Wait to pick apples after the first freeze

After freezing, the apples may look whole, although damage to the flesh will appear later. A temperature of about 0 °C does not mean freezing: sugars in cell juice lower the freezing point, and the risk usually increases about -2 °C. Also important are the duration of cold, variety and maturity.

It is not necessary to remove the fruits immediately after a frosty night. While the tissues are frozen, they are especially sensitive to pressure and impact, so the breakdown and transfer before thawing exacerbate the damage. Sharp heating is also undesirable.

After natural thawing, it is better to keep the frozen batch separately. Check the density, color of the pulp and cracks. Watery, loose, browned or heavily softened apples for long storage are not suitable. Part of the fruit should be cut later: internal browning may not occur immediately.

If after a weak freeze, apples remained dense and without noticeable damage, it is better to use them before the main batch, rather than laying them automatically before winter.