The top 3 recommendations and buying guides

Our recommendations

Most Amazon reviewers are enthusiastic about Fiskars Fruit picker. They praise the well thought-out - Finnish-inspired - construction of the teeth, which should make it possible to pick smaller and larger fruit without any problems, "without tearing down half the tree". Another advantage: the quite large catch bag. The attachment to the separately available telescopic handle is described by some customers as difficult.

The fruit picker from WOLF-Garten is characterized by similar properties to ours Comparative winner - only he does without the Finnish design of the picking crown, which instead is classic is designed. The majority of reviewers on Amazon see the fruit picker as a useful garden helper that does its job. It is unclear whether the bag is really made of cotton. Several buyers say it is made of plastic.

The materials and the processing quality of the fruit picker from Meister would undoubtedly deserve the first place in our comparison. The low price also speaks for this device. In addition, the reviewers at Amazon are very impressed by the fruit harvest with the "masterful" Apple picker. Why does it still “only” take third place? Because unfortunately it does not have a flexible grip joint.

Purchase criteria

materials

Material of the stem: The handle of an apple picker is made of either wood, aluminum or plastic. Wooden versions cannot be extended and are therefore cheaper. In contrast, you can usually adjust the height of aluminum and plastic handles and thus adapt them to your body size on the one hand and to the height of the tree on the other. The modern versions also have the advantage of being extremely easy to care for.

Material of the picking crown: The matter is clear here - if you want to harvest large fruits like apples or pears, you should go for an apple picker with a rounded serrated crown made of durable metal (such as aluminum) or steel decide. This optimally withstands the hard-skinned fruit and makes it easier for you to pick or collect the fruit quickly. If you want to use the fruit picker to harvest more and more smaller types of fruit such as cherries or plums, a plastic picking crown is sufficient.

Material of the collecting bag: The apple picker's bag should be made of a tear-resistant and stretchable material and should be washable. Cotton meets all criteria and is therefore the best solution - especially since the natural fiber is also considered skin-friendly. There are also fruit picking bags made from synthetic fabrics such as polyester. However, these are less elastic than cotton and can (more) trigger allergic reactions.

Distance between the prongs at the picking crown

When buying your apple picker, pay attention to the spacing between the prongs. With larger fruits such as apples and pears, the prongs can be a little further apart. However, when it comes to picking smaller fruits such as cherries, plums or berries, the distance between two prongs should be a maximum of one to two centimeters. Otherwise the tender fruits could easily fall through the gaps and increase the harvesting effort for the gardener.

Capacity of the collecting bag

The more fruit you want to collect in one operation and literally bear it in terms of weight, the greater the capacity of the bag should be.

Flexible gripping joint

If the connecting link between the apple picker and the handle has a flexible gripping joint, you can turn the safety gear by up to 180 degrees as required. This enables you not only to harvest the fruit from top to bottom, but also to rotate the fruit picker and swivel it effortlessly to the left or right.

Ergonomic handle

The handle of the apple picker should be ergonomic. Some manufacturers offer their fruit pickers with a so-called telescopic handle. The latter is characterized by the fact that it can be adjusted in height. If you choose a model with a fixed handle, make sure that the length is in harmony with your height. How to prevent back pain. And: depending on whether you want to pick the fruit directly from the tree, the stem must of course be able to cope with the height of the tree without you needing a ladder again.

Telescopic handles have the advantage of being flexible. However, they are generally less stable than solid stems. It's best to read a few reviews from other customers to get an idea of ​​whether the The respective telescopic handle is convincing in terms of robustness and how user-friendly the adjustment mechanism is designed.

Generally important: does the handle of the handle fit well in the hand? Can it be gripped securely and comfortably?

Ideally, the handle is already included in the scope of delivery of your chosen apple picker (rarely the case). Otherwise you should order a suitable model separately.

frequently asked Questions

What is an apple picker?

An apple picker, also called a fruit picker, is an extremely practical harvest helper. The garden tool makes it possible to harvest apples and other fruit without a ladder from the tree and without bending over from the ground.

An apple picker usually consists of three parts:

• Handle (often retractable and extendable, usually made of aluminum)
• Picking crown (plastic or metal / steel ring with teeth)
• Catch bag (removable and usually also washable)

What is the difference between apple pickers and apple collectors?

Apple collector In contrast to classic apple pickers, they are only suitable for picking fruit on the ground. They are also known as roll collectors because they have a special round basket, the struts of which open automatically when the gardener rolls the device over a fruit. Harvesting with an apple picker is therefore particularly convenient, but not as flexible as with an apple picker.

Which brands offer good apple pickers?

Many well-known brands make working apple pickers. These include, among others:

• Gardena
• WOLF garden
• Fiskars
• master

Where is the best place to buy an apple picker?

You can find solid apple pickers in well-stocked hardware stores - whether Bauhaus, OBI, Hornbach, hagebaumarkt or toom. Seasonally, there are also inexpensive apple pickers for hobby gardeners in the range of discounters such as ALDI or Lidl. However, Amazon offers the largest selection.

How much does an apple picker cost?

The apple picker is a comparatively inexpensive garden tool. Good models are available from around ten euros. For fruit pickers from well-known brands such as Fiskars or Gardena, you have to reckon with around 20 to 50 euros for the combination of picker and telescopic handle.

Can I build an apple picker myself?

Yes, this is quite possible with a few utensils and a little manual skills. You will find instructions for this in the garden journal.

equipment

stalk

If the handle is not already included in the scope of delivery of the apple picker, you must also order a model that is suitable for the device and your individual requirements.

Storage box

In order to keep all the fruits of one variety collected with the apple picker compact and safe, simply buy boxes in the right sizes for your needs.