Tips and Tools for Harvesting Fruit

From big sheets and a few friends to fruit-picker baskets and pole pruners, these tips and tools will make the job easier.

gby1911_1-fruit_s4x3

Have fruit trees that are heavy with fruit? Here are a few tips to help you pluck the fruits of your labor.

gby1911_1a-shake-tree_s4x3

Shake the limb and the fruit falls off. This first technique is the quickest and easiest. All you need are a few willing bodies and a large sheet under the fruit tree. Pick a fruit-filled branch and give it a good shake. This method is useful for tall trees and works best for those whose fruit can fall off easily, such as apples. Most important, the mass quantity of fruit is collected gently and safely. Of course, when shaking the tree, everything comes down, including the leaves and so forth, so you'll have to sort out the good fruit from the bad fruit, leaves and other debris.

gby1911_1c-picker_s4x3

Use a fruit-picker basket. For hard-to-reach fruits that can be pulled off easily, use a fruit-picker basket that has an extension handle. You can wrap the hooks around the fruit's stem and give it a tug. The fruit falls right into the basket.

gby1911_1b-telescoping-pole-pruners_s4x3

Prune off fruit. Use handheld pruners to remove fruits that are hard to remove by pulling. For those hard-to-reach tender fruits, employ telescoping pole pruners. As an added bonus, pole pruners hold as they cut, so this is perfect for soft and fragile fruit like ripe peaches.

Twist and pull. Some fruits like pomegranates don't come off the tree as easily as apples. If you don't have pruners handy, grab each individual fruit and twist it until it's free of the tree.

When harvesting is complete, inspect the fruit, picking out the bad ones to be composted. If you have extra fruit and want to donate them, call your local food bank or do some research online for drop-off locations and times for any local harvest services.

Next Up

How to Plant and Grow a Persimmon Tree

Experts share why persimmon trees are good to grow and offer tips on persimmon types and how to care for them.

Can I Plant Blueberries and Raspberries Together?

They’re both berries, so they should go together like peanut butter and jelly, right? Wrong.

How to Grow Ground Cherries

If you've never heard of ground cherries, give them a try. These orange-yellow fruits add a sweet, tart flavor to foods and make a healthy snack.

Can You Plant Apple Seeds From Store-Bought Apples?

These days, most apple trees aren’t grown from seed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try. If you’ve got gardening ambitions to rival Johnny Appleseed’s, here’s how to go about it.

How to Grow Tulip Tree

Tulip tree — Liriodendron tulipifera (also known as tulip poplar) — is a stunning addition in a large landscape.

4 Tips to Be a More Patient Plant Parent

There's no use crying over wilted leaves. Slow down and take a breather with Plant Kween Christopher Griffin as they share helpful houseplant care tips that take the stress out of indoor gardening from their book, "YOU GROW, GURL! Plant Kween's Lush Guide to Growing Your Garden."

Spider Plant Care: Tips for Growing Chlorophytum Comosum Indoors

Learn to care for this easy houseplant and how to fix the rare problems that could arise.

How to Stop Tomato Blossom End Rot

Got an ugly black spot on the bottom of your tomatoes? Never fear. It's a common problem that's easier to fix than you might think. HGTV expert Gayla Trail, of YouGrowGirl.com, offers advice.

How to Care for a Majesty Palm Indoors

Find out how to keep this tropical plant happy inside your home, plus discover more palms that lend a Tropics vibe with less fuss.

5 Tips for Preserving a Carved Pumpkin

Learn how to preserve a carved pumpkin so your Halloween masterpiece will last all season long.

Go Shopping

Get product recommendations from HGTV editors, plus can’t-miss sales and deals.

On TV

Follow Us Everywhere

Join the party! Don't miss HGTV in your favorite social media feeds.