The biggest berry - watermelon - is considered a seasonal fruit. Ripening by August, he pleases us with a juicy taste until the middle, and sometimes the end of September. Often the townsfolk think about whether it is possible to store watermelons in a cellar in a manner similar to apples or carrots. And then, while the autumn cold reigns around, you can feast on berries, remembering the summer warmth. So, we will tell you how to store watermelons in a cellar.
Choosing the right watermelon
Correctly chosen berry is half the success in storage. Therefore, we recommend that you follow several rules, namely:
- Select only whole fruits, without dents and cracks, through which an infection can develop in watermelon.
- If possible, give preference to late-ripening varieties, for example, "Volzhsky", "Bykovsky", "Kholodov's Gift".
- For long-term storage choose berries with a thick skin.
- Pay attention to the fruits of medium size.
How to save a watermelon for the winter in a cellar?
There are several options for storing striped berries. The easiest way is to accurately place them on the shelf, and in such a way that they do not touch each other at all.
If you do not have free racks, then there may be a problem where you can store ripped watermelons. In this case, use conventional vegetable nets. Laying in each bag one fruit and wrapping it with a cloth, the mesh is securely suspended from the ceiling of the basement.
To increase the shelf life, it is recommended to use forest moss. It is collected in dry weather, and then spread to the bottom of the box, as well as to the sides of the watermelon.
Will protect the fruits from the increased humidity of the straw cellar. The shelves or containers are lined with a thick layer of straw, on which watermelons are then laid out again at a distance from each other. After that, the berries are covered with straw on top.
To increase the shelf life, you can use a rather laborious, but effective method. It involves melting paraffin or wax, which should cover the surface of the watermelon. The thickness of the protective layer should not be less than 0.7-1 cm. Instead of paraffin, you can use a thick solution of clay, which is applied with a brush.
If you talk about how long you can store watermelon, then in general terms depend on the method you choose. Accommodation on the shelf or suspension will preserve the taste and ripeness until the end of October - beginning of November. Use of straw, clay or wax will increase the time until the coming of the New Year.