Apple, pear and other fruit trees can grow several meters tall. Experience has shown that the most beautiful fruits are of course at the top - and cannot always be reached even with a ladder. With a fruit picker you get the coveted fruit intact from the tree. What you should pay attention to when buying, you will find out in the following article.
With a fruit picker, even hard-to-reach apples can be easily picked
Our recommendations
our recommendation
Gardena combisystem fruit picker: practical harvest helper, suitable for all combisystem handles, with adjustable handle (3115-20)
13.59 EUR To the product| Material / catch bag | plastic, mesh material |
|---|---|
| Size / catch bag | 49 centimeters in length |
| weight / catch bag | 250 grams |
| stalk | Can be combined with any Combisystem handle (not included in the scope of delivery) |
| prong ring | smaller teeth between large tines (for smaller fruit) |
| extras | adjustable joint |
The Combisystem fruit picker from the brand manufacturer GARDENA picks any fruit from the tree - there are small teeth between the larger plastic prongs that make it easier to separate small fruits such as cherries. The fruit then falls into the robust safety net and can be easily collected.
With this model, only the fruit picker is supplied, the matching handle must be ordered separately. For tree heights of more than five meters, the manufacturer recommends an extendable telescopic handle that can be adjusted in length. Insert this handle into the intended holder and screw it tight - tools are not necessary for this.
our recommendation
Fiskars fruit picker for Fiskars QuikFit stems, tool head, length: 32 cm, glass fiber reinforced plastic/cotton, black/orange, QuikFit, 1000693
22.95 EUR To the product| Material / catch bag | glass fiber reinforced plastic / cotton |
|---|---|
| Size / catch bag | 32 centimeters in length |
| weight / catch bag | 270 grams |
| stalk | not included in the scope of delivery, must be ordered separately |
| prong ring | robust |
| extras | Collection bag washable, adjustable joints |
A fruit picker must be easy to handle, robust and must not crush the fruit. The model from the quality manufacturer Fiskars meets these criteria and also easily harvests cherries and plums in addition to large fruits such as apples, pears and quinces. The device consists of a stable frame made of glass fiber reinforced plastic and a washable cotton collection bag.
As with the GARDENA fruit picker, the Fiskars model is also supplied without a handle. You only receive the tool head and must also purchase a suitable handle. Here you have the choice between different QuikFit handles, which can also be used for other garden tools of the same series. No tools are required for assembly.
our recommendation
Master Fruit Picker Comfort | Powder-coated steel with protective caps | Ø 130 mm | cotton bag | apple picker | Harvest Hands | fruit picker
EUR 10.95 To the product| Material / catch bag | cotton |
|---|---|
| Size / catch bag | 13 centimeters wide |
| weight / catch bag | 200 grams |
| stalk | is not included, must be ordered separately |
| prong ring | made of powder-coated steel with plastic caps |
| extras | for large and small fruits (e.g. cherries) |
With regard to the price-performance ratio, this fruit picker is the winner - for a low price you get a very stable device with which you can easily pick large and heavy apples as well as small, soft cherries. In their Amazon reviews, the majority of users are very satisfied.
This is mainly due to the steel and therefore particularly robust catcher crown, whose 1.2 millimeter thick tines are provided with a protective plastic cover. Nothing bends here and the fruits remain unharmed. However, a suitable handle must be purchased separately (e.g. the infinitely adjustable telescopic handle from Ribelli).
Purchase Criteria
fang crown
The toothed ring that you use to grab and separate the fruit is called the fang crown. It then falls into the catch bag. The material is particularly important for the catching crown: Robust and therefore durable teeth (which do not break at the first stress test) are made of metal or stable plastic. Metal fangs should be fitted with a protective cap (e.g. made of plastic) so as not to damage the fruit.
catch bag
The picked fruit falls into the catch bag. The bag should be made of a sturdy material so that it doesn't tear when it's put under pressure - tightly woven cotton is ideal, as it's particularly robust and washable. Plastic bags can also be tear-resistant, but are usually more vulnerable. Also make sure that the bag is securely attached to the crown of the catch so that the two don't come loose from each other during picking. A clamp attachment is standard.
