2024 Montgomery and southeastern Alabama Corn U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Corn U-Pick Orchards in Montgomery and southeastern Alabama in 2024, by county

Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for corn that we know of in this area. Not all areas of any state, nor even every state, have corn orchards that are open to the public. If you know of any others, please tell us using the add a farm form!

Remember to always check with the farm's own website or Facebook page before you go - or call or email them if they don't have a website or Facebook page. Conditions at the farms and crops can change literally overnight, so if you want to avoid a wasted trip out there - check with the farm directly before you go! If I cannot reach them, I DON'T GO!

PLEASE report closed farms, broken links and incorrect info using the "Report Corrections" form below.

Barbour County

• Backyard Orchards - strawberries, blueberries, cotton, flowers, peaches, pumpkins, strawberries, Honey from hives on the farm, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties are available, restrooms, picnic area, farm animals, birthday parties, weddings and wedding parties, school tours, pumpkins, corn maze
  6585 Northeast Hwy 431, Eufaula, AL 36027. Phone: (334) 695-5875. Email: BACKYARDORCHARDS@HOTMAIL.COM. Open: Call for hours. Click here for a map and directions. . Strawberry season runs from late March to early June. We offer U-pick and prepicked berries and grow two varieties. Blueberry season runs from early June-August. We offer Upick and prepicked berries! Peach season runs from early June-August. Every year we have a pumpkin patch and corn maze! We grow our own pumpkins including jack o' lanterns, white pumpkins, and fairy tale pumpkins! This year's fall events run from September 27- November 1. Take a wagon ride to the maze, sunflower, cotton, and pumpkin patch. The kids will enjoy playing in our cotton seed wagon and corn bins plus lots more! 2 and under are free. Admission includes one pumpkin per person! We grow many vegetables throughout the season. All a prepicked and sold in the barn. Here's a list of what we grow: Cabbage, Collards, Turnips, Potatoes, Onions, Squash, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Field Corn, Sweet Corn, Peppers, Peas, Okra. Facebook page. (UPDATED: June 25, 2022, JBS) (ADDED: June 7, 2015, JBS)
• S & W Produce - Peas, corn, butterbeans and watermelons.
  Hwy 51 N, Ariton, AL . Phone: (334) 762-2788. Open: June 20 through August 1st. Directions: Located 3 miles north of Ariton on Hwy 51, between Ariton and Clio. For a map, look here: . Click here for a map and directions. . Alternate phone: (334) 790-7912. http://mapsonus.switchboard.com/bin/maps-maponly/usr=~407239ea.35f45.62b1.9/c=5/formName=setclickpost

Chilton County

• C&J Farms - okra, corn, peas, tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, pole beans
  Route 1, Box 159-A, Lawley, AL 36793. Phone: (334) 375-1486. Open: June - August, Anytime Monday to Saturday, closed Sunday, PLEASE CALL BEFORE YOU COME. Click here for a map and directions. . Alternate phone: (334) 366-2486. From Clanton take Highway 22 West 15 miles to Maplesville. Take U.S. Highway 82 West to Al. Hwy. 183 West; go 7 miles. Farm on right.

Geneva County

• Aplin Farms - strawberries(u-pick and pre-picked)and peaches, broad beans, broccoli, corn (sweet), cucumbers, eggplant, figs, flowers, onions, peas, pecans , peppers, pumpkins, summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes, other vegetables, pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, corn maze, tractor-pulled hay rides, wagon rides, and prepicked produce, petting zoo, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours
  2729 N Co Rd 49 , Dothan, AL 36305. Phone: 334-726-5104. Email: japlin4863@gmail.com. Open: Daily. Directions: From Dothan take Hwy 84W about 5.5 miles. Turn left on County Road 49. Go about 5.6 miles on Co Rd 49. The Farm will be on the right. Co Rd 49 is also known as South Bay Springs Road. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . click here for picking updates. Crops are usually available in May, June, July, August, September, October. Call for Hay Ride Times. Groups can make reservation Monday through Friday. Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch are open the Month of October. All other crops are available from May to October. Call for availability. Also operates greenhouse; we sell: Ferns, hanging baskets, & many other types of plant in the spring and Mums in the fall. (UPDATED: October 20, 2020 JBS)
• Bedsole Produce - Purple hull & white peas, melons, green butterbeans, field & sweet corn, cantaloupe, honeydew & watermelons
  2973 S. Co Rd 49, Slocomb, AL 36375. Phone: (334) 886-2291. Open: June - July, Mon - Sat from Sunup to Sundown. Click here for a map and directions. . Alternate phone: (334) 886-5895. Take Co Rd 49 S off State Hwy 52. Go approx. 3 miles. Look for sign on left.
• Charles Turner - - U-Pick peas (several varieties) Field & Sweet corn, melons
  3067 Co Rd 6, Black, AL 36314. Phone: (334)684-3008. Open: June 25-July 15, 7 days a week daylight till dark. Directions: 4 12 miles Southeast of Geneva on Co Rd 6. . Click here for a map and directions. . 4 1/2 miles Southeast of Geneva on Co Rd 6.

