When the time comes to harvest your tree’s fruit, you will want to ensure that you have a suitable tool that works and is easy to use.
If you can’t reach difficult spots and you don’t want to bruise the fruit, then you definitely need to opt for one of the best apple harvesting tools.
Products are available in various shapes and sizes, so if you do not have a great deal of experience with this equipment and simply want some guidance to help you select the right one, you are in the right place.
This is your complete guide to buying the best apple harvesting tool or tools for your fruit trees.
Why Do I Need An Apple Picking Tool?
There are tons of reasons owning an apple harvesting tool will make your life easier.
First off, you won’t have to think about taking a step ladder with you.
Not only do you have less equipment and labor to deal with, but collecting fruit is going to be much safer.
Your apple harvesting tool is long and can stretch out to get all sections of the tree.
Not having to climb to collect your apples will allow you to put in less energy before it’s time to stop and rest.
Plus, many apple harvesting tools are lightweight and sometimes made of plastic material to make the job even easier!!
Importantly, an apple harvesting tool will not damage your harvest. By hand, it’s only too easy to be the slightest bit rough when picking fruit even if you did not intend to be- using a tool means less damage and therefore less waste.
Regardless of the height or depth of your trees, apple harvesting tools come with an extendable pole to allow you to work in any type of tree. This makes harvesting much easier and much more comfortable.
Apple Picking Tools – Our Top Picks
There are so many choices when it comes to tools for apple picking, but don’t let that overwhelm you!
To help you avoid spending hours searching the internet, we have gathered an assortment of the best, most efficient tools available for apple picking.
You just need to pick one that best fits your needs.
HOSKO 8ft Fruit Picker Tool
This tool comes with an eight-foot pole, but can be bought in a variety of other sizes, and you can choose whichever size works best for you.
And all the poles are important are adjustable, so each pole can be used in a variety of situations.
We really love the versatility of this fruit picker.
It’s excellent for collecting apples, but it also works well for pulling a wide variety of other fruits, such as mango, guava, cherries and more.
Inside the collection basket, you’ll find that there is foam lining which helps prevent bruising as the fruit falls into the basket.
We really appreciated this nice touch.
The only drawback is that the collection basket isn’t huge, so if you are picking a whole lot of fruit you will get a little workout emptying and refilling the basket.
The tool is super easy to use and is made of stainless steel , so you can rest assured that whatever you are using it for, that it will hold up over time.
Even though it’s not as lightweight as other material, it is still light enough to fit an everyday fruit picker.
MOCOHANA Fruit Picker
This harvest style apple-picking tool from MOCOHANA is ideal if you want something designed to get more fruit more quickly.
The large capacity harvest bag means you will not have to spend as much time emptying your bag, and can spend more time picking fruit.
We also want to mention, because we think it’s important, how well made this harvest style apple-picking tool is.
It is made of steel so it will not warp or bend even when your harvest bag is full.
It is designed to be use for heavier duty use and with the v-shaped blade, it removes even stubborn fruit quickly and easily.
Important to note is that this is just the harvest tool. It does not come with an extension pole so you’ll need to purchase this separately.
OAK LEAF Fruit Picker
If you’re someone who needs to pick fruit from the tippy tops of a tall tree, you need this OAK LEAF fruit picker.
This extendable pole can reach 13 feet long, so you will never need to worry about lugging a ladder around with you again.
The rod is made from stainless steel and the basket is made from iron so it is strong and resistant to corrosion.
Though you would think that using stainless steel and iron would make this picker heavy, it is incredibly lightweight – only 2.7lbs – and very easy to use.
Easily the best design element is how easy the basket is to tighten and loosen – there’s no messing with tools required.
Even better, the basket has a soft lining which means that all of your fruit remains safe when it falls into the basket.
While this is a fantastic tool, I do admit that it can sometimes cause the basket to come loose given the hand tighten design.
TIHOOD Fruit Picker Head Basket With Glove
We believe that this apple picking equipment represents a fantastic value! It is both very effective in collecting fruit and provides the protection of a garden glove for your hands.
Ok, yes, it doesn’t include a pole, but it isn’t the end of the world when you consider the cost.
The harverst bag is a great size and is held beneath a toothed ring which allows you to take fruit off a tree easily and quickly. It’s very versatile for use with not only apples but also for other smaller trees.
The materials for this apple picking tool are good, and it’s light-weight.
The downside of this tool is that some users had mentioned the bag coming away from the metal aspect, so it’s not the longest-lasting product.
Ohuhu Fruit Picking Tool
Constructed with aluminum, this is one of the lightest apple picking tools we have come across.
It’s easy and comfortable to operate, but it is also durable; you will have something that lasts for many harvests.
The basket is comparatively large, and although it is not as large as a market basket, it is large enough to hold several apples at a time.
Furthermore, it includes the so important foam lining, which keeps your fruit from being bruised or damaged.