Stick / combi system
When buying a fruit picker, you usually only acquire the actual working tool and have to buy a suitable handle. You have the choice between models with a fixed length or telescopic handles. The latter can be individually adjusted in length and are therefore suitable for both low and high trees - you should ensure that the length is sufficient, especially with high fruit trees. A wooden handle, on the other hand, is robust and cheap, but not adjustable.
Weight
The weight also plays an important role when choosing the right fruit picker - if it is too high, your arms will quickly become lame and harvesting will be slow. Most models are in the range between 200 and 300 grams and are therefore quite light. You can see differences here, especially in the selection of the handle, because these can be made of plastic, aluminum or wood.
adjustability
Fruit pickers with adjustable joints or an adjustable handle on the catcher crown are particularly practical. This allows you to adjust the angle and height of the fruit picker as needed, so you can easily reach any branch you want.
crop
Choose the diameter of the catcher crown and the distance between the individual tines according to which fruit you want to harvest. Apples and pears, for example, need larger spikes and wider spacing, while cherries and plums need smaller dimensions. Some models have different tooth sizes and shapes and are therefore more versatile. Also make sure to choose a model made of particularly robust material - such as steel and cotton - for large and heavy fruits.
youtubefrequently asked Questions
How does a fruit picker work?
Fruit pickers consist of a stalk, a capping crown, and a capturing pouch. In principle, they act as arm extensions, because with their help you can reach fruit hanging high up in the tree or at an unfavorable angle. This saves you from having to climb the tree dangerously or use a ladder.
How to use a fruit picker?
When harvesting with a fruit picker, proceed as follows:
- Pass the fruit picker up to the desired fruit.
- Grab the fruit by the stem with the prongs.
- Detach them and drop them into the catch bag.
Other fruits can also fall from the tree.
Which fruit can be harvested with the fruit picker?
Fruit pickers are particularly practical for large types of fruit such as apples, pears and quinces. For this reason, these devices are often commercially available under the name "apple pickers". However, you can also use the fruit picker for other fruits (e.g. cherries) as long as the teeth on the crown of the catch are close enough together.
Who Makes Fruit Pickers?
You can get fruit pickers from brand name manufacturers such as Gardena, Fiskars etc., where they are often offered as part of a specific series. This has the advantage that the individual components of this series can be combined with each other and you therefore do not need a separate handle for each garden tool, but simply use one for all.
Where to buy fruit pickers
You can get fruit pickers both on the internet and in brick-and-mortar stores. The various hardware and garden stores offer branded devices as well as own brands in different price ranges. The Internet offers the advantage of greater comparability, but you cannot pick up and check the products here.
How much does a fruit picker cost?
These devices are available in different price ranges, with most offers in the range of about ten euros to about 25 euros. In terms of price, the biggest differences can be seen in the handles that have to be purchased separately, which can cost between a few euros for a wooden handle and up to 40 euros for a telescopic handle.
equipment
Adjustable telescopic handle
our recommendation
GARDENA combisystem telescopic handle 90 - 145 cm: extension handle for combisystem devices, infinitely adjustable, wobble-free connection (3719-20)
19.29 EUR To the productAn infinitely adjustable telescopic handle enables the fruit picker to be used flexibly. Depending on the selected length, you can even reach heights of more than five meters - so you no longer need to climb a ladder and can even get to fruit that is difficult to reach.
fruit picker
our recommendation
Gardena combisystem roller collector: the fruit collector for collecting without bending down, for fruit approx. 4 to 9 cm, easy to empty, compatible with Gardena combisystem handles (3108-20)
EUR 38.80 To the productEven when harvesting with a fruit picker, some fruit accidentally falls to the ground - after a storm or heavy rain, the fallen fruit can cover the entire ground. With a roller collector you can collect these fruits gently without having to bend down.