The top 3 recommendations and buying guides

Our recommendations

Of the Combisystem fruit picker from the brand manufacturer GARDENA picks every fruit from the tree - small teeth are located between the larger plastic teeth, which 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. You insert this handle in the intended position and screw it tight - no tools are required.

A fruit picker has to be easy to handle, robust and not allowed to squeeze the fruit. The model from the quality manufacturer Fiskars fulfills these criteria and also harvests cherries and plums in addition to large fruits such as apples, pears and quinces without any problems. The device consists of a sturdy frame made of fiberglass-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. You can choose between different QuikFit handles, which can also be used for other garden tools from the same series. No tools are required for assembly.

In terms of price-performance ratio, this fruit picker is the winner - you get it for a low price a very stable device with which you can easily pick even large and heavy apples as well as small, soft cherries can. Most of the users in their Amazon reviews are very satisfied.

This is mainly due to the steel and therefore particularly robust catching crown, the 1.2 millimeter thick tines of which 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. B. the infinitely adjustable telescopic handle from Ribelli).

Purchase criteria

Muzzle

The serrated ring with which you grasp and cut off the fruit is called the catching crown. Then it falls into the collection bag. The material is particularly important for the catching crown: robust and therefore durable prongs (which do not break during the first stress test) are made of metal or sturdy plastic. Metal spikes should be covered with a protective cap (e. B. made of plastic) so as not to damage the fruit.

Catch bag

The picked fruit falls into the catch bag. So that the bag does not tear immediately when it is loaded, it should be made of a stable material - tightly woven cotton is ideal, as it is particularly robust and also washable. Plastic bags can also be tear-resistant, but are usually more susceptible. Make sure that the bag is fastened to the catching crown in a high-quality manner, so that the two do not become detached from each other during the picking. A clamp attachment is standard.

Handle / Combisystem

When you buy a fruit picker, you usually only acquire the actual equipment and have to buy a suitable handle. You can choose between models with a fixed length or telescopic handles. The latter can be individually adjusted in length and are therefore suitable for both low as well as taller trees - especially with tall fruit trees, they should be of sufficient length respect, think highly of. A wooden handle, on the other hand, is robust and inexpensive, but not adjustable.

weight

Weight also plays an important role when choosing the right fruit picker - if it is too high, your arms will quickly become paralyzed and harvesting is slow. Most models range between 200 and 300 grams and are therefore quite light. You can find 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 are particularly practical. an adjustable handle on the catching crown. This allows the angle and height of the fruit picker to be adjusted as required, so that you can easily reach any branch you want.

Crop

Choose the diameter of the catching crown and the distance between the individual tines according to which fruit you want to harvest. Apples and pears, for example, need larger teeth and wider spacing, whereas cherries and plums need smaller dimensions. Some models have different point 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.

frequently asked Questions

How does a fruit picker work?

Fruit pickers consist of a handle, a catch crown and a catch bag. In principle, they function as an arm extension, because with their help you can even reach fruits that are high up in the tree or at an awkward angle. This saves you the dangerous climbing up the tree or the use of a ladder.

How do you use a fruit picker?

When harvesting with a fruit picker, proceed as follows:

• Hand the fruit picker up to the desired fruit.
• Grab the fruit with the prongs on the stem.
• Detach them and drop them into the catch bag.

Other fruits can also fall from the tree.

Which fruit can you harvest with the fruit picker?

Fruit pickers are particularly useful for large types of fruit such as apples, pears and quinces. For this reason, these devices are often also available in stores under the name “apple pickers”. However, you can also use the fruit picker for other fruits (e.g. cherries) as long as the prongs on the catching crown are close enough together.

Who makes fruit pickers?

You can get fruit pickers from brand manufacturers such as Gardena, Fiskars etc., where they are often offered as part of a certain series. This has the advantage that the individual components of this series can be combined with one another and You do not need a separate handle for each garden tool, but simply one for all of them use.

Where can I buy fruit pickers?

You can get fruit pickers both online and in brick-and-mortar stores. The various DIY superstores and garden centers offer branded devices as well as own brands in different price ranges. The Internet offers the advantage of greater comparability, but here you cannot pick up the products and check them.

What does a fruit picker cost?

These devices are available in different price ranges, with most offers in the range between approx. ten euros to around 25 euros. In terms of price, the biggest differences can be seen in the handles that can 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

A continuously adjustable telescopic handle enables flexible use of the fruit picker. 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 you can even reach hard-to-reach fruits.

Fruit collector

Even when harvesting with a fruit picker, some fruit accidentally fall to the ground - after a storm or heavy rain, the windfalls can cover the entire ground. With a roller collector you can collect these fruits gently without having to bend down.