Henry County

• Bretts Garden - Uses natural growing practices, asparagus, beans, beets, broccoli, corn (sweet), cucumbers, eggplant, herbs or spices, melons, onions, other berries, peas, pecans , peppers, summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes, other vegetables, U-pick and already picked, picnic area you may bring your own food
  2030 County Road 29, Abbeville, AL 36310. Phone: 561-718-1502. Email: orders@brettsgarden.com. Open: UPDATE for 2021, Their website is gone; Does anyone have current information, are they still offering pick your own or are even open? If so, please write me, their last reported hours were Upick from 8 am to 3 pm on weekends only , Saturday and Sunday from 8 am to 3 Closed from December 15 pm to March 15 , July 15 pm to September 1. Directions: North of Dothan, South of Eufaula , off 431 Located on county road 29 1 12 miles off intersection Turn at the liberty gas station. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover.
  Bretts Garden Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: 561-376-8992. Fax: 561-622-7652. . North of Dothan, South of Eufaula , off 431 Located on county road 29 1 1/2 miles off intersection Turn at the liberty gas station. We use natural practices, but are not yet certified Organic. potatoes,cauliflower, brussel sprouts, kale, collard greens,okra,lettuce,swiss chard, we also sell home made jams ,hot sauces, jared peppers,pickles and shelled candied and raw pecans. WE HAVE A LARGE VARIETY OF CROPS GROWING MOST OF THE YEAR CHECK OUT WHATS AVAILABLE BY LOGGING INTO OUR SITE AND REVIEWING THE "WHATS GROWING" SECTION ON OUR PRODUCTS PAGE. WE WILL UPDATE PRODUCTS AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE. (UPDATED: June 25, 2018, JBS) (ADDED: February 28, 2015)

 

 

Choosing and Picking Corn

Corn reaches it's peak sweetness and flavor when the kernels are full, and just touching each other, like a good set of teeth!  They should not be bloated and smushed so tightly that there is no space left at all. The bloated overripe ears will have a bland, starchy taste.

Here's what to look for:

• The tips of the silks coming out of the ear should be a light brown.
•  If you break a kernel with your fingernail, the liquid should be slightly milky in color.
•  The ears should be filled out and have developed good girth but not bloated.

Harvesting

 To harvest, snap off the ears by hand with a quick, firm, downward push; then twist and pull.
 Avoid twisting or yanking the ears, as this can damage the stalk or the ear itself.

Storing the corn

Corn is at its prime eating quality on the stalk for only 72 hours before becoming over mature. The most important factor is cooling it as soon as possible after harvesting it.  Get it into the fridge or cover it with ice! Many farmers say you should remove the shucks right away, too.  I've found that removing most of the shuck, but leaving a few leaves to cover each ear is best to prevent the kernels from drying out.  See this page for more about storing corn before using it.

Cooking:

The worst mistake people make is overcooking corn.  In fact, corn isn't really cooked; it's just heated up. If you cook it form more than a few minutes (3 minutes), then you are simply breaking down the sugars and turning a nice, crisp sweet ear into bland mush. It's not a pot roast; the purpose of heating it is NOT to break down the cells, just to heat them to bring out the flavor and melt the butter!

Here's how to cook the corn:

1. Fill a large pot (large enough so the shucked ears can fit inside, laying down) about 2/3 full of water and start bring it to a boil
2. Shuck the ears, and snap off the stalk end and the very tip of ear (especially if you will use "corn stickers" , (handles) to hold the ears.
3. When everyone is sitting down at the table and you are serving the rest of the meal, put the corn in the boiling water and set the time for 3 minutes.
4. After 3 minutes, using tongs, retrieve the ears and serve them with butter (Corn boats are wonderful for corn!

 

Freezing Corn

You can easily freeze the sweet corn and have that great taste in the dead of winter! 

• Freezing whole ears of corn on the cob
• Freezing corn, cut off the cob

Canning Corn

This too, is easy... but it DOES require a Pressure Canner.  You cannot safely do this with a water bath canner.  Food poisoning is no joke!

• Here is how to can corn!
•  how to make canned creamed corn.
• Southern Chow-Chow (also called Piccalilli)
• Pickled corn relish

Other corn recipes

• How to make sweet corn ice cream
• Corn bread, or sweet corn muffins (like Chi Chi's)

• Corn fritters (a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch breakfast

Other Local Farm Products (Honey, Horses, Milk, Meat, Eggs, Etc.)
(NOT pick-your-own, unless they are also listed above)

• Farm markets and roadside stands
• Local Honey Finder
• Local Meat, Milk and Eggs
• Venues: Farms, Wineries, Orchards for your event, wedding or party
• Easter egg hunts
• Children"s consignment sales
• Fruit and vegetable festivals
• Winery tours and wine tastings
• Horse rides, stables, lessons, trails
• Maple Syrup farms and sugarworks
• Bed & Breakfasts on Farms, Wineries, Ranches and Orchards
• Pumpkin patches
• Corn mazes
• Zombie Paintball venues
• Christmas Tree Farms & lots
• Environmental resources
• Consumer fraud information
• Wholesale food sources
• Resources for Farmers