How to store watermelon in the cellar. Suitable places to store watermelon

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Save the watermelon until the January holidays - good idea, which can be implemented. This is unusual and will remind you of summer in winter cold. Guests will be surprised by the abilities of the hostess, because the task is not the easiest. But if you follow the recommendations, you will be able to cope with it. Let's take a closer look at how to keep a watermelon until the New Year at home.

How to choose a watermelon

Not every variety is suitable for winter storage. To do this, it must meet certain characteristics.

Watermelon should be:

late ripening;

Grown without nitrates;

With strong pulp;

Thick-skinned.

For successful storage it is worth giving preference to a watermelon that has not been fertilized. This is considered important condition, since with the accumulation of fertilizers, the useful and taste qualities deteriorate. Such a berry continues to ripen after it has been plucked.

You should choose the following varieties:

- "Astrakhan marble";

- "Volzhsky";

- "Melitopol";

- "Gift Kholodov";

- "Popovka";

- "Bykovsky";

- "Dessert";

- "Astrakhan striped".

Self-grown watermelon - the best option for storage. If a purchased fruit is used for this purpose, it is worth following a number of recommendations when choosing:

Choose varieties intended for storage, carefully check their quality;

Do not buy berries near roads, at breakups, unauthorized markets.

Signs of a ripe watermelon

It is advisable to buy one fruit for testing. This will allow for a more thorough check:

If the pulp has noticeable yellow shades, which means that chemicals were used in the cultivation;

The flesh should become cloudy upon contact with water. If it turns bright red, then there are nitrates;

Do not store very crumbly pulp until the holidays;

If there are cracks, white or brown spots on the peel, then you should not buy a watermelon. The peel must be intact, otherwise it will not be possible to save the fruit;

It is worth choosing a berry with a dry tail or stalk and a shiny peel;

You do not need to choose large watermelons, as they will rot faster. Weight must be no more than 5 kg;

Important to buy ripe fruits. If the berry is unripe, it will remain green. An overripe watermelon will soon deteriorate;

Berry picking should take place in dry weather, as high humidity increases the chance of rotting;

Late varieties are used for laying, so it is advisable to start collecting in early autumn.

Important: The choice of a batch of fruits for storage for the winter is a laborious and responsible process. Therefore, at first it is worth buying 5-6 fruits, it makes no sense to purchase a large batch at once.

Necessary conditions for storage:

1. The room where the fruits lie should be dark;

2. Continuous ventilation is important;

3. Temperature - 6-8 degrees. If it is more, the consistency of the watermelon changes and fermentation begins. At sub-zero temperatures, there is a risk of freezing;

The most common ways to store watermelons:

METHOD #1 - SUSPENSION

Using this method, it will be possible to keep the watermelon until winter in the apartment and in the house. In the first case, it can be left in the pantry, in the second - in the basement. The fruit is completely covered with a dense natural cloth, wrapped. Put in a string bag, hang on a hook. It is important to ensure that it does not come into contact with the surface of walls, cabinets;

METHOD #2 - STRAW

At the bottom of the shelf or box where the watermelon will lie, put a thick layer of straw. Arrange the fruits at a small distance from each other. Make sure the stem is on top. Between them to form partitions of straw. It is necessary to put straw on top;

METHOD #3 - MOX

You need to collect dry plants in the forest. Put it on the bottom of a wooden box or crate, place the watermelons around with moss. You can thus keep the watermelon until the New Year in the cellar or basement at a temperature of 2-3 degrees;

METHOD #4 - WAX

Melt the substance, cover the fruit in several layers until the thickness is 1 cm. Put the berry in a cool room;

METHOD #5 - SAND

This method is suitable for private houses and apartments. Put the wooden box in a cool room, about half filled with dry sand. Put the berry so that the stalk is at the bottom. If you need to save several watermelons, you should make sure that they do not touch each other. After completely covering them with dry sand. Great alternative there will be dry grain;

