What makes apples tasteless and woody textured?

Question

There is a large apple tree in our neighbour’s garden. The branches hang into our garden and are laden with apples. However, those apples are tasteless and have a ‘woody’ or cardboard texture. Wondering why and if I can do anything to change that once they’ve been picked?

Answer 1

It really depends on the apple variety.

In some apples, the woody flavor can mean that the apples are not ripe enough yet and need more time on the tree before being picked. In other varieties, storing them in a cool, dry, dark location for a few weeks will improve the flavor. In almost all varieties though, a woody texture and flavor can indicate that the tree is lacking in water or nutrients.

If you are unsure of the variety, you may need to experiment with a few. Leave some on the tree and store a few and see if either improves the flavor and texture. If neither do, then next year, make sure the tree is properly fertilized and receives enough water to avoid this problem.