2024 Eastern Connecticut Peach U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Peach U-Pick Orchards in Eastern Connecticut in 2024, by county

Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for peaches that we know of in this area. Not all areas of any state, nor even every state, have peaches 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.

New London County

• Holmberg Orchards - apples, pears, pumpkins, peaches, raspberries, blueberries, Farm market, winery
  12 Orchard Drive, Route 12, Gales Ferry, CT 6335. Phone: (860) 464-7107. Email: holmorch@aol.com. Open: daily. Click here for a map and directions.
  Holmberg Orchards Facebook page. . holmorch@aol. We begin our picking season with blueberries in early July, Call for seasonal hours, Farm Market open daily 9 am to 6 pm year-round, featuring our native fruits, vegetables, cider, pies, flowers, plants & seasonal items. and Winery Facebook page. PYO apples, peaches, pears, blueberries, raspberries, pumpkins, cut flowers. Bakery & farm winery on site. We also offer peaches, raspberries, and grape tomatoes beginning around the 1st of August. Summer apples and pears are just around the corner, opening in mid-August. By late August, we have added sun-kissed nectarines as well. Don't forget the pumpkins in late September, and our multitude of fall's bounties, including squash, gourds, Indian corn, hay bales, cornstalks and mums.' offers our customers a gourmet, specialty food shop that retains its agricultural roots and charm locally in Gales Ferry, CT. We are stocked fresh daily with the best fruits and vegetables that modern agriculture has to offer and our bakers toil early each morning at our in-house bakery to provide the freshest baked goods.
• Scott's Yankee Farmer - Apples, Strawberries, Raspberries, Blueberries, Peaches, Nectarines, Blackberries, Pumpkins, corn maze, farm market, porta-potties are available, restrooms, school tours
  436 Boston Post Road Route 1, East Lyme, CT 6333. Phone: 860-739-5209. Email: info@scottsyankeefarmer.net. Open: late August to November 2. Directions: From Interstate 95 going North, take exit 71, Four Mile River Road. At the end of ramp, go right. Follow Four Mile River Road to the end. Take a right onto Boston Post Road. We are located 1 12 miles on the right. From Interstate 95 going South, take exit 75, Route 1. Continue straight off the exit to the first traffic light. Continue straight through the traffic light and go 2 12 miles. We are located on the left. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard.
  Scott's Yankee Farmer Facebook page. . Store Hours: Everyday 9 am to 6 pm, Pick Your Own Hours: Weekends+Holidays: 10 am to 5 pm Weekdays: 11 am to 5 pm, Our pick your own will be closed until labor day weekend, reservations will be required. From Interstate 95 going North, take exit 71, Four Mile River Road. At the end of ramp, go right. Follow Four Mile River Road to the end. Take a right onto Boston Post Road. We are located 1 1/2 miles on the right. From Interstate 95 going South, take exit 75, Route 1. Continue straight off the exit to the first traffic light. Continue straight through the traffic light and go 2 1/2 miles. We are located on the left. No pets allowed in Pick Your Own area Farm grown fruits and vegetables, jams, honey, apple cider, Indian corn, gourds, mums Corn Maze open Strawberries 6/10-7/4, Raspberries 7/4-7/25, Blueberries 7/10-8/20, Peaches & Nectarines 8/5-9/10, Blackberries Mid August-Mid September, Apples Labor Day Weekend - 10/25, Pumpkins 9/20-10/28. We also have both kinds of pumpkin patches corn maze wagon rides. Donuts on weekends from June-November. Farm stand open April- December 31 9-5:30 with pumpkins, jams, local honey, indian corn, gourds, mums and apple cider.