METHOD #6 - WATER

It is important to ensure that the liquid is cold and completely covers the fetus. The fruit can be left in the hole. If the storage of watermelon for the New Year takes place underground, then you need to fill a barrel or wooden vat with liquid. Water needs to be changed every week. It is very important that the fruit be undamaged, otherwise it will rot very quickly;

METHOD №7 - ASH

It prevents the formation of putrefactive bacteria or fungi, absorbs excess moisture. This allows you to save watermelons for a long time. Pour a thick layer of ash in a sifted and dry form into a wooden box. After carefully put the fruit, cover it completely with ash. Cover the box with a lid, put it in the basement or cellar;

METHOD #8 - CLAY

Pour water into the clay until it reaches a paste-like state, then apply it to the fruit. After drying, apply the next layer. As a result, the thickness of the clay will be approximately 0.5 cm. Put the fruit in a cool dark room, laying it on sawdust or hanging it;

METHOD #9 - FREEZING

The method is common for harvesting for the winter. The effect of low temperatures Negative influence to the fruit. As a result, he gets liquid consistency. But there are some methods that will help keep the watermelon up to new year holidays. It is necessary to peel the pieces from the peel and seeds, put on a flat plate, put in the freezer. This will preserve the juiciness, taste and shape of the watermelon. After freezing, place the pieces in a bag or container. Then they can be used for cocktails or desserts. It will be interesting to serve it like ice cream, slicing portioned pieces. It should be understood that such a watermelon will differ significantly in taste from a fresh fruit.

Features of storage in an apartment and a private house

Pantry;

Glazed balcony.

In a private house, watermelons are stored in the following places:

Basement or cellar;

Summer kitchen or cool room, while the temperature should not be higher than 8 degrees.

It is very important to ensure that the berries do not touch each other.

1. Use exclusively ripe watermelons. Once harvested, they will not ripen any further, not ripe fruit are stored less and do not differ in perfect taste;

2. During storage, the berries should not touch each other, other vegetables or fruits;

3. Do not put watermelons on a hard and hard surface. It is necessary to lay straw, sawdust, sand, grain;

4. Fruits should be constantly turned over, monitor the preservation of their integrity.

At right choice and following all the rules, the berries are stored without loss of taste for 3-4 months.

Common Mistakes

The main mistake is considered to be a violation of the rules listed above. But there are several other oversights that harm the process:

- Using glossy magazines for packaging. You do not need to do this, since chemical dyes are used during printing, which enter the fetus;

- Preservation in paraffin. It is a refined product, so it should not come into contact with food.

Conclusion

Sometimes people prefer to buy watermelon before the New Year holidays. It should be understood that the cost will be much higher, and the taste will be significantly inferior to the summer or autumn fruit. For long journeys, unripe watermelons are chosen, and they will not be able to fully ripen.

pulp color after long-term storage may differ from the original.

If you can create right conditions for storage, you can enjoy a berry in winter time of the year. It lifts the spirits of the whole family and its guests, filling a frosty day with the aromas of summer. The watermelon will decorate the table for the New Year, demonstrating the unique abilities of the hostess.

A person is so arranged that in winter he is drawn to eat something summer, and in summer - food of a winter diet. For example, if you have a dream to eat a watermelon on New Year, and the prices in the store bite, then there is only one way out - to learn how to store watermelons in the cellar or somewhere else.

To be sure to store watermelons for the winter, you need to find out what conditions are needed for this:

  • Glazed balcony (loggia).
  • Mezzanine.
  • Pantry.
  • Bathroom.

cellar vault

In the presence of a cellar or basement, the solution to the problem: how to store a watermelon for the winter - becomes much easier and more reliable:

  1. The fetus is placed on shelves or racks treated with a disinfectant solution. The main thing is that it does not come into contact with the same fruit or other vegetables.
  2. Watermelons are laid out in boxes and sprinkled with various materials that can absorb excess moisture and resist the growth of fungal or bacterial colonies.
  3. A centimeter layer of alabaster soaked fiber or clay paste is applied to watermelon berries. This preserves the juiciness of the product.
  4. Similarly, a 1 cm thick paraffin or wax coating does not let in light and oxidation by moist air.
  5. Watermelons are wrapped in canvas, laid out in nets and hung on hooks in a cool, darkened room to keep like that for the whole winter.

