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Fallen apples are a common problem that thousands of apple tree owners deal with every year. Fallen apples are very often bruised by the fall, which leads to a rapid shortening of their shelf life. Fallen apples rot easily and are not suitable for long-term storage. They need to be used as soon as possible. And it can be, for example, in a way that is clever and economical. You no longer have to throw away fallen apples!
What to do with fallen apples?
An apple that falls from the tree is not inherently a bad apple that we should immediately throw away. We cannot store it long-term – for the reasons mentioned above. Apples that have once lain on the ground have been exposed to the influence of its spores and that can cause faster rot. If we were to store such apples because they seem to be in good condition, we would have to check the harvest regularly. It is also necessary to check fallen apples every day, so feel free to look under your tree every day to see how many have fallen and pick them up immediately.
Which apples cannot be used?
Apples that are already rotten should definitely not be stored with the healthy ones. You can prepare a compost pile for rotten apples. It is not advisable to compost them in the open, even though they are organic material. Decomposing material in compost will attract a large amount of unwanted insects and can become a source of infections in your garden. Prepare a special pit for fallen rotting apples. Throw the apples into it, cover them with a ten- to twenty-centimeter layer of mown grass and cover with soil.
What about compost made from apples?
Unfortunately, apple juice is too acidic to be used on its own in the garden. However, it is good to mix it with alkaline substances that neutralize it. These can include wood ash, powdered dolomite, lime. Or on compost pits prepared in this way you can start growing certain types of vegetables next year, such as zucchini, melon, pumpkins or pattypan squash.
