Owners of private houses often have a small orchard at the end of the garden. This makes it possible to use organic fruits, especially apples, throughout the winter.
But with the arrival of autumn, the following questions are brewing: when to harvest? How to get ripe fruit from tree tops? Are there special devices?
You will find answers to these questions in our article.
Table of contents
- How to determine the right time to remove late varieties of apples from the tree
- Terms of harvesting different varieties for storage
- Rules for collecting apples in the fall for winter storage
- How to harvest the crop from apple trees: choose the right tool
- How can you make a device to remove the fruit from the top with your own hands
How to determine the right time to remove late varieties of apples from the tree
You can start picking apples of autumn varieties September-October. The main thing is to be in time before the onset of frost, but not later than a month before the onset of sustained frost.
If it's too late to start harvestingthen you can harm the tree. Namely:
- increases the frequency of fruiting;
- reduces frost resistance of trees;
- reduced vigorous growth in spring.
At the time of harvest, apples must be sour and hard. This will extend their shelf life. Depending on the variety, apples will reach consumer maturity after 2-3 months.
The removable ripeness of apples is determined by several indicators:
- fruit age - you need to know how much time has passed since the beginning of flowering, to take into account the air temperature during this period;
- size of apples;
- main and surface coloring of the fruit;
- seed color;
- the density of the pulp of the fruit;
- starch content.
Determine the period of harvest on these criteria can only specialist. Amateur gardener will be enough take into account such features:
- a greater number of fruits acquired a color characteristic of a particular variety;
- fruits are well separated from the stem;
- winter apple seeds have become brown in color;
- apples are sour and hard.
If in calm, calm weather, a small amount of fruit with no visible injuries and diseases turns out to be under the tree it is also a signal to start harvesting.
The timely harvest of winter varieties of apples is the key to proper ripening of the fruit, in which the flesh becomes loose, the taste improves, the aroma is enhanced and the coloring characteristic of the variety appears.
Terms of harvesting different varieties for storage
Antonovka ordinary
Grows in a temperate and humid climate. It is resistant to severe frosts and scab damage. Tall trees with branched crown.
Antonovka will be pleased with the first apples already for 5-8 years. Abundantly fruiting every year. Apples oval-conical weighing 100-200 grams. The flesh is white, juicy, the peel is yellow-green.
Removable fruit maturity - from late September to early October. Consumer maturity comes in a month. In the refrigerator, fruits are stored until mid-winter, and in the basement the shelf life is extended until early spring.
Anise
Known anise scarlet and anise gray or striped. Winter-hardy fruit tree with a round crown. It tolerates drought.
Apple tree begins to fructify at the age of five. Yield, but the fruits are small, within 65-90 grams.
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The peel of the fruit has a light green color with a pink blush, and the anise has a reddish orange and reddish blush. The flesh is sweet and sour, dense, white.
To harvest the fruits of scarlet anise ready in late August - early September. The shelf life of fruit is 3 months.
Removable maturity of anise striped varieties Lasts from late September to early October. This variety of apples is well kept until March.
Jonathan
Srednerosly grade. Prefers moist fertile soil. Fruits are medium, rounded, weighing 100-150 grams. The peel is greenish yellow with a blurry blush of a dark red color.
The second decade of September is the best time to collect apples for storage. If storage conditions are met, the crop may last until May.
Bogatyr
The tree reaches 2-3 m in height. Fruiting occurs at 5-6 year. The grade differs in early fructification and high productivity.
Apples are light green in color, while yellowing. The fruit is sweet and sour, the flesh is firm and strong.
Harvest can be at the end of September. With proper storage, fruits can persist until May.
Aport
The trees are tall with a wide crown round shape. Medium resistance to low temperatures. The first harvest will appear at 6-7 year. Low yield is compensated by large fruits weighing up to 0.5 kg.
Fruit with weak edges, narrowed to the top. The flesh is juicy, loose and white.It has a sweet and sour taste.
Apple picks fall in October. Under the right conditions of storage, the fruit will remain until March.