Tip: Do not store watermelons together with other vegetables, especially potatoes. Green minke whales absorb extraneous odors very well and cannot stand the neighborhood. When storing sunny scarlet berries, they practically do not ripen, so it is useless to take unripe fruits.

Layering

Material so that watermelons can be stored without loss until the new year or even all winter, are selected according to individual capabilities:

    • Sand layers are the most accessible, easily filling the space between watermelons.
    • Ash after burning wood - without impurities of incompletely burned wood chips or coals, which are a threat to maintaining the integrity of the bark.
    • Store, burying in swamp sphagnum (moss), great way be with watermelon vitamins all winter, as a minimum of moisture and a bactericidal effect will be ensured.
    • Straw or shavings are excellent materials in which watermelon retains its qualities without loss throughout the winter.
  • Grain, if it is pre-dried and not infested with pests, poured into a tub along with watermelons placed there, keeps itself well and the freshness of the products.

Dacha conditions

It is much easier for owners of summer cottages and houses to choose their own storage option, since the range of possibilities has been significantly expanded.

earth storage

Experienced melon growers believe that it is possible to safely store right on the site for the whole winter, placing the fruits in a deep hole covered with a ten-centimeter layer of straw or shavings. The peel is covered with a solution of lime (25%), layered with shavings and covered with a thirty-centimeter layer of earth. The only negative is that it will not work to track how such storage proceeds.

water placement

One more interesting option, which allows you to make stocks of striped berries for the winter, store it in water. To do this, barrels, tubs, tanks or other containers are filled with cool water and watermelons are laid out so that they are completely covered with liquid. The water must not be allowed to freeze, and besides, it must be changed about 2-3 times a month. In this way, the fruits are well stored for about three months.

room factors

If you have not acquired a private house and utility rooms for a city apartment, then for the winter you have to store the fruits at room temperature. When doubts are torn: how long can a watermelon be stored in an ordinary apartment, then you can follow the experience of many members of the forum. This storage is not for the whole winter, but only for no more than a month. At the same time, there should not be heating kitchen and heating appliances nearby. To prevent light from falling on the peel, artificially darkened conditions are created. The fruits are wrapped in material or paper for packaging.

Tip: it is better to choose no more than 5 kg - thick-skinned seedless fruits late varieties purchased closer to October. These can last longer: not only until the New Year holiday, but almost winter.

cold way

When there are few huge sweet berries, then, of course, the usual decision is put forward - to store the watermelon in the refrigerator. By the way, this option is quite suitable to store watermelons until the new year, if they are whole.

Whole

Watermelon without visible damage to the skin, dense, ripe, first washed, then dried, wiped, removing excess moisture with a paper towel. Then wrapped in several layers of wrapping paper. Sheets of glossy magazines and a newspaper with bold printing ink are not suitable for these purposes. The refrigerator drawer for storing vegetables and fruits is lined with a soft cloth and the packaged fruit is placed there. It is unlikely that it will be possible to store for the whole winter, but he will meet the winter festive New Year together with you safe and sound. True, for this you need two times a week, and it is better to turn the “couch potato” every other day.

In order to store watermelon berries for a long time, at least for the winter of the initial period, it is recommended to pre-freeze in freezer with a temperature regime of −10 ° for about an hour. Then the watermelon is packed and put into the lower compartment of the refrigerator.

parts

But before the holidays, you also sometimes want to feast on juicy pulp. Large watermelons are sometimes difficult to eat in one sitting. Then you have to cut the fruit and send the rest for storage, of course, not for the winter. If in doubt about how to store a cut watermelon, you need to understand that we are talking about ensuring that it does not deteriorate for at least a few days. When figuring out how long to store cut watermelon in the refrigerator, you need to make a distinction between summer storage and winter storage:

    • In the heat, in the sun, the rate of quality loss and breeding of harmful microorganisms is so high that after a few hours the product may be unfit for consumption. An extreme option is to put it in the refrigerator for a day immediately after cutting it.
  • In a cool or cold period, the shelf life slightly increases - up to 4 days, but we must remember that the taste gradually deteriorates.