Windham County

• Buell's Orchard - apples, blueberries, peaches, pumpkins, strawberries, Cider mill fresh apple cider made on the premises, U-pick and already picked, gift shop, porta-potties are available, school tours
  108 Crystal Pond Road, Eastford, CT 6242. Phone: 860-974-1150. Email: information@buellsorchard.com. Open: Strawberries: Monday to Saturday, from 8am to Noon, Monday AND Thursday from 6pm to 8pm Blueberries and Peaches: Monday to Friday, from 8am to 5pm, Saturday from 8am to 3pm Apples and Pumpkins: Monday to Saturday, from 8am to 5pm, Sunday from 1pm to 5pm. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  Buell's Orchard Facebook page. . . Strawberries: June Blueberries: Mid-July to Mid-August Peaches: Early August to Early September Apples: Labor Day to Halloween Pumpkins: October. Strawberries -JuneBlueberries - Mid-July through August Peaches - Early August into SeptemberApples - Labor Day through late OctoberPumpkins - Late September through HalloweenOpening and Closing dates for each of our fruits are up to the whim of Nature--check with us to be sure we are open!
• Chaplin Farms LLC - PYO peaches, apples, pumpkins, and Christmas trees.
  392 Hampton Road, Chaplin, CT 6235. Phone: 860-455-1100. Open: daily from 10 am to 6, June-December. Click here for a map and directions. Over 15 apple varieties including Macoun and Mutsu.
• DeFazio Orchard and Greenhouses - apples, blueberries, peaches, pumpkins, corn maze,
  1393 North Road, Dayville, CT 6241. Phone: 860-774-3799. Email: defazioorchardandgreenhouses@gmail.com. Open: 7 days a week from 9 am to 6 pm. Click here for a map and directions. . . is a family owned farm growing fresh fruits, vegetables, and flowers. We also offer variety of Pick-Your-Own fruits seasonally. Pick your own apples, pumpkins and our corn maze are all available from 9:30 to 5 all weekend long!No reservations needed for picking ! pick your own peaches 7 days a week! Yellow and white are both available to pick!
• High Springs Orchard - PYO blueberries, peaches, apples.
  47 Dividend Road, Woodstock, CT 6281. Phone: 860-315-7567. Open: June-December on Tues-Sun 10 am to 5 pm; Closed Mondays. Click here for a map and directions. Alternate Phone: 860-993-4732. Country store offers farm fresh vegetables, jams, jellies, cider, famous Grandma Miller pies. Enjoy family atmosphere. Call ahead for picking hours. Our country barn offers pick-your-own blueberries, peaches, apples (July-mid Oct). Variety of bagged apples, 100% All Natural Cider (not concentrate Sept-Dec), pies, Vermont cheese, jams, seasonal vegetables, pumpkins, unique locally made crafts.
• Horse Listeners Orchard - apples, beets, blackberries, blueberries, cucumbers, eggplant, flowers, olallieberries, onions, peaches, plums, pumpkins, raspberries (red), raspberries (Autumn, red), summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes, other vegetables, Fresh eggs
  317 Bebbington Rd, Ashford, CT 6278. Phone: (860) 429-5336. Email: matthewcouzens@sbcglobal.net. Open: during store hours. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards.
  Horse Listeners Orchard Facebook page. . There are plenty of fun times at the Orchard with free train rides, free apple cider donuts, and fresh hot apple cider to quench your thirst after pickin your own apples. Please call to make an appointment for your group to enjoy a walk around the orchard and have lunch overlooking the pond at our picnic tables. (UPDATED: June 22, 2016, JBS)
  Comments from a visitor on September 12, 2010: "We LOVE this orchard! Picking apples, blueberries, peaches, visiting the horses, pony rides, hay rides, etc."
• Palazzi Orchard - pumpkins, apples, Peaches, vegetables, flowers, raspberries and grapes, hayrides
  1393 North Road, East Killingly, CT 6243. Phone: (860) 774-4363. Open: 7 days all Fall, daily 9:30am to 5:30pm. Click here for a map and directions. 40">Palazzi Orchard Bring your family to one of Connecticut's highest hills. Spectacular four state view. 20 varieties of PYO apples. Free weekend hayrides. Peaches in August.
• Shashok's Orchard - Pumpkins, peaches
  Route 6, Chaplin, CT 6235. Phone: (860) 455-0297. Open: daily. Click here for a map and directions. . PYO peaches, pumpkins. Free hayrides September - October. Farm store open Fruit, vegetables, cider, cut and dried flowers, floral arrangements. A visitor writes on September 22, 2013: "no longer has apple picking"

 

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Peach Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

In the U.S., Peaches typically peak during late June through July in the South, and July and August in the North. In order to produce good local peaches, producers depend on ideal spring and early summer weather conditions, and no late frosts. If you want to know which are the best varieties of peaches for home canning, see this page!

Before you leave to go to the farm:

1. Always call before you go to the farm - Peaches are affected by weather (both rain and cooler temperature) more than most crops. And when they are in season, a large turnout can pick a field clean before noon, so CALL first!
2. Leave early.  On weekends, then fields may be picked clean by NOON!
3. Most growers furnish picking containers designed for peaches, but they may charge you for them; be sure to call before you go to see if you need to bring containers.
   If you use your own containers, remember that heaping Peaches more than 14 inches deep will bruise the fruit on the bottom. Plastic dishpans, metal oven pans with 3 inch tall sides and large pots make good containers.
4. Bring something to drink and a few snacks; you'd be surprised how you can work up a thirst and appetite! And don't forget hats and sunscreen for the sun. Bugs usually aren't a problem, but some deet might be good to bring along if it has been rainy.
5. You might want to ask whether the peaches are! There are two major types of peaches: "Freestone" and. "Clingstone". Freestone peaches and nectarines have flesh that slips easily away from the pit. Clingstones are a REAL pain, because the fruit tenaciously clings to the stone or pit! Most peach varieties grown today are freestone and are usually available (depending upon your location) from June through September. Some nectarines are freestone and some are clingstone. Freestone nectarines are available in June and July. Most plum varieties are clingstone. 

