dry and well ventilated.

In case there is excessive moisture in the room, it is possible to place containers with limes around the boxes with apples, which will absorb excess moisture. Such very simple methods can significantly extend the storage time of the apples you have collected.

Happens and vice versa: the air in the room is very dry. In this case, around the box with apples, you can install small containers of sand and periodically moisten it with water. The temperature should fluctuate between +2 ... + 5 degrees. In no case should it be allowed to freeze, because the whole harvest will freeze and become unusable.

It is believed that apples in boxes should be placed one at a time. However, winter varieties can be poured from a bucket. It is recommended to do this very carefully, in no case, preventing damage to fruits and their impacts.

The hardest part is for beginner gardeners who, in addition to mastering when to collect apples for storage, also need to learn the technology of their preservation.