The general rules are:

  1. Place the watermelon on a flat plate with the cut side down.
  2. Wrap the fruit and container with cling film.
  3. Place on the shelf of the refrigerator away from dishes with a strong aroma.

Freezing

Cut watermelon can be stored not only all winter, but also until the next harvest if it is frozen. It is clear that after defrosting, it will lose its shape, but it is perfect for cooking. dessert dishes such as cocktails, creams, jelly, etc. Freezing is done with syrup, powdered sugar, sand or fructose. Peeled and seeded pieces of watermelon are laid out on a flat surface and sent to the freezer shelf. Once frozen, they can be packaged in bags or containers.

Also freeze the juice with the pulp of watermelon in portions, using molds. Then they are used as ice cream or cocktail cubes.

watermelon ice cream own production You can pleasantly please the kids and surprise the guests. original delicacy does not require much effort and time, it is done like this:

    1. The fruit is washed and cut along with the peel special mold or just by eye portioned triangles.
    2. The crust is cut in order to insert an ice cream stick.
    3. The slice is sprinkled with powdered sugar on all sides.
    1. Portions are laid out on a flat surface so that there is no contact.
    2. The freezer brings the product to a complete freeze.
  1. Ready watermelon ice cream is placed in boxes or containers, layered with parchment. It can be easily stored for a whole winter at a temperature of -18 °.

canning

There are a lot of recipes for homemade watermelons for the future. Canned jars are good for storing not only for the winter, but also practically whole year. Pickled is desirable to eat within a year and a half.

Salting

Unusually pleasant taste sensations are acquired from snacks from salted watermelons. They are not stored for the winter only because they are eaten quickly. Without the use of vinegar dressing, it can only be stored on the shelves of the cellar or refrigerator. For cellar pickling, watermelons are placed in special tubs or barrels with brine.

fermentation

Like salty fermented product needs cellar or refrigeration storage for the winter. Kvass in barrels, jars, buckets, etc. The difference between the processes of salting and fermentation is in the variety of spices. It is advisable to store until the onset of the spring period.

Conservation

Sweet preservation involves the presence of only 3 ingredients: striped berries, sugar and water.

Cooking algorithm:

    1. Cut the prepared washed fruit into pieces.
    2. Remove the peel (seeds do not need to be removed).
    3. Arrange the pulp in pieces in jars without tamping.
    1. Banks with watermelon pulp pour boiling water, cover with lids and keep until cool for about half an hour.
  1. Drain the water into a container for preparing sugar filling at the rate of 2 tbsp. heaping spoonfuls of sugar liter jar or a little more to taste.
  2. Bring to a boil + a couple more minutes (remove the foam).
  3. During this time, pour 0.5 teaspoons of citric acid into each jar.
  4. Add sugar filling and seal jars.
  5. Turn upside down, let cool.

Many lovers of watermelons want to enjoy the taste of fruits not only in summer, but also in winter.

In this article we will tell you what needs to be done to enjoy the berry in winter period and how to preserve its taste.

So that the shelf life of the fruits is as long as possible and at the same time they retain their taste qualities, it is very important to know which watermelon to choose for harvesting for the winter.

Appearance

When choosing fruits, be sure to pay attention to their appearance. They must not be damaged. Sunburn, cracks, scratches and dents make the fruit unsuitable for long-term storage. Important! Do not store berries on a hard surface - this will lead to the formation of dents and rapid deterioration. Ideal weight berries should be 4-5 kg. Watermelon must be handled carefully, not thrown, while maintaining its integrity. Otherwise, it will quickly disappear and cannot be stored.