This one is a great option for taller or deeper trees because of the telescopic pole that reaches a maximum of 13 feet.
How To Choose An Apple Picking Tool
Choosing a fruit-picking tool, like an apple picker, seems like a very simple task – right?
Well, yes, it is not the most difficult decision you will ever make but there are a few factors you might want to consider before wasting your time and money.
Pole Type
There are many choices to be made when it comes to apple picking tools; mainly one must decide whether to use a fixed length or extendable pole.
When working with large trees, having an extendable pole allows for a much better reach.
Fixed length apple picking tools become large, about eight feet.
That works if you are picking from a smaller tree, but you are limited in what you can do with an apple picker.
Weight
We mentioned previously that apple picking tools are typically manufactured from lightweight materials like aluminum.
Other taking tools are made from stronger materials like stainless steel. This material is stronger and more durable than aluminum, but it will be a bit heavier.
While a picking tool made from stainless steel will not feel like a dumbbell or iron block, it will definitely wear you out a bit more than a lightweight option.
How Quickly Does The Tool Pick?
Are you looking to complete your task in the fastest way?
If that’s the case, you’ll want to use a harvest apple picking tool. They can hold much larger quantities of fruit and usually come with a harvest basket so you just keep picking.
There are also basket apple picking tools that do not come with a harvesting bag.
Typically, you would not be picking more than a couple of pieces of fruit into the basket at a time, so you will have to keep emptying it as you go along.
Materials
We’ve discussed the type of materials used for apple picking tools in terms of the weight.
But weight isn’t the only factor to think about when making a purchase – you should also think about the durability (and flexibility) of the materials you are buying.
Things like carbon fiber, chromium (and aluminum) are excellent materials for apple picking tools.
They are very strong and have a good amount of flexibility making apple collecting much easier!
Apple Picking Tool Lifespan
It’s really not worth spending money on a tool that will only last a couple of harvests.
You want to select something that is well made, and will actually last a long time.
Of course how much you are going to use the tool has some impact on the tool’s longevity but selecting a quality build tool will also give you greater confidence.
The most significant aspect between apple picking tools is the material selected for the handle.
Metal will last much longer and perform better than wood which can deteriorate when exposed to the elements.
That being said, metal does look nicer.
What Fruit Will You Be Picking?
Harvest style pickers are generally going to be your best bet if you’re gathering apples.
This is due to the fact that they are overall stronger and thicker in terms of prongs.
This overall means you can get the apples out the tree with much more effort.
This style is also good for other heavier applications, such as avocados or mangoes.
On the contrary, if you are going to be gathering apples, a basket apple picking tool is a great tool for things like citrus fruits, as their average size lends them to be great at twisting the fruit off the tree.
Does It Have A Harvest Bag?
Let’s be honest, you’re not just going to go out to the orchard and pick a piece or two.
Most likely you’ll want to return home with a nice haul.
That’s why it would be a good idea to use an apple orchard picking tool that has a harvesting bag.
That way you’ll be able to carry more fruit and pick it up faster.
Top Tips For Harvesting Apples
If you have never used apple picking tools before, all of this may sound a little confusing.
But do not worry, because using an apple-picking tool is not hard to do.
Once you get used to using an apple-picking tool, the question becomes how do you know which apples to pick and when to pick them?
Almost all apple-picking tools are essentially the same. Usually, you’ll find that the pole of the tool is long, allowing you to reach to the top and deeper in the tree.
You’ll also note that your apple picking tool has an attachment that is hooked, pointed, or shaped in a way to help you remove the fruit from the branch.
Depending on which apple-picking tool you select, the attachment shape can be different. Some will have a v-shaped blade, while others will have a curved hook.
There are also some apple-picking tools that have a rounded loop.
Yet again, what happens once you have dislodged the fruit from the tree, will vary depending on the tool you have chosen.
Some of them have a collection bag that will catch the fruit from the tree before it hits the ground.
It goes without saying that this is, of course, the preferred case; after all, if the apples fall to the ground, they’re likely damaged.
Also, you’ll even have to work to bend down and pick them up!
- When picking apples, it is important to go out on a dry day. If you attempt to store fruit that is in any way wet, it will cause the fruit to break down and quality will suffer. This will also open the fruit up to fungal diseases.
- Don’t pick apples that are not ripe. Check the apples to see if they are ready to pick. You do this by taking an apple in the palm of your hand and twisting it away from the tree. If the apple comes off the tree easily, you are ready to pick apples. You can take as many as you’d like with your apple picking tool.
- When you are putting your apples in your container, be sure not to throw them in the container. This will cause the apples to bruise. Always be gentle with the fruit!
Conclusion
A good tool for harvesting apples makes gathering them a lot easier and less laborious.
There are several options available to buy each year so be sure to look at all of your options and purchase what seems to suit your needs.
Our list will cover the best lines of tools and present products that are truly the best of the best and exciting and will really change the face of collecting fruit.