Harvesting home-grown fruits from your fruit trees is a highlight of summer and autumn, but it can be tricky to reach the fruits that aren't within easy reach. Which is where a fruit picker comes in.
Most fruits, including apples, pears, plums and quince, can be picked using a fruit picker, which is safer than standing precariously on a ladder. Most fruit pickers work by plucking the fruit gently off the branch, which then drops into a cloth bag or padded basket. Many fruit pickers have extendable or telescopic handles, which means you can easily reach the fruits on the highest branches.
There are also tools that you can roll across the grass to collect any fallen fruits. Their thin metal rods expand when pushed over a fruit, gently capturing them in the collecting head. You can usually collect around 10 apples from the ground using one of these useful tools.
Once you've picked the apples, add them to a trug for easy transportation.
More on growing fruit:
15 stylish fruit cages
How to train espalier fruit trees
Expert tips on growing apples
What to look for in a fruit picker tool
Adjustable handle - many fruit pickers come with telescopic or adjustable handles, which can be useful as you can access fruits at varying heights. Check that the maximum length suits the height of your tree.
Lightweight, ergonomic design - a lightweight fruit picker will allow you to pick fruit for longer without your arms getting tired.
Cushioned collection basket - to prevent fruit from bruising.
The best fruit pickers to buy in 2024
Kent & Stowe Telescopic Fruit Picker
The Kent & Stowe Telescopic Fruit Picker has an adjustable telescopic handle, which reaches to a maximum length of 2.4m. The head has inverted prongs that mean it is easy to pluck the fruit from the tree, and the collection basket has a cushioned foam liner, which ensures that the fruits don't bruise once they have been picked. The handle is made of lightweight aluminium, which means you can pick fruit without getting tired, and has an ergonomic grip. It is suitable for apple, pears and plums.
Maximum telescopic handle length: 2.4m
Weight: 860g
Selections Deluxe Lightweight Telescopic Apple & Fruit Picker
The Selections Deluxe Lightweight Telescopic Apple & Fruit picker deluxe fruit picker has an extending aluminium pole that extends from 0.9m to 2.4m, ensuring that you can pick apples from all over your tree easily. A twist and lock mechanism holds the pole at the required length. The pole has a 15m diamater bag with large picking 'teeth' that surround the stalk of the fruit and allow you to pluck them from the tree easily. You can then push the picked fruit out of the bag and continue picking. The handle of the picker can be collapsed back down for easy storage.
Maximum handle length: 2.4m
Weight: 750g
WOLF-Garten Multi-Change Adjustable Fruit Picker
This adjustable fruit picker has a strong, 13cm diameter collection bag that has a built-in knife for stubborn stalks. It is suitable for use with the Wolf Garten's Multi-Change Telescopic Handle, available separately. It comes with an incredible 35-year guarantee.
Maximum handle length: Wolf Garten's Multi-Change Telescopic Handle extends to 5.7m.
Burgon & Ball Apple Picker
The wire ‘fingers’ of this apple picker hook the fruit, allowing you to pick it easily, and the foam line prevents the fruit from bruising. The FSC-certified wooden handle is lightweight and comfortable to use.
Handle length: 1.46m
Weight: 720g
Gardena 03108-20 Combi System Fruit Collector
Rolling fruit collectors can be a useful tool for collecting windfalls - you can collect the fruit and empty it without bending over. This sturdy tool from Gardena has a shovel spout on the side to collect fruits from harder to access areas, such as around tree trunks. The tool head connects to the Gardena Combisystem multitool handle.
Telescopic Apple Collector with Bucket Clip
This rolling fruit collector can collect around 10 apples at a time and comes with a specially designed bucket clip. It has a telescopic handle so that you can pick lots of fallen fruits with minimum effort.
Handle length: 1m to 1.44m
Weight: 1 kg