Variety

You can save a watermelon until the New Year only if you choose the right variety. Only late-ripening varieties with a thick peel are excellent for storage. It is recommended to purchase fruits for harvesting at the end of September. Usually they contain practically no nitrates, since by this time their maturation occurs without auxiliary substances. It is recommended to give preference to varieties with strong pulp, such as Astrakhan Striped, Dessert, Kholodov's Gift, Volzhsky.

The best conditions for long-term storage

To taste a piece in winter time sweet berry reminiscent of summer days, you should know how to store watermelons until the New Year.
It is very important that certain storage conditions for fruits are observed:

  • the room should always be dark;
  • it is necessary to provide constant ventilation;
  • air temperature should be within +6..+8 °C. An increase in temperature contributes to a change in the consistency of the berry, which leads to fermentation processes. When the temperature drops below 0 ° C, the berries may freeze;
  • relative humidity should be 60-80%. A decrease in humidity leads to a loss of juiciness of the watermelon, and with its increased rates, the fruits begin to rot.

Did you know? The weight of the largest watermelon is 120 kg. It was grown in the USA and is listed in the Guinness Book of Records. The basement is ideal for storage. Observing simple rules, you can keep the fruits for a long time.

Storing watermelon at home

"Solar berry" can be stored not only in the house. Of course, living in an apartment, this will be more difficult, but still it is quite possible. Suitable locations include:

  • pantry;
  • glazed balcony;
  • bathroom.

Living in a private house, you can store watermelons:

  • in the cellar or basement;
  • in the garage;
  • in the attic;
  • in a summer kitchen or a cold room, however, the air temperature should not exceed +8 °C.

There are many ways to store fruits. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the most common ones. When the harvest is harvested, the question arises about proper storage onion, potatoes, cabbage, cucumbers, carrots, beets, rhubarb, celery.

Moss

If you decide to choose this method, you will first need to go to the forest to collect moss. It must be dry. It is necessary to cover the bottom of a wooden box or box with moss, put berries on it and also cover them with moss on all sides. A box with watermelon should be stored in a cellar or basement, the recommended air temperature is + 2-3 ° С.

Hanging

Using this method, the fruits can be stored in a private house and apartment. First you need to wrap the berry in a tight natural fabric, then put it in a string bag and hang it on a hook. The watermelon should not touch any surfaces, that is, it should be completely suspended.

Ash

This method is often used by people who heat the stove with wood. Or you can buy it in specialized stores. Ash prevents the development of fungi and putrefactive bacteria, absorbs excess moisture. Sifted ash is poured at the bottom of a wooden box, then a berry is laid on it and completely sprinkled with ashes on top. The box or box should be covered with a lid and left in the cellar.

Straw

Straw is great for long term storage. The bottom of the box or box should be covered with a fairly dense layer of straw. Then berries are laid out on it in such a way that there is a distance between them, and the stalks look up. Straw is also laid out between the watermelons, and placed on top. It should completely cover the berries.

Wax or paraffin

It is necessary to melt the wax or paraffin and cover the watermelon with it. The layer should be thick, about 1 cm. In this form, the berries are stored in cool place, for example, in the basement or cellar.

Water

Very cold water is poured into a barrel or a wooden vat and a watermelon is lowered into it. It must be completely covered with water. Berries in a barrel are left in the basement.

Sand

A box or other container located in the basement or other cool place must be ½ filled with sand. Fruits are placed on it with the stalk down. They must not touch each other. Then the berries are completely covered with sand.

Clay

It is necessary to dilute the clay in water to a consistency thick paste. Then it is applied to the berry. After the clay dries, the watermelon should be covered with several more layers. Each layer should dry well. As a result, the clay layer should be approximately 0.5 cm. After it has completely dried, the fruits are left in a dark, cool room in limbo or laid out on sawdust. Important! You should not choose unripe gourds for storage in the hope that they will ripen. Such berries, in addition to an unpleasant taste, have a very short shelf life and quickly deteriorate. Knowing how long a watermelon is stored, you can start harvesting at a certain time to keep it until the New Year. On average, subject to the rules and conditions of storage, melons can be stored for 3-4 months.

