2024 Birmingham, Tuscaloosa and central Alabama Tomato U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Tomato U-Pick Orchards in Birmingham, Tuscaloosa and central Alabama in 2024, by county

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

Blount County

• Daniel Allman / Allman Farms - UPDATE for 2024: No longer offering U-Pick - ONLY already harvested tomatoes, restrooms, plus a farm market with other pre-picked vegetables
  6866 County Highway 29, Oneonta, AL 35121. Phone: 205-274-8448. Email: amaters1@yahoo.com. Open: July - November. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, WIC Vouchers, SFMNP Vouchers. . Alternate Phone: 205-625-3047. . From 59 take Ashville Oneonta Exit 166 which will be Highway 231 go toward Oneonta. At top of mountain take a left on County Road 12 stay on that road until it ends and turn left on County Road 29, stay on that road until you come to a T we will be on your left. From Oneonta take Highway 231 South the road will turn into a 3 lane take your first road on you right it will be County Road 29 stay on that road until it runs into a T, we will be on you left.

Calhoun County

• Glenn Acres Farm - apples, beans, corn (sweet), cucumbers, figs, grapes, melons, peaches, summer squash, tomatoes, Cider mill fresh apple cider made on the premises, porta-potties are available, picnic area, farm animals, birthday parties, weddings and wedding parties
  306 Rainbow Drive, Anniston, AL 36207. Phone: 256 237 0054. Email: aglennjr@aol.com. Open: We are here most all the time; Call if you wish; 256 237 0054. Directions: We are across from White Plains Elementary school at 306 Rainbow Drive which is the first house on the right. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. .

Cullman County

• Bagwell Farm - beans, blueberries, raspberries, cucumbers, peas, tomatoes, U-pick and already picked
  227 County Road 721, Cullman, AL 35055. Phone: 256-339-4342. Email: dbagwell412@yahoo.com. Open: for U-Pick. Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 5 pm during June and July; Our Farm Stand is open Monday to Saturday May to October. from 8 am to 5 pm. Directions: From Cullman travel Highway 278 East, turn right onto County Road 719, travel 2 miles, turn right onto County Road 721, (a dirt road), we are the third house on the right. Click here for a map and directions. Blueberries are ready to harvest the by the third week in June. Payment: Cash, Check. Call ahead if you want already picked blueberries to ensure freshness and to ask what vegetable we have available. (UPDATED: February 01, 2024) 

Shelby County

• Lyon Blueberry Farm - No pesticides are used, blackberries, blueberries, muscadine grapes, tomatoes,
  1700 County Road 56, Wilsonville, AL 35186. Phone: 205-703-6536. Email: johnlyon750@gmail.com. Directions: From Birmingham-take 280 south just past Westover to County Highway 55- At County Highway 55, make a right. Then, go about 7 miles to Shelby Highway 40 where you make a Left. Then, go about one mile to Shelby Highway 61. At Shelby 61 go just a very short distance to Shelby Highway 56 where you will make a left. From there, go about 34 mile - THE LYON BLUEBERRY SIGN IS ON RIGHT. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . . Opening for the season on June 18, 2015; We will be open Thursday through Sundays - 7 am until 3 pm; Berries are $12 per gallon. From Birmingham-take 280 south just past Westover to County Highway 55- At County Highway 55, make a right. Then, go about 7 miles to Shelby Highway 40 where you make a Left. Then, go about one mile to Shelby Highway 61. At Shelby 61 go just a very short distance to Shelby Highway 56 where you will make a left. From there, go about 3/4 mile - THE LYON BLUEBERRY SIGN IS ON RIGHT. We do not use pesticides on the crops. (UPDATED: June 25, 2018, JBS)

St. Clair County

• Jenkins - tomatoes
  7818 Chandler Mountain Road, Steele, AL 35987. Phone: -9309. Open: August til frost on Monday to Saturday from 8am til dark. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. .
  Comments from a visitor on August 24, 2011: "I loved the farm, and picking my oun tomatoes"

Tuscaloosa County

• Ingram Farms - beans, corn (sweet), cucumbers, peas, peppers, summer squash, tomatoes,
  12000 Plowman Road, Gordo, AL 35466. Phone: 205-799-5273. Email: JOHNE@INGRAMSACCOUNTING.COM. Directions: From Northport civic center go west on highway 82 to mile marker \32\". Proceed and take the next left onