"Smith" wrote in message ...
Moved in here last year, and there's an apple tree in the garden. This
summer it's laden with the most beautiful russets. I've just picked them,
and will give lots to family and friends, but there will still be hundreds
left. Is there any way to store them and if so, how long can they last in
storage. Will they see me through until next summer?

Without knowing what variety it is we can't say how long it will keep;
but some russets *are* long keepers. At a wild guess, I'd say that if
these ones are always ready this early, they probably aren't. Some
don't develop their flavour till they've been stored, but I don't
think even the longest-lived will keep past February.

Long ago we used to keep ours in the cellar, but a cool but genuinely
frost-free shed or garage is OK, though they don't like much
temperature variation.

If you keep your eye open in the supermarket for those blue or green
papier-maché trays their apples come in, you can use them, in stacks
if necessary. But you have to check every week or two and throw away
any which are showing signs of going off. They mustn't touch, or "the
one bad apple" will infect the rest very quickly. We sometimes also
used to wrap each one in a piece of newspaper: I think this is
probably the best way because it helps to maintain even temperature
and humidity; but they still needed to be checked, which was a bore.

After all this, if you find they aren't a keeping variety after all,
I'm sorry: but at least you'll have found out! So you can make apple
wine instead. (Apple and blackberry is a terrific combination.)

Mike.