Is it possible to freeze watermelon for the winter

In winter, I so want to remember summer and feel sweet taste"sun berry" Many lovers of these fruits are interested in the question: is it possible to freeze watermelon? Due to the prevalence and popularity of freezing technology, freezing is one of the most popular ways to harvest sunberries, blueberries, eggplant, strawberries, milk mushrooms, apples, cilantro. Unfortunately, low temperatures adversely affect the juicy pulp, and it loses its consistency, becoming liquid. However, despite this, there are ways to freeze. Pieces of watermelon, peeled from seeds and peel, must be laid out on flat dish and put in the freezer. Under the influence of cold, the shape of the fruit, their taste and juiciness will be preserved.

After freezing, the pieces should be placed in a container or bag. During the New Year holidays, they can be used to make desserts or cocktails.

Frozen watermelon is a great winter treat. For convenience, it should be immediately frozen, cut into portions. Thus, you can make the original watermelon ice cream, which will become a pleasant treat on the New Year's table. Did you know? The Japanese managed to breed watermelons unusual shape- square. They are much easier to store in the refrigerator. Watermelon - delicious and useful berry which can be stored for a long time. Using our recommendations, you can enjoy its taste not only in summer, but also after the end of the season.

"Sunny Berry" will not surprise anyone if you decide to enjoy it at the height of the melon season, another thing is the winter period. Preserving fruits until the cold weather is not easy, while maintaining their benefits and freshness, but there is a secret to successful storage, and we will tell you how to save watermelon until the new year.

Simple storage rules will allow you to bring a piece of warm summer to the winter cold, and you will be able to enjoy it on one of your favorite winter holidays.

How to choose and store watermelons

That is why when buying, pay attention exclusively to such characteristics of the berry:

  • The purchased fruit must be of late varieties, that is, if you decide to keep the ripe goodies until winter, then purchase it at the end of September.
    Firstly, such berries most often do not contain nitrates, since by this period they ripen on their own, and, secondly, they can be stored longer;
  • The watermelon must not be damaged. The absence of sunburn, cracks, scratches, dents on the glossy surface of the berry is the best indicator of a good fruit that is sent for long-term storage.

For more detailed tips on how to choose a watermelon, you can read in our article:

If you have set yourself the goal of storing fresh fruit for as long as possible, then it is just right to think about the place of its storage. The refrigerator is the most reliable place, however, it is unlikely that it will be convenient to keep whole fruits there for several months.

Watermelons will take up a lot of space, so you have to think all the time where to put the rest of the products. If, nevertheless, you decide on such an experiment, we suggest reading more about it in our article:

In order not to suffer for months over an unnecessary problem - initially choose more free rooms for storing berries.

Storage conditions for fresh watermelons

The places where they will lie fresh watermelons before NG, must be:

  • ventilated;
  • dark;
  • cool (t air in the storage should not be higher than t + 5- + 8 ° C);
  • with relative humidity of 60-80%, but no more. In a dry room, the berries will quickly lose their juiciness, and in a too humid room, they will simply deteriorate.

There are not so many places in the apartment that would meet all the above requirements, but they are. The most suitable for long-term storage are such premises as:

  1. pantry;
  2. glazed loggia;
  3. bathroom or any other poorly lit room with a low temperature;
  4. mezzanine.

In any of these places, "solar fruits" will be stored long time. However, choosing the right storage is not the only key to success.

So that vegetable berries really last a long time and at the same time retain their best nutritional characteristics- it is necessary to purchase watermelons of suitable quality and successfully choose a reliable way to store them.

How to save watermelon until the new year: storage methods

There are many proven ways, thanks to which you can keep sweet fruits not only until the New Year holidays, but also until spring. Here are some easy-to-use methods that will increase your chances of successful storage.

Method number 1: hanging a watermelon

This is one of the most reliable ways, which can be used even while living in an apartment.

All you need to do is wrap a ripe fruit with a natural dense cloth, then place it in a string bag or net and hang it from the ceiling.

