How to pick apples perfectly – this simple 3-step technique is all you need to know to harvest ripe fruits time after time

Knowing how to pick apples is key to harvesting quality fruit and avoiding causing any damage to them or the tree. Luckily, there is a simple technique you can use to pick apples impeccably every time.

I have picked lots of apples in my time. Every garden I worked in as a professional horticulturalist featured large numbers of apple trees. One garden had over 140 trees and 47 varieties of apples in one large orchard, while another had over a hundred espalier apple trees growing on arches and walls. In both cases, it meant a lot of time spent picking apples.

As well as the look and taste of the apple, how the fruit detaches from the tree is a tell-tale sign of when to pick apples. Once you discover the best technique, you can use it to pick apples low down or high up in a tree. This guide on how to pick apples teaches you the perfect method and reveals the tools you can use to harvest apples from the top of a tree.

How to pick apples from a tree

Timing is key, so the first key step is to pick apples at the right time. This can vary depending on the type of apple tree, your climate, and also any particular apple's location on the tree.

A ripe apple should be fully developed, whether green, red, or yellow, and feel firm. And, if you do a quick taste test on an apple or two, it should be sweet and juicy.

A good clue to follow is the sign of windfall apples around a tree. Once the tree starts dropping these naturally, it is time to start picking. These apples are great for making juice, but not for storing, as they often bruise when falling from the tree.

If your apples tick all the right boxes and are ripe to pick, there are three simple steps to follow for picking apples by hand. Follow those three steps, and you can enjoy a fantastic apple harvest.

1. Grab an apple in your palm – hold it, but don't excessively grip with your fingers, as this pressure can bruise the fruit.
2. Give it a slight twist and an upward lift – A ripe apple will come away in your hand using this simple motion, with the stalk intact. If you need to force it, the apple isn't ready. Don't excessively pull, as this risks damaging the fruit and the tree. You can even tear off the spurs that will carry next year's fruit.
3. Gently place into a basket or bucket – Be careful with the apple and don't drop it from a height, as you will bruise the fruit.

It may take more than one visit to pick all the apples of a tree, and that is because not all the fruits will ripen at the same time. When they ripen depends on the amount of light they get. Start picking apples at the bottom or edges of the tree, and do a few harvests to get the fruit at the best time.

There are a couple of harvesting mistakes to avoid. Refrain from picking diseased fruits, as any issue can spread through the crop when you store apples, and don't pick wet fruit that can rot quickly in storage.

Finally, keep a close eye out for wasps that feed on apples. They can hide in holes in fruits and may sting if they are disturbed.

If you are looking for an ideal container to place your apples in, this Garden Hod, available at Burpee, fits the bill perfectly. It is a durable basket made of wire and wood, suitable for gathering fruits.

How to pick apples from the top of a tree

Apple trees can get tall, so they can pose a challenge to get the fruit from high up. Thankfully, there are garden tools you can use to pick apples from up high so you waste as little fruit as possible.

You can use a ladder to pick higher apples from the tree. A tripod ladder (such as this 10ft tripod step ladder at Walmart) is best, as it is very stable and allows you to get close to the tree.

But take care when using any ladders on uneven surfaces. Safety is paramount, so you never want to over-stretch when picking apples up high from a ladder.

For further reach, a long-handled apple-picking tool can be used. These tools have an extendable pole with a basket on top. The basket features a wire cage to support and lift the apple, and a protective foam pad at the bottom of the cage to avoid bruising the fruit.

You can get telescopic apple pickers that reach up to 20 feet, and they allow you to carefully pick apples using the same upward motion as if you were harvesting by hand.

Shop types of apple picking tools

FAQs

How long can you leave apples on the tree?

Depending on the variety of apples, you can leave the fruits on a tree for a few weeks. Typically, late-season apples can be left on the tree the longest, while early varieties are best picked quickly once ripe. The risk of leaving apples on the tree for too long is that they over-ripen and turn soft or mushy. Also, ripe apples left on the tree become a target for wasps and birds.

Should I leave fallen apples on the ground?

There are potential problems with leaving fallen fruit on the ground. Primarily, the fruit becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi, such as canker or brown rot, and these spores can overwinter to infect the tree. Leaving fallen apples on the ground also attracts many pests and can damage lawns, as it blocks light and potentially spreads fungi.

To help get the best harvest of apples to pick, there are a couple of key maintenance tasks to remember.

Firstly, make sure to fertilize apple trees in spring and summer, using a product like this organic fruit tree fertilizer, available at Walmart.

Also, pruning apple trees during dormancy keeps trees healthy and productive, and also controls the size to make harvesting easier.