In recent years, gardeners have often faced weather anomalies. We regularly prepare the plants for the frosty winter, cover them, carefully throw in the snow, but suddenly an unexpected thaw happens. Short-term warming is the norm, but what to do if winter is coming and does not think. How to protect trees in the garden from freezing temperatures, freezing rain and snowless cold winters? Read about how to help plants in weather anomalies in this article.
Some features of freezing
To understand how to properly freeze a melon for the winter at home, you need to familiarize yourself with the main features of this process.
At low temperatures, vegetables with fruits can retain their taste and useful properties. However, subzero temperatures change the tissue structure in fruits that are frozen. The destructive effect directly depends on how much moisture is in the pulp. If there is too much of it, then the tissue of the fruit will deteriorate much faster. Also, the shelf life largely depends on the degree of freezing.
Melon frozen at about -5 degrees will keep its freshness for 2-3 weeks. If this indicator is reduced to -15 degrees, then the shelf life will increase to two months.
It is recommended to freeze fruits and vegetables at a temperature of about -20 degrees, since in such conditions the melon will be stored for a year.
Quite often, fruits in the freezer begin to lose moisture and absorb odors. To get rid of these problems, it is recommended to close the fruit bags or containers tightly.
It is recommended to use small containers to freeze melons in the freezer for the winter. This is much more convenient, since you will not have to constantly defrost large quantities of fruit. For storing fruit, you should use the following containers:
- bags with a fastener that can cope with low temperatures without problems;
- containers equipped with a tight lid.
Freezing fruit ice
There are different recipes and methods for freezing fruit for winter storage. However, many people use this particular freezing method. This requires quite a few ingredients:
Before you start freezing the berry, you should prepare it for this. First, you need to completely peel it. Then the fruit is cut in half so that you can peel it of all the seeds that are inside. Many people prefer to freeze the melon in chunks, so it should be cut into small cubes.
Once you've finished slicing the fruit, you can start creating melon ice. To do this, place the diced cubes in a small bowl and grind them with a blender. The result should be a liquid puree, which, after cooking, must be sprinkled with sugar and mixed thoroughly. Then the resulting mixture is poured into special molds for freezing ice. After that, the mixture can be distributed into containers and placed in the freezer for further storage.
Melon sorbet
There are other recipes for making a melon dessert. To create an ice cream dish, you will have to prepare the following ingredients in advance:
- 200 g sugar;
- Melon;
- 400 ml of water;
- watermelon;
- 100 ml lemon or orange juice.
Freezing a dessert begins with preparing the main ingredients that will be used to create it. First, you need to peel the melon and cut it into several pieces. Then all the pulp with seeds is removed from the fruit. After that, the chopped pieces can be minced or placed in a bowl to grind with a blender. Then the watermelon is peeled, cut into small cubes and also crushed. The resulting puree is added to the melon mixture and mixed thoroughly.
Read also: Zucchini caviar with tomatoes for the winter: recipes, cooking
Having finished with the preparation of the main products, you should start preparing the syrup. To make it, a little water and sugar are poured into a small saucepan. The liquid is brought to a boil and mixed thoroughly. Then the syrup is removed from the oven and cooled to room temperature.
The resulting syrup is added to the fruit puree, after which the mixture is distributed into small containers. Leave a few centimeters to the edge of the container and freeze the resulting dessert.
Before use, it is recommended to hold the finished sorbet at room temperature for several minutes to allow the winter dish to defrost.
Why are roses pruned?
Roses grow well in warm climates. They prefer heat over frost, so for the winter the plants are carefully covered and protected from the cold.
Overgrown bushes with many shoots are difficult to neatly hide under the film. In addition, their branches intertwine, interfering with air exchange. This threatens them with decay and the subsequent appearance of diseases.
Plants look much more attractive after trimming. Of course, you need to follow the rules for pruning branches and find out in advance what kind of rose the rose will need. For some varieties, a stronger shortening of the shoots is desirable, for others, a simple pinching is enough.
Features of freezing melons for the winter
It is at subzero temperatures that fruits and vegetables retain their beneficial substances, aroma and taste in the best way.
Subzero temperatures do not have a destructive effect on vitamins, but they can change the tissue structure of frozen fruits. And the more moisture the pulp contains, the stronger the destructive effect that is noticeable after defrosting. And, besides this, the quality of the product and its shelf life depend on the degree of freezing.
