Ripe juicy melon is most often eaten only in the ripening season. For this reason, lovers of this delicious fruit are interested in whether the melon can be preserved until the New Year. About how much you can store the product, where it is better to keep it and at what temperature, read below.

The best varieties of melon for long-term storage

If you are going to store melon for a long time, pay attention to the variety before planting or when buying.

Did you know? Melons belong to the melons of the Tyvenny family and the genus Cucumbers.

The following types of culture are called long-term:

• Wintering;
• Orange
• Slavia
• Torpedo;
• Turkmen woman
• Gulaby;
• Kassaba
• Kampyr (translated from Uzbek as “old melon”).

You should also look at the percentage of pectin. In long-stored species, its indicator reaches 4% and higher.

Melon storage conditions and terms

For any vegetables and fruits, including melons, storage conditions are important. They affect the timing. However, each product has its own expiration date.

How much melon is stored is affected by its variety:

• early ripe - 2 weeks - 1 month;
• mid-season - 3-4 months;
• late ripening - 4-6 months.

However, these terms apply only to entire copies. Cut fruits are kept only in the refrigerator and stored for no more than 3 days.The microclimate is an indispensable component of crop ripeness. It consists in temperature, moisture level and lighting. In order for the product to really survive until the New Year, it is important to observe the following conditions:

• storage temperature +1 ... + 3 ° С;
• humidity up to 85%;
• security from light.

Did you know? Melon was introduced into the culture by the inhabitants of India. On our open spaces it began to grow in the Middle Ages.

After purchase, immediately place the fruits in a suitable place. They can be stored:

• in the basement;
• in the cellar;
• in an apartment - in a cool place, for example, on a glazed balcony without heating;
• in the refrigerator, however, in this case, the shelf life is reduced to 2-4 weeks.

The main ways to store melon at home

So that the melon does not deteriorate quickly, it is stored in a certain way. There are three ways to store the product at home: in nets, drawers or on shelves.

Grid storage

For this type of storage you will need mesh bags like a string bag. Also prepare hooks or other fixtures that can be fixed to the ceiling.

Place each fruit on a separate grid. So that the product does not deteriorate, it is necessary to avoid their contact with the floor and walls. The best option is to attach hooks to the ceiling and hang mesh bags on them.

In drawers

Wooden or plastic containers are another option for keeping fruits ripe and fresh. For such storage, you need a quality filler. Boxes need to be filled with one of the proposed substances:

• sand;
• grain
• straw;
• sawdust;
• needles;
• moss.

Important! The material must be dried before use. Also, dirty filler will not affect the best way.

It is advisable to use containers with small openings on the sides. It is better to choose boxes with such holes from which dry material will not spill out. Thus, the product will be saturated with oxygen. This directly affects its safety.Fruits are placed down the stalk. They are immersed in the filler by 75%.

On the shelves

Some farmers grow melons with whole plantations. For such an amount of harvest, placement on shelves is suitable. This is the most suitable option for basements and cellars. However, apartment storage is not excluded. On the balcony, the product can be placed in small quantities, if you previously install a compact rack.

Cover the shelves with a non-rigid material:

• sawdust;
• straw;
• thick matter.

Spread the fruits in one row. They can also be wrapped with cloth to avoid possible rot. Do not pile them in several layers - it is better to buy another rack or install an additional shelf.

Important! Whatever storage method you choose, do not allow the fruits to come into contact with each other. A possible infection, when located right next to it, will begin to spread.

How to extend the shelf life of melons

To keep the melon for the winter, it is not enough to adhere to the basic rules. There are several subtleties of how to store fruits in order to extend their shelf life:

1. Strictly adhere to the conditions of temperature, humidity and lighting.
2. Fruits must be whole and uncut. A prerequisite is the absence of damage, rot and plaque on the skin.
3. Check the product every 1.5–2 weeks. Clean up rotten and decayed from storage.
4. Some varieties are removed from the beds a little unripe. This is done so that they ripen after the harvest. Check them every week and pick up ripe specimens on the table.
5. Do not store gourds with other genera such as potatoes or apples.

Melons lie for a long time if the owner fulfills all storage conditions. With the right choice of method, this product will become a delicious treat on the New Year's table.