Method number 2: storage in sand

To apply this method, we use a wooden box with dry sand. We put the berry in it with the stalk down and, as it were, bury the watermelon in the sand. It is best to store such boxes on the floor in a cool place.

If desired, sand can be replaced with grain. In dry cereals, the berry will be stored no worse.

Method number 3: storage in straw

Living in apartments, most do not have the opportunity to use the basement to store summer fruits. However, this is not a reason to give up your favorite treat, so we offer you the option of the so-called "basement" storage in indoor space.

Many melon growers most often use straw to preserve the “sunny berry”. If you have the opportunity to get it, then no doubt use it to store fruits at home.

To do this, lay out a fairly thick layer of straw on a shelf, in a box or on the floor of the room, then place ripe watermelons on it and cover them with additional straw on all sides. Under the necessary storage conditions (compliance with temperature regime, compliance with the required level of humidity, etc.) the berries can be kept until spring.

Store whole fresh fruits in private houses they can be almost the same as in an apartment, if all the requirements of this responsible process are strictly observed (3-4 months). Save in such houses ripe berries, sometimes even easier than in high-rise buildings, because there are many times more suitable places in the private sector.

Making the right use of opportunities home storage, you can extend the shelf life of the "sunny berry" and enjoy it much later than during the New Year holidays.

How to keep watermelons fresh in a private home

There are not so few places in the house where watermelons can comfortably settle down and survive until December, or even longer. Ideal for storage areas such as:

  • basement (read more about storage methods in the basement in the article on our website):
  • attic;
  • garage;
  • summer kitchen (only if you don’t cook in it during the cold season, because it’s important not to forget at what temperature the fruits should be stored);
  • pantry;
  • mezzanine;
  • any room in the house that is poorly lit and poorly heated.

Temperature and humidity levels are of great importance. What room in your house suits the most - decide for yourself. However, try to choose only those places that are fully consistent with necessary conditions storage.

To maximize the shelf life of melons and gourds, elementary knowledge that all melon growers use will help. Application of these simple recommendations will not only extend the storage time, but also contribute to the improvement nutritional qualities berries.

Rules for storing fresh fruits

  1. Never place berries on a hard surface. Before placing watermelons on it, be sure to lay something soft: straw, sand, thick insulation, etc.;
  2. Before storing sweets, wash them in cold water, dry, and only then send it to "hibernation";
  3. Stored fruits should not be in contact with each other. It is not necessary that they touch other vegetables / fruits. Watermelons quickly absorb odors, so the "neighborhood" with various products can adversely affect the taste of the berry;
  4. Periodically turn the fruits over and do not forget to inspect them at the same time. Perhaps, when buying, you did not see a scratch or crack, but over time it will make itself felt by rotting or lethargic fruit. It is not worth storing spoiled watermelons; at the first sign of spoilage, throw the berries away.

Do watermelons ripen in storage

The "solar berry" will not ripen after harvest, which is why it is very important to buy initially ripe fruits.

If you buy unripe watermelons, then there is a high probability that they will not last until the new year.

Water is an excellent medium for long-term storage, so many housewives keep sweet fruits in water until winter. A similar method is diving the berry "with your head into the hole." After all, it is important that the water is cold and completely covers the watermelon.

You can use large vats of water, just be sure to keep them in a cool place, adhering to all basic storage conditions.

Can watermelons be stored at room temperature?

It should be said right away that it is impossible to store ripe fruits at room temperature either in summer or in winter. Watermelons do not tolerate high degrees, so they quickly wither and deteriorate. Start storing them from September instead of August, this will extend the shelf life of the fruit.

Knowing how to save a watermelon until the new year, you can always save a sweet piece of summer until winter cold. How long you will be able to store the berries will largely depend on you, because no one guarantees how many days or months the fresh fruit can last.

Adhering to all the conditions, in particular observing the storage temperature of watermelons, you will get juicy fruits for the New Year celebrations. fragrant berries, the taste of which is in no way inferior to summer minke whales.

Bon appetit!