The lower the temperature in the chamber, the faster the melon can be frozen for the winter, and the better the result will be.
And so that during their stay in the freezer the melon slices do not lose moisture and do not absorb foreign odors, containers or packages with the product must be tightly closed. Storage containers should be small. This will allow you to immediately use the portion for food, and not defrost a large amount of juicy pulp, because after the fruits are warmed up, their consistency will irrevocably change.
Ideal options for storing frozen melons are:
- bags with a plastic fastener that endure freezing temperatures;
- containers with tight-fitting lids.
How to freeze a melon grown in a garden for the winter at home? There are several ways to prepare melons using low temperatures.
Operating temperature of led TVs. Service life of all types of TVs
The lifespan of a TV is a very important parameter that indicates how long a TV can maintain its functionality and provide a high-quality picture. Agree that when you buy a TV, you want it to work as long as possible and preferably not break. All manufacturers indicate the life of a particular model, but how true is this information?
The service life of TVs is an ambiguous concept.It all depends on the conditions in which the TV is used, as well as on what technology is used to display and form an image. There is evidence that plasma models have a shorter service life than liquid crystal ones. Is it true or not? We will answer all your questions and find out the lifespan of all types of TVs.
Most often, the service life of liquid crystal, plasma and LED TVs belongs to the range from 50 to 100 thousand hours. TVs that use LED backlighting have a claimed life that is much longer than models with standard lamps. But such information must be treated sensibly and carefully. This is due to the fact that manufacturers specifically perceive the concept of "service life". After the specified number of hours has passed, this does not mean at all that the TV will completely lose its performance and you will have to buy a new model. The lifespan of TVs, in fact, is not responsible for either the warranty period or the likelihood of breakage of individual parts. What, then, characterizes this term?
The lifespan of a TV is directly related to the brightness and quality of the image it provides. That is why, when they say that the service life of this model is 60 thousand hours, they mean that after the specified period, the brightness and quality of the picture will decrease by half. The TV will continue to work, perform all its functions, but the image will no longer be so bright and colorful. Modern TVs are produced with a large margin of brightness. That is why, even after the expiration of the declared service life, the TV will reproduce an adequate, normal image (unless, of course, other breakdowns have occurred during this time).
In principle, the fact that TVs cannot maintain their original brightness level after prolonged use is normal. Natural wear and tear of LCD TV backlight lamps, as well as a decrease in the quality of phosphors in plasma TVs, is inevitable. How much time will pass before it will be possible to visually determine the decrease in brightness and color of the image depends on many different factors. In particular, improper TV settings will noticeably shorten its service life (excessive picture brightness, too high color saturation). Pay attention to the correct TV settings. You should also not underestimate the brightness level in order to extend the life of the TV by a couple of years. It is desirable that all settings are optimal. Only then will you get pleasant, natural colors and a high-quality image in general.
Now let's specifically discuss the lifespan of various types of televisions. Most major manufacturers claim that modern LCD TVs have a lifespan of up to 100,000 hours. To a greater extent, this applies to new models of LED TVs that use fade-resistant LEDs. Models with fluorescent lamps will hardly last that long without noticeable loss of picture quality. For such TVs, a more realistic operating time is about 40-60 thousand hours (in some cases more).
Plasma TVs will surely last up to 60 thousand hours, after which the brightness of the image will be approximately halved. OLED TVs are already on sale. The main deterrent to the appearance of this type of TVs on the market was the short life of blue LEDs. Now scientists have managed to bring the LED's correct operation time to an average level, so that OLED TVs are not much inferior in terms of service life to other types of TVs.
It should be understood that these terms are for informational purposes only.After all, televisions of the same type, but from different manufacturers, may have different service life. This is due to the peculiarities of the implementation of a particular technology, which differ for each manufacturer.
conclusions
As you can see, the issue of the lifespan of the TV is not critical. Modern TVs should be enough for two to three decades of high-quality operation. During this time, new impressive TV models will surely come out, and the existing ones will become much cheaper. So don't worry.
Methods for freezing melon pulp
However, before freezing the fruits, you need to choose a sweet melon with the densest consistency so as not to be disappointed and not to get an almost tasteless liquid gruel as a result of work.
