Harvesting home-grown apples is highly rewarding, but it can be tricky reaching all of the fruits. With this in mind, we’ve chosen a selection of the best apple-picking tools to help with the job.
If you want to make sure you’re doing everything you can to support your own apples, we’ve created a handy guide to to growing apples.
Once your apples are ripe and ready to be picked, an apple picker is the ideal tool to help you retrieve them easily. Rather than precariously balancing on a ladder, an extendable pickers can reach fruits high on branches for you, while your feet stay firmly on the ground. Other tools roll across the grass to collect any apples which have already fallen.
The apple pickers will also be suitable for other types of fruit which you might be harvesting, perhaps to make into preserves. We’ve pulled together a list of best apple presses and best jam-making kits and equipment.
FIVE TIPS FOR HARVESTING APPLES
- Choose a dry day to harvest your apples – it’s not a good idea to store moist fruit, as it will encourage fungal diseases and they will spoil.
- Before picking, check apples are ripe and ready by cupping them in the palm of your hand and giving it a light twist – if it comes off the tree into your hand then you’re ready to go.
- Don’t be tempted to throw them into a basket once picked as they will bruise and go bad more quickly. Instead, place them in carefully.
- Sort through the apple harvest and remove any apples that have been nibbled by insects or show signs of disease.
- Don’t wash apples until just before using to prevent spoilage and keep them in a cool after picking to increase shelf life.
A basket or garden trug would be ideal to gather your produce into while you work and we also advise reading our guide to storing apples once they’re all collected.
10 of the best apple picker tools
Browse our selection of fruit pickers, below;
Kent & Stowe Telescopic Fruit Picker
This telescopic apple picker is lightweight so it should be easy to lift and use for reaching high up fruit. The foam cushion gently supports apples as they are retrieved, preventing bruising during the picking process. The extendable handle also means the picker is suitable for a range of trees and heights.
RRP: £27.99
Buy Kent & Stowe Telescopic Fruit Picker from
Wolf-Garten RGM Multi-Change Adjustable Fruit Picker
This long apple picker allows you to collect fruit easily without the use of a ladder. The telescopic handle is adjustable so it should work for whatever height tree you’re trying to access. The tool also features a strong collection bag which gathers the fruit as you work and it comes with an impressive 35-year guarantee.
RRP for the picker: £19.99
Buy Wolf-Garten RGM Multi-Change Adjustable Fruit Picker for £15.99 from Ebay.
RRP for the handle: £39.99
Buy Wolf-Garten Multi-Change Telescopic Handle from Tooled Up.
Darlac Telescopic Easy Reach Large Fruit Tree Apple/Pear Picker
This aluminium fruit picker features an extendable handle to function at different lengths and is capable of harvesting apples, pears and more. The soft “fingers” of the tool enclose the fruit to bring it carefully back down from the tree.
RRP: £59.99
Buy Darlac Telescopic Easy Reach Large Fruit Tree Apple/Pear Picker from Crocus.
Abracing Fruit Picker
This collection basket can be attached to any pole you have thanks to the handy adjustable clamp. The basket structure encloses the apples as you pick and uses a simple foam pad to cushion the fruit as it is collected to prevent bruising.
RRP from: £34.43
Buy Abracing Fruit Picker at Amazon
Burgon and Ball Wooden Handled Apple Picker
This apple picker is made by respected brand Burgon and Ball. The wooden handle should be sturdy and stable for working with. The metal cage forms a protective cage to catch fruit with and the foam liner prevents damage to the fruit while working.
RRP: £15.99
Buy Burgon and Ball Wooden Handled Apple Picker at Amazon
Easy Grab Apple Wizard Tool
This handy ‘wizard’ tool can collect up to 12 apples in a single roll and works on both flat and uneven ground, providing the grass isn’t overgrown. It can also double as a golf and tennis ball collector around the garden, as the wire collection basket is made from industrial grade steel with a break-resistant handle.
RRP: £76.99
Buy Easy Grab Apple Wizard Tool at Primrose
Rolling Apple and Fruit Picker
Another rolling apple picker, this tool gathers fallen fruit by rolling over them and collecting as it goes. The telescopic handle is lightweight and can be adjusted to suit you needs. The picker can also hold up to 10 apples at a time, depending on their size.
RRP: £29.99
Buy Rolling Apple and Fruit Picker at Garden Selections
Fiskars Fruit Picker
This apple picker head can be attached to coordinating telescopic handles (this one fits the 228-400cm model) to easily collect fruit from trees without needing a ladder. Reinforced with fibreglass, the tool should be strong and durable. The cotton collection bag is also washable.
RRP: £24.99 for the picker
Buy Fiskars Fruit Picker at Amazon
RRP: £19.71 for the handle
Buy Fiskars Telescopic Handle at Amazon
Picking Apron
This wearable apple picking apron is a handy addition to your gardening gear. The waterproof apron is made from oxford fabric so should be durable even when supporting fruit. The shoulder straps are adjustable so you can get the best fit and the tool means you can free up your hands while working.
RRP: £33.15
Gardena Combisystem Fruit Collector
This barrel cage fruit collector can collect fruit of various sizes without the need to bend over. The shovel spout on the side also allows users to access harder to reach areas. The tool head connects to the Gardena Combisystem handle (bought separately) and has a 25-year warranty included.
RRP: from £56.94 (for picker and handle)
Buy Gardena Combisystem Fruit Collector at Amazon
Buy Gardena Combisystem Wooden Handle at Amazon
This review was last updated in September 2021 and we apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.
