How to store Antonovka in winter at home

Storing an Antonovka can be considered a labor-intensive process, but the result is worth spending a little effort. The main thing in this matter is not to neglect the important advice of experienced summer residents.

Proper collection of Antonovka is the key to long-term storage

The initial stage before storing Antonovka is harvesting. It is on the correct execution of all necessary actions during this process that depends on how long the apples will remain in a suitable condition.

It is important to collect fruits that are not overripe and when picking, try not to damage the natural waxy covering (it protects the fruit from bacteria and pests).

It’s very good if you can scroll the fruits while preserving the stalks. Otherwise, the resulting “dimple,” although small, is considered damage to the integrity of the apple. The Antonovka harvest, like all fruits that are planned to be stored for a long time, must be harvested in “dry conditions”: when it is sunny and after the dew has subsided. It is better to recycle fruits that have fallen to the ground, and especially fruits with defects, rather than leaving them for the winter; they will soon begin to rot.

Antonovka also needs to be sorted by size and placed in separate packages, since large specimens, releasing a lot of ethylene, contribute to the faster ripening of smaller ones.

Suitable containers and storage space for Antonovka in winter

The best option for placing apples in a storage place are boxes made of cardboard or wood. It is very good if you can drill many small holes in them. Boxes must be clean and disinfected. Place paper at the bottom of each drawer. Apples should be placed with their tails facing down, this way there will be less chance of damage. If the Antonovka harvest is small, then all the fruits can be wrapped in soft paper. Some gardeners cover the top of the stacked fruit with sawdust (only from deciduous trees).

All these actions are necessary to ensure that the apples do not touch each other and are less “injured.” It is very good when it is possible to lay out the Antonovka in one layer, but if this does not work, then you need to protect the ball from the ball with a paper layer or the same sawdust.

Chemical treatment of Antonovka before storage

Some modern gardeners increase the shelf life of the apple crop using chemical methods. Using for this: a solution of alcohol with propolis, petroleum jelly, glycerin, wax, etc. They should be carefully rubbed onto the fruit before sending it for storage. But before choosing this method, you must remember that chemical rubbing kills the natural wax coating and increases the risk of damage to the antonovka. In addition, under the influence of chemicals, the taste of fruits may deteriorate and their beneficial qualities may decrease.

The best conditions for storing Antonovka

These fruits usually cannot last more than 3 months, but if good conditions are created, the shelf life of the fruit can be extended. In the place where the Antonovka will be stored, the thermometer readings should range from +2 °C to 0 °C. Be sure to monitor the humidity of the room. It should be between 90 and 95%. Under such conditions, apples will not wither. It is very important that vegetables, especially potatoes, are not stored together with Antonovka.

See video “How to preserve apples for the winter”:

Periodically, the fruits must be checked for rotten specimens. It is worth remembering that large apples should be consumed first, since those that are smaller in size can last longer (4-5 months).