Melons of the cantaloupe variety with orange fragrant pulp and dense, covered with a network of cracks and, as it were, divided into slices, are recognized as the best melons for freezing.
Can melon be frozen whole or cut in half for the winter? A common mistake is that inexperienced housewives try to keep all or large pieces of melon in the freezer. Not only does the fruit take up a lot of space in the refrigerator, so the melon freezes for a long time and unevenly. As a result, the juiciest pulp in the middle of the melon is riddled with ice crystals that destroy cells and tissues, and sometimes the entire fruit.
Read also: Melon marmalade: recipes for the winter
Better, before freezing the melon for the winter, wash the fruit thoroughly, cut it in half and clean out all the seeds. Then cut the melon into portioned pieces, which will freeze faster and will be better stored.
The shape of such pieces can be arbitrary:
- Someone prefers to send the melon for storage in the form of traditional thin slices.
- For other housewives, it is convenient to use cubes for preparing melon desserts.
- And lovers of noisy parties and unusual serving methods will appreciate melon balls, which can not only be used for culinary purposes, but also decorate or desserts, fruit salads and cocktails.
The best freezing result for fruits and juicy fruits is achieved when using dry ice, which is poured over the prepared slices. As a result, a hard frozen layer without large ice crystals instantly forms on the surface of the pulp. Even so, the consistency of a thawed melon cannot be compared to a fresh slice. Therefore, it is more appropriate to use this pulp for desserts, refreshing popsicles and cocktails.
In the absence of dry ice, small slices will quickly freeze if they are evenly spread out at a distance from each other on a suitable tray and put in the freezer, it's time the pieces do not harden. In this form, melon slices are packed in containers or bags and placed in storage in a chamber where the temperature does not exceed –18 ° C.
Pre-freezing will prevent the pieces from sticking together, significantly speed up the process and preserve the quality of the melon.
Four tips for storing workpieces
1. Before placing the blanks for the winter, check the jars for leaks - turn them upside down and wait a little. If it starts dripping from the can, it is better to roll it up again, otherwise the vegetables will face a big explosion.
2. Store jars of homemade products out of direct sunlight, otherwise they will quickly deteriorate and their taste will deteriorate.
3. If during storage the brine becomes cloudy, foam, bubbles, mold, suspicious stains appear in the contents - throw away the can and do not risk your health!
4. Candied jam can be salvaged and digested, and cookbooks provide guidance on this topic.
Well prepared and preserved gifts of nature make it possible to enjoy an abundance of vegetables and fruits all year round.It is pleasant to crunch sauerkraut or cucumber in winter, drink tea with your favorite strawberry jam or cook a fragrant compote from dried apples for children. Proper storage of workpieces will help you live tasty, rich and cheerful until spring!
Are there other ways to freeze melons for the winter?
Sugar syrup or sweet fruit juice can help keep the melon pulp intact. To prepare the syrup, water and sugar are taken in equal proportions, the mixture is heated, stirring, until the sugar dissolves and the liquid boils.
Melon slices placed in a freezer container are poured with chilled syrup, closed and placed in the freezer. Do the same with juice, which is pre-mixed with sugar. Melon goes well with watermelon, pineapple, orange and peach juices.
If you want to add sweetness to a melon frozen on a tray in a "dry" way, the slices are dipped in powdered sugar and only then laid out on trays and put in the frost.
If the melon grown on your own plot turned out to be too soft and juicy, you should not give up the idea of freezing it. The peeled slices are crushed in a blender and the resulting puree is laid out in containers for freezing. If there is not enough sweetness, sugar or honey can be added to the pulp. On the basis of such a product, it is easy to prepare healthy, thirst-quenching ice cream and all kinds of desserts.
Homemade Melon Sorbet
To prepare an original homemade treat for all family members, you will need a sweet ripe melon, which is washed, cut, seeds cleaned and cut into small cubes.
For 6 servings of dessert, take:
- 1 cup of sugar;
- 1 glass of water;
- 4 cups diced melon pulp
- a little lemon or orange juice, to taste.
Cooking method
- Syrup is made from sugar and water, for which, stirring the liquid, bring it to a boil over low heat. Then the syrup is removed from the heat and cooled.
- Melon cubes, chilled syrup and lemon juice are blended in a blender until a smooth, fluffy puree is obtained.
- The resulting puree is laid out in containers, leaving a couple of centimeters to the edge, and frozen.
