Fruit picker for apples - how to do it yourself

In industry, fruit is collected from fruit trees by a special machine; in private gardens, this is done manually by the owners themselves. To simplify this work, gardeners use a special device for picking apples.

What is an apple puller and why is it needed

A fruit collector is a device for collecting apples, pears and other large fruits. It allows you to carefully pick high-growing fruits without waiting for them to fall to the ground and spoil. The designs are slightly different in appearance and principle of operation, but they all have a long stick to which a basket with a harvesting and harvesting mechanism is attached.

The apple picker helps gardeners remove fruits from the tree without injury and prevents them from falling to the ground

Principle of operation

The apple puller works quite simply: you need to take the device by the long part, lift and bring the upper nozzle to the fruit. The handle is twisted clockwise, which causes the apple to fall directly into the bowl. Modern models are equipped with a cutting part that cuts off the fruit from the branch, and it is inside.

Interesting! Commercial equipment often has comfortable mechanical grips and adjustable handles.

Types of fruit picking devices

In the general classification of fruit pickers, there are:

  • Plastic (plastic) or metal.
  • With a cloth bag or synthetic mesh.
  • With a gripping mechanism.
  • Equipped with a simple stick or telescopic handle.

Purchased apple pickers

When purchasing or making a fruit picker for apples, you must remember that it must meet certain requirements:

  • Weight: it should be relatively light so that you can hold it in your hand for a long time.
  • The handle is comfortable and long (from 3 meters).
  • Smooth grip: the structure should not only be able to cut the fruit, but neatly place them in the basket.
  • Overall reliability and functionality of the device.

Plastic tulip

A tulip is one of the most basic structures for picking apples. The device is named so because of its resemblance to a flower. The fruit collector can be made of plastic of different qualities, as well as differ in the diameter of the basket. Its main advantage is considered to be extremely low cost. But it is not without its drawbacks:

  • Unreliable construction.
  • Limited bowl size.
  • Risk of losing fruit while lowering the picker.

The cost of a high-quality fruit picker can reach 1000-3000 thousand rubles

Collet puller

The collet apple picker is similar to the tulip puller. However, it is more convenient to work with it because it:

  • Has a spacious bag that can hold several fruits.
  • The basket is made of mesh: fruits are not injured on its walls.
  • Sharp cuts (or blades) quickly cut apples from branches.
  • The ability to change the inclination of the tool.
  • Adjustable handle length.

Wire fruit collector

The fruit picker can have different types of bowls, for example, in the form of an elongated canopy made of wire strings. In the center of the collecting part, the tool has a soft backing.The wire grabs the fruit, twists it to tear it off the branch, and lowers it into the bowl.

Fruit picker with grab

The apple fruit collector with a telescopic handle and a gripper is endowed with a number of positive qualities:

  • The used distance can be up to 2 meters above the head.
  • The rod has a controlled length.
  • Gentle harvesting thanks to rubberized plates.
  • The device can pick large fruits.
  • Ease of use: just press the handle.

Note! The updated telescopic fruit pickers, for example, Fruit Picking, have a net stocking instead of a small picking basket, through which the apples fall directly into the owner's hands.

Homemade fruit pickers

To make a fruit picker for apples with your own hands, you need to understand the composition and principle of the structure. It is often made from an iron can or a plastic bottle.

Collection from a plastic bottle tulip

Necessary materials:

  • Plastic bottle (up to 2 liters).
  • Fishing line or wire (about 3 meters long).
  • Scotch tape (electrical tape).
  • Trumpet or pole.
  • Scissors.
  • Awl.

At the first stage, a cup is made: the lower half or 1/3 of it is cut off from the container. Small cuts are made in a circle in the bottle and bend slightly to form petals. Holes are pierced in the center of each leaf, and a wire is pushed through them several times. It is fixed at the throat of the reservoir. The second stage is the handle. The tube is pierced in the place where the thicket will be attached. They are connected with adhesive tape.

A common fruit picker has a simple structure: a collecting basket and an elongated handle

Collection of bottle bowl

A simpler model of a puller looks like a vessel. It is made from a bottle with a volume of about 1.5 liters. As in the previous version, the bottom is removed, and a long stick is attached to the throat. Tape or nails are chosen as fasteners.

Closed bottle remover

The device for picking apples from a tree can be closed. In this case, the bottom does not need to be removed, a small puncture is made near it. The hole needs to be widened to the size of apples. You can cut teeth around the perimeter. Further, in the standard way, the main part of the fruit box is attached to the stick.

Important! The crop should easily pass through the hole in the tank, but not fall out of it.

Using a tin can

In this version, instead of plastic, a tin can is used, otherwise the manufacturing process is carried out according to the usual scheme. On the side of the container, you need to make an incision and slightly push it apart - you get a wedge. The bank is attached to the pole by means of a wire. The use of steel or aluminum makes the apple picking mechanism the most reliable.

From a plastic pipe

It is not necessary to create a wide container for collecting fruits; it is enough to choose a long pipe with a suitable diameter. On top of the device, a kind of rounded hooks are attached or cut out, which are necessary for grabbing apples. To facilitate cutting the fruit, a blade is attached to the structure.

The fruit picker can harvest the apple tree and pick up fallen apples

From a fishing net

In order for the fishing net to be used for harvesting fruits, it is recommended to modernize it a little: bend the base more strongly and attach another hook for cutting off the stems.

A fruit collector for apples has many advantages and will be a useful purchase on the farm. It is bought in shops for the garden and vegetable garden, but it is quite possible to make it yourself from scrap materials.

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