Keter Manor Outdoor Apex Double Door Garden Storage Shed (6 x 8ft)
A durable and stylish beige and brown garden storage shed perfect for storing garden tools, equipment, bikes, and outdoor essentials. Weather-resistant, low maintenance, and ideal for any garden or allotment setup.
🌱 Compost & Soil Improvers
Give your garden beds a boost before winter with compost and organic matter.
Shop Compost & Soil Improvers
🌿 Autumn Plant Feed & Fertiliser
Prepare your soil for autumn planting with suitable fertilisers and soil nutrients.
Browse Garden Fertilisers
🥬 Seed Trays & Propagation Kits
Keep growing through autumn by starting suitable hardy crops under cover.
Shop Seed Trays
Storing Apples & Pears for Winter: Your Step-by-Step October Guide
October is the traditional harvest month for apples and pears—and the perfect time to store your best fruit for feasts, desserts, and snacking through the cold months. With the right picking, handling, and storage, homegrown apples and pears will last for months, saving money and letting you enjoy home orchard flavor deep into winter. Here’s your foolproof guide to making your autumn fruit last.
1. Pick Only Perfect Fruit
- Harvest in dry weather, late morning after dew dries.
- Choose firm, unblemished apples and pears with intact skins.
- Any bruises, splits, or damage? Eat soon, or process into sauce, juice, or crumbles.
2. Handle With Care
- Remove apples and pears by cupping the fruit and gently twisting upward.
- Avoid dropping or squeezing!
- Use shallow baskets or trays—piling deep will bruise and spoil fruit.
3. Sort and Grade
- Separate by variety; keep soft, early, and late-keepers apart (some store better alone).
- Set aside any less-than-perfect fruit for immediate use.
4. Cure Before Storage
- Lay fruit in a single layer in a cool, airy place (shed, porch, or garage) for 1–2 weeks.
- Keep out of sun and away from damp—this toughens up skins for storage.
5. Store Cool, Dark, and Humid
- Best temperature: 2–5°C (35–40°F).
- Use racks, slatted shelves, shallow boxes, or single layers in trays.
- Store apples and pears separately if you can—pears can cause apples to ripen too quickly.
- Never store with potatoes or onions (these encourage sprouting and off-tastes).
6. Check Regularly
- Inspect every week for soft spots, rot, or mold.
- Remove any bad fruit immediately—it will spoil neighbors quickly.
7. Tips for Longer Storage
- ‘Bramley’, ‘Egremont Russet’, ‘Ashmead’s Kernel’ (apples) and ‘Conference’ (pears) are some of the best UK keepers.
- Thin-skinned or early types are best enjoyed fresh or processed right away.
Wrapping Up
October apple and pear storage is as much about patience and handling as it is about pile-high harvests. Store with care and you’ll enjoy a succession of crisp, sweet, aromatic fruit—long after the first frosts blanket your shelves.