Do I prune my apple trees in fall or spring? Why are those apples so sour?

Question

My 2 apple trees are about 5 or 6 years old.They produce apples,but they taste horrible,one is sour,the other one sour and not juicy . Will they get better over time?

Answer 1

I prune my trees in the dead of winter in Massachusetts, when I am SURE the sap is not flowing due to the cold!
Maybe as far as the taste goes, if they are really old heirloom type trees, then they may be CANNING APPLES, bitter until they are cooked down and can for winter use. Or maybe the heat is too hot and the grown is too dry for enough moisture to help produce the right amount of natural sugar. So if they are not heirloom quality apples, or bad weather, How about some disease or insect attack!
All of these unknowns can be solved by taking samples to your local agricultural extension service or University.

Answer 2

Trim the tree after all the fruit has been removed; leaves have fallen; and it is dormant. This would be after a good hard frost, if you live in an area that freezes, or in the early spring before it starts growing again. But if you do it in the spring, it must be early spring.

The apples are most likely sour because they are not fully matured fruit yet. They will sweeten up when they are ready to eat. Be patient.

Answer 3

It's a Sour Apple tree! You probably have to cook them to make them good.

Answer 4

There are some apples that are called winder apples. They don't sweeten-up until the frost hits them, The best time to trim is fall or winter. Yes,WINTER not bugs or germs.Just cold.

Answer 5

IN the Fall.. but I do not know what state you are in so cannot tell you which month.. I will prune mine here in the SouthWest.. probably in late October or November because it does not get as cold here.

Answer 6

dead of winter, Sorry it's got to be dormant and it's going to be cold.