When you get home

1. Spread the fruit out on towels or newspapers and separate any mushy or damaged fruit to use immediately.
2. Put a couple of days supply into the fridge, wash and cut the others and freeze them up!
3. Even under ideal conditions peaches will only keep for a week in a refrigerator, so for best flavor and texture, use them as soon as possible after purchase
4. Now, get ready to make Peach jam or canned peaches - It is VERY easy - especially with our free
    - peach jam instructions - they're illustrated and easy and our page on
    - how to make home canned peaches from fresh!
   - Or see here to freeze peaches instead!
   - make your own home canned peach pie filling to use in the winter
5. Here's a great and easy peach pie recipe
   or peach-blueberry pie  or how about
   - peach salsa?
   - Peach chutney
   - Spiced peaches
   - peach butter
   - Peach honey
   - pickled peaches
   - peach syrup
   - peach juice
6. Here are some great and easy peach desert recipes, like easy peach cobbler.
7. If you want more information about the Giant Peach water tower in Gaffney, SC, click here.

Temporary Storage Tips

• Ripe peaches have a creamy or golden undertone and "peachy-sweet" fragrance.
• Peaches should be refrigerated and used within a few days.
• Putting peaches and nectarines in a loosely closed paper bag at room temperature for a day or two can help soften firm fruit - but they won't become sweeter or ripen further - that stopped when they were removed from th etree.
• For best flavor, allow the fruit to ripen fully on the tree.
• Store at 33�F to 40�F  and high humidity (a vegetable drawer in the fridge).

How to tell if the peaches are ripe!

• Attached to the tree: Peaches are best picked when the fruit separates easily from the twigs. If it is hard to pull off the tree, it isn't ripe! Peaches will not ripen further once removed from the tree (they only "soften")
• Color: Green is definitely unripe, but you can't use red color as an indicator of how ripe a peach is. Different peach varieties have differing amounts of red blush in their natural coloring. Pick them when the ground color changes from green to yellow, orange, red (or a combination). The skin of yellow-fleshed varieties ripens to an orange tint, while the skin of white-fleshed varieties changes from greenish- to yellow-white.
• Softness: unless you like your peaches very firm, pick your peaches with just a little "give" when gently pressed. Peaches at this stage are great for eating, freezing, and baking. Peaches won't ripen very much after picking!
• Odor: It should smell sweet and ripe!

Tips on How to Pick Peaches

A peach is softer than most fruit, so it is important to pick a peach gently, with little pressure. Using the sides of your fingers rather your fingertips helps to avoid bruising.  Grab the peach firmly and pull it straight off the branch. DON'T drop the peach into the basket, but set it in gently!

Marks on the Peachs: Bugs (particularly squash bugs and stink bugs) bite fruit during development and this results in some imperfections in the peach. This is especially the case with organically raised fruit.  These look like dents in the peaches if the peaches were bitten by a bug when they were young. This causes a spot that does not grow properly and makes a wrinkle in the peach. There's nothing wrong with these peaches. They may look funny, but they will taste just as good as blemish-free peaches, and it's better not to have the pesticides!

How much do you need?

Raw measures:

• About 2 medium peaches = 1 cup sliced peaches.
• About 4 medium peaches = 1 cup pureed peach.
• About 3 medium peaches = 1 pound of peaches

Process yields (Raw amounts to processed amounts)

• 2 to 21/2 pounds of fresh peaches yields 1 quart canned
• 1 lb of fresh peaches typically yields 3 cups of peeled, sliced peaches or 2 cups or puree.
• It takes about 5 good sizes peaches or nectarines (or about 10 plums) to fill one quart jar of canned peaches.
• An average of 171/2 pounds of fresh peaches are needed per canner load of 7 quarts;
• An average of 11 pounds is needed per canner load of 9 pints.
• 1 bushel = 48 to 50 pounds, yields approximately 18 to 25 quart jars.

And a visitor contributes this: 6-7 peaches makes about 4 cups puree, so 2-3 peaches make about 2 cups puree. 1 peach equals about 1 cup puree.

Peaches-Average retail price per pound and per cup equivalent

 

Peach pit tips

It's best to remove peach pits before you cook the peaches. Cherry, peach, and apricot pits also contain amygdalin; the latter two, in potentially harmful amounts. Fortunately, peach and apricot pits are sufficiently large and hard that few people intentionally swallow or chew them. (The unapproved anti-cancer drug See this page for more information&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/pdq/cam/laetrile">Laetrile is a semisynthetic derivative of amygdalin; a cheaper version of laetrile produced in Mexico came from crushed apricot pits.) See this page for more information.

 

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