If you harvest large quantities of apples or pears and decide to store them, it is important to follow a few rules. Ideal areas are those that are well ventilated, cool but frost-free. It is also important to prevent insects or rodents from entering the place. Cleaning individual pieces of fruit is equally important. What other steps are important to follow if you want to keep apples and pears alive over the winter?
Environment
It is important to disinfect the area in which you are going to store the fruit. The use of sulphur wicks is ideal. The best environment is a room with a temperature of 1-5 °C and a humidity of 85-95 %. Gazebos, basements or balconies are popular with small growers. The environment must be dark, cool and not too dry. It is also not advisable to store apples or pears with other fruit or root vegetables. For storage, choose slats or plastic containers lined with straw or polystyrene board. The key is to allow plenty of airflow and store them stem side up.
Preparation of individual pieces
The fruits should be properly sorted before storing them, removing any damaged pieces or pieces with wrinkled skin or worms. Remove stems and leaves from the selected fruit. The layout is at your discretion, but a maximum of three layers of fruit on top of each other is recommended.
Care
Checking the fruit regularly is very important, as there is always the possibility of spoilage. Rot can spread in a matter of weeks, so don’t take ongoing inspection lightly and check the fruit pieces at least once every 14 days. The winter and cold months are the most risky, when apples and pears catch the most moisture.
TIP! Don’t forget the fallen fruit you pick to make jams, ciders or juices. The rotting pieces create an ideal environment for the larvae to pupate near the tree and its roots. Collect these fallen fruits daily, not only can they be put to good use, but they also do not cause potential damage.