- To prevent large ice inclusions from forming in the sorbet, the thickened mass is stirred again as it freezes.
Read also: Do-it-yourself summer cottage: drawings, photos, construction step by step
It is better to keep the finished sorbet at room temperature for several minutes before laying it out on the bowls.
If the treat is being prepared for adults, you can use sweet white or sparkling wines instead of syrup.
And little sweet tooths will love the sorbet with creamy yogurt. In this case, you can sweeten the dessert with the help of powdered sugar, and it will not be superfluous to add pieces of melon or candied watermelon to the freezing mass.
Video about beautifully sliced melon
How to prepare your garden for winter weather anomalies?
Weather anomalies for plants in the country can be considered:
- early frosts on the soil not yet covered with snow,
- prolonged absence of snow,
- freezing rains in winter
- long thaws, after which cold sets in, and then thaws again,
- and in general, unusually warm weather in winter, when in principle there should be no heat.
Rules for preparing plants for abnormal winter
In fact, it is difficult to prepare for weather surprises. Often, even large weather forecasting agencies cannot predict it more than a couple of days in advance, the more difficult weather anomalies are in forecasting.
| A garden for extreme winter can only be prepared with the right agricultural technology. |
1. Pruning
If the crown of an apple or pear tree is too neglected and has a large number of "extra" shoots, it is highly likely that when freezing rain or heavy sleet falls, the branches may begin to break.
2. Support
In addition to pruning, it is necessary to install supports for the shoots that are most strongly deflected from the trunk, which have many branches, and, therefore, a large windage and a solid mass.
A tree growing without support, growing on a dwarf or superdwarf rootstock, may partially or completely fall off.
3. Top dressing
Naturally, one should not forget about full-fledged feeding of the garden in the autumn. After fruiting, it is necessary to increase the immunity of plants, restore strength by applying phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. Usually, superphosphate acts as phosphoric, and potassium sulfate acts as potassium.
| Do not forget that fertilizers containing nitrogen cannot be applied in autumn. |
It's one thing if autumn and winter match the climatic features of the region. But if autumn and winter are abnormally warm, then the introduction of nitrogen in the autumn period will promote the activation of growth processes. During provocative thaws or extraordinary warm weather, such plants can begin to open buds, which will die at the very first severe frosts, leaving them without a crop, and possibly without the plants themselves.
What to do in case of an abnormal winter?
It is difficult to do something in this case. Of course, supports that can be installed under heavy branches, as well as careful brushing of snow from the branches with a broom tied to a long wooden pole, can partially save from wet, sticky and heavy snow.
It is impossible to protect trees from heat in winter. Theoretically, it is possible to water the plants with ice water, lulling the roots, but this is too expensive and ineffective, although it makes sense.
Now let's look at specific situations and what can be done.
Melon is a healthy and tasty fruit
Melon is a pseudo-berry cultivated by humans and bred from the wild. The product is considered low-calorie - for example, there are only 36 kilocalories per 100 grams of the product.
Let's analyze the useful properties:
- Normalizes the work of the central nervous system. Improves mood, prevents the development of apathetic and depressive state.
- Favorably affects the hormonal background of a person.
- Stabilizes the digestive system. Reduces the risk of constipation.
- Cleans the body of toxins, toxins and other harmful compounds.
- Removes harmful cholesterol from the blood. Prevents the development of atherosclerosis. The presence of potassium strengthens the heart muscle.
- It has a mild diuretic effect. It removes stones, it is recommended to use it for pathologies of the urinary system.
- Favorably affects the appearance of hair, nails, skin. It has a rejuvenating effect on the state of the body.
In addition to all of the above, melon supports the health of the male reproductive system, female beauty, and children's health.
Which variety is right
For the preservation of useful and nutrients in the melon, you need to know how to choose the right product. For this method of storing berries, it is recommended to use melons and gourds. They have a firm and crispy flesh. The peel has a visible pattern of cracks.
The most suitable variety is Cantaloupe - melons with bright orange flesh, reminiscent of pumpkin in color. According to the external description, it will not be difficult to find it from all the variety presented in stores or markets.
Melon varieties have a strong aroma that does not disappear even after the freezing process. The richer the taste of the fruit, the better.
Varieties with soft and watery flesh cannot be used. After thawing, they will turn into a tasteless porridge.