Rules for collecting apples in the fall for winter storage
Harvesting is done only in dry weather.. Fruits must be dry. Wet apples are more amenable to various diseases.
Begin to remove the fruit from the lower branches. Then continue to pick apples from the middle branches, gradually moving to the top of the tree. This will allow you to harvest without loss.
It is desirable to harvest the crop in soft cloth gloves, which will prevent skin damage.
When harvesting for storing fruit for storage no way to shake a tree. Each apple must be picked carefully along with the stalk.
When harvesting try not to break the branches. This will lead to lower yields next year. Collected fruits can not be thrown. They need to be carefully laid in pre-prepared containers.
How to harvest the crop from apple trees: choose the right tool
The easiest way to harvest is manual fetus assembly. But this is not always possible due to the height and spreading of the branches.
In order not to damage tree branches, climbing a tree is not recommended. It is better to use a ladder or ladder.
To harvest from a height, you need apply special tools. It doesn’t matter how I eat apples, the main thing is that this device meets certain criteria:
- firmly hold the fruit;
- get high;
- do not injure the fruit;
- be comfortable to use.
In the shops for the garden and the garden provided a large number of different shape and material of fruit extractors. Stalker - this is the capacity with slots for fixing the fetus and its safe separation from the stem. Imagine some of them.
Tulip device
Made of durable plastic. It has the shape of a glass with rounded petals. A long handle is attached to the bottom of it.
When harvesting fruit should fall into the glass, and its stem will be placed between the petals.To detach the fruit from the branch, all that remains is to twist the collection box to one side.
Collet fruit pickers
Made from wirewhich is a plastic tube. At the ends of the wire is bent in a circle. Through the rings of the wire, the fishing line is threaded, which controls the mechanism.
The apple is placed in the center of the collector and is pulled over the line. The result is that the wire is connected from above and the fruit is trapped. It remains only to twist the device and tear off the apple.
With capture. Suitable for collecting small fruits that are captured by plastic parts. They have the appearance of a three-toed hand.
With the help of a lever that is on the telescopic handle, the cavities are closed and the apple is inside the device. It remains only to tear the fruit from the branch.
Bag collectors. With this device you can shoot several fruits at the same time. The bag is attached to a round shape with tin petals, which serve as a knife. And also the handle holder fastens.
It remains only to cut the apple, which will fall into the bag and not be damaged.
Fruit Picking Device
Fruit Picking Device - the latest device for harvesting. It is a long pole that extends 3 meters.
A secateur is attached to its end, the control of which is located at the other end. The length of the pole attached mesh-stocking. After cutting the apple falls into the net and rolls along it straight into your hands.
How can you make a device to remove the fruit from the top with your own hands
From improvised tools and tools it is possible to independently make a device for picking apples.
Plastic bottle of 2 l cut into two halves. It will take part of the bottle with the neck.
The same two-liter bottle is taken., but you do not need to cut it. A long pole is attached to the neck. A circle is cut in the middle. It should be a couple of centimeters larger in diameter than the apples removed.
In the cut circle, a v-shaped incision is made with the sharp part to the neck.Removing the crop with a closed device, apples are unlikely to fall out and be damaged.
In a plastic bottle with a volume of 2 liters, cut off the bottom. From the same side with the help of scissors we form petals, in each of which we make two holes. We thread the line through the neck, then pass it through each hole in turn and out again through the neck.
As a result, you should get a bottle, from the neck of which two ends of the line go. We fasten to the neck of any holder on the farm a hollow in the middle (you can use a mop handle). We pass through it a fishing line.
At harvest time you need place the fruit in the center of the bottle and pull the line. At the same time, the edges of the bottle will shrink and will not allow an apple to fall out. Having turned the handle of the device, the fruit will separate from the branch.
Rings with a plastic bottle and slats:
Summarizing the above, we can conclude that it is not enough to care for apple trees for a big harvest for storage.
And It is important to take into account the variety of apples, clearly define the removable ripeness of apples of late varieties, rules for collecting bulk fruits, decide on a device for harvesting.
Only by combining all this into one whole, you will be able to delight your family with home-made organic apples throughout the winter and spring period.