Is it possible to keep watermelon at home for a long time? After all, you want to enjoy the refreshing taste of a juicy delicacy as long as possible. It turns out that watermelons have high potential for long-term storage. The main thing is to approach the process correctly. And believe me, it is not so difficult and burdensome. It is worth sticking with a few mandatory conditions and requirements.

Which watermelon to choose for storage?

Choosing the right watermelon is the most important thing.

  • For storage, choose a fruit that is absolutely healthy, whole, with an intact peel. Even the smallest microcracks can easily get into any infection that will lead to damage to the fetus.
  • Watermelon should be taken of medium size, no more than 5 kg.
  • Fruits for long-term storage should be chosen slightly unripe (in the phase of brown ripeness) 5-7 days before full ripeness. For fruits suitable for cellaring, the color of the flesh should be pink, and the seeds have not yet reached their main color. In the process of maturation, such fruits will gradually ripen.

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Watermelon, which will not lie for a long time, can be preserved for the winter. Try delicious recipe

Varieties of watermelon for long-term storage

  1. Only fruits keep well. late dates maturation.
  2. It is better to leave those that are ripe in September.
  3. They have thick thick skins. Yes, they are maturing. natural way, and not with the use of chemistry (for purchased items).

I can recommend the following varieties:

  • Lezhky,
  • Mariupol,
  • Peasant,
  • snowball,
  • Astrakhan striped,
  • Volzhsky,
  • Dessert.

You can pick up other varieties and hybrids, following your own observations or the advice of familiar gardeners.

Watermelon storage conditions

It will be much easier for the owners of cellars, insulated garages and attics. The main requirement is the creation of the required temperature conditions and humidity:

  1. Temperature storage: + 1-5 °С
  2. Humidity air: 65-80%
  3. Access Sveta must be completely closed.
  4. store watermelons separately(if possible) or at least away from other vegetables, especially potatoes.
  5. Prerequisite - good circulation air!

Premises are prepared before storage in the usual way, as for other long-term storage vegetables:

  • clean,
  • whitened,
  • treated with vitriol or lime.


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Storing watermelon at home

It is also possible to extend the terms of possible consumption of watermelon in an apartment: in a refrigerator or insulated loggia with positive temperatures. However, if in the cellar or vegetable store these terms are up to 5 months, then at home, in compliance with the recommended requirements, it will be possible to save watermelons only 2-3 months.

  1. lay not one, but several pieces of fruit to insure against damage to individual copies;
  2. the place where the fruits are placed must be soft, in order to avoid injury to the fruits;
  3. regularly check the safety of the fruit, try to remove softened and diseased ones in time.


Ways to store watermelon

  1. hang watermelons wrapped in natural fabric, burlap or non-woven fabric in nets or string bags.

    Should not be in this case use sufficiently large specimens, otherwise, under the weight of its own weight, scuffs may occur as a result of friction on the string of the string bag;

  2. coat each fruit with gruel made of clay, alabaster.

    Do the same with paraffin and wax. Smear in layers, waiting for each of them to dry. The thickness of the coating should be at least 1 cm. The resulting "cocoon" will serve as a reliable protection against all types of mold and other harmful microbes;

  3. put stored fruits in wooden boxes or barrels on dry sand.

    Anyhow to imitate the natural presence of fruits in the beds, they are placed with the stalk down. From above, cover the fruit “with the head” with sand. Dry grain or ashes are used in a similar way. Here you should pay attention to the presence of unburnt pieces of wood or other hard materials in order to avoid damage to the watermelon peel;

  4. lay on shelves or racks lined with a thick layer of dry, clean straw.

    The fruits do not need to touch each other, they must be lined with straw on all sides. It will help absorb excess moisture;

  5. place on a bed of sphagnum moss.

    Moss is collected in dry sunny weather, dried and placed in a box under watermelons. Another layer is laid out on top. Moss is hygroscopic, soft, which will avoid damage to the crust, and also has a disinfecting effect. healing effect protecting against numerous fungi and bacteria.

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