There’s nothing like going out at the end of summer and picking plump cherries fresh off the tree! But for those hard-to-reach branches, some cherry picking tools can come in handy.
So, what is the best fruit-picking tool for harvesting cherries? There are a few different ways to collect small fruits like cherries from tall trees.
Keep reading to discover our top picks for the best cherry picking tools.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall:
Fiskars Fruit Picker Basket
Best Over-the-Shoulder Option:
Hoss Tools Shoulder Harvesting Fruit Bucket
Budget Option:
OFXDD Fruit Picker Basket
Best Overall
Fiskars Fruit Picker Basket
Fiskars is a trusted name among affordable home and gardening products. The Fiskars Fruit Picker Basket delivers the quality you expect at a price that won’t break the bank.
This is our list’s top cherry picking tool due to its durable mesh design. You don’t need to worry about small cherries slipping between the cracks and falling to the ground bruised.
Another winning design choice is the clever sharpened rim. This allows you to remove stubborn cherries that can’t be jostled free.
Combine this handy fruit basket with Fiskars’ heavy-duty long-handled pruning shears for the ultimate fruit-picking combination.
Pros:
- Mesh bag is suitable for harvesting small fruits
- Plastic grooves enable easy removal of stubborn fruit
Cons:
- Basket only, extension pole sold separately
Best Over-the-Shoulder Option
Hoss Tools Shoulder Harvesting Fruit Bucket
Once you bring cherries down from the tree, you need somewhere to place them. You could settle for any old sack or bucket. Still, this can be cumbersome and even dangerous when you are perched atop a ladder.
That’s why an over-the-shoulder bucket is one of the best cherry picking tools you can have. Hoss Tools manufactures a simple and elegant hands-free solution for harvesting cherries. The sturdy Hoss Shoulder Harvesting Fruit Bucket enables you to harvest gallons of fruit without any hassle.
The shoulder strap system distributes the weight of your harvest so you can easily carry more fruit. Plus, Hoss Tools delivers high-quality, American-made products that you can trust.
Budget Option
OFXDD Fruit Picker Basket
The OFXDD Fruit Picker is a simple cherry picking tool. The design is similar to a DIY soda bottle picker but is made of rugged plastic.
You should be aware that this fruit picker basket doesn’t have a threaded receiver. Instead, you can use a small screw to fasten the basket to your pole.
Pros:
- Solid construction is excellent for small fruits
- Plastic grooves help you remove ripe fruit
Cons:
- The Picker basket isn’t threaded
- Basket only, extension pole sold separately
Bird Netting Cherry Harvesting Tent
If you have been growing cherries for a while, you know that birds are the bane of a successful cherry harvest.
Wild birds don’t need to wait until cherries are ready to dig in. They often swoop in when the cherry skin blushes of red coloring.
The longer your cherry harvests remain unprotected, the more fruit you will lose to the birds.
Year after year, intelligent bird species like corvids will teach their young that your trees are an excellent food source. You will have scant cherry harvests and many happy birds within a few years.
There is an easy solution to protect your cherries in the form of a fruit harvesting tent.
When your cherry tree starts fruiting, use an extension pole to drape Dalen Bird-X Bird Netting over the entire tree. Cinch the ends of the netting together around the trunk of the tree with a length of twine.
You can leave this heavy-duty net in place until the cherries are ripe and ready to harvest.
Sometimes, you can cut down on harvest time by firmly shaking the cherry tree while it is still enclosed. The ripest fruits will fall from the limbs and gather near the trunk.
You will still need a cherry harvesting tool to collect stubborn fruits that cannot be agitated off the tree.
EXTEND-A-REACH 24-Foot Telescopic Pole
Many options are available for fruit harvesting baskets, including several great DIY builds. No matter which basket you choose, you must have a reliable pole to hoist it.
Not all multi-use threaded poles are built equally. You need something lightweight, sturdy, and long enough to reach the highest branches.
The EXTEND-A-REACH 24-foot telescoping pole won’t bend and break when picking cherries. This is the best option when you need a heavy-duty rod for multiple purposes.
Pros:
- Sturdy design won’t bend when fully extended
Cons:
- Pole only, no picking basket
EVERSPROUT 18-Foot Fruit Picker
Do you want an all-in-one cherry picking tool that is suitable for many types of fruit? The EVERSPROUT Fruit Picker is a solid option that comes pre-assembled and ready to use.
There are some drawbacks associated with the basket picker design. If you are growing smaller cherry varieties, you might need help to keep them from falling out.
You can easily remedy this issue by lining the inside of the picker basket with a bag or cloth.
Pros:
- Built-in cushion prevents bruising
- The All-in-one solution comes pre-assembled
Cons:
- 1.5-inch gaps may be too large for some cherry varieties
Cherry Picking Tools Buyer’s Guide
Some cherry trees can grow to over 35 feet tall. Without the proper tools, harvesting cherries is difficult!
Gathering the low-hanging fruit is easy, but plucking ripe cherries from high branches can be difficult. This is undoubtedly even more true if you are battling birds who can swoop in and grab them before they are fully mature.
Collecting ripe cherries with your hands using a sturdy A-frame ladder, like the Little Giant Multi-Use Ladder is possible. Still, there are much easier ways to harvest cherries.
The best fruit-picking tools give you the necessary length to reach the tallest branches. The perfect cherry harvesting tool also provides a secure way to collect these tiny fruits without bruising them.
Check out the following best cherry-picking tools for cherry harvesting.
Easy DIY Cherry Picker Ideas
If you are on a tight budget, many DIY cherry-picking tools only require a sturdy pole and a few things you probably already have handy.
The simplest DIY cherry picker involves attaching a plastic cup to the end of a long pole. This can be accomplished using duct tape.
If you want a more secure connection, consider cutting or drilling a hole in the bottom of the cup. This opening should be slightly smaller than the threaded end of your pole so it can fasten securely.
Another popular DIY cherry harvesting option involves cutting the bottom off a 2-liter bottle. You can then attach an inexpensive Pop Bottle adapter to your picker pole.
Finding the Best Cherry Picking Tool
We hope this article helped you choose the perfect cherry picking tool for harvesting homegrown cherries.
Check out our Cherry Trees page for the lowdown on all things cherry. Discover tons of articles to help you learn more about growing, harvesting, and propagating cherries.
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
Max Loel is a seasoned writer with a unique life journey that spans across diverse landscapes.
Beyond the realm of words, Max has carved out a different kind of haven—a 15-acre homestead in the Midwest. This sanctum represents their testament to resilience and commitment to sustainable living.
With a penchant for storytelling that reflects personal growth and cultural exploration, Max brings a fresh perspective to the literary world, blending the experiences of a global wanderer with the grounded roots of a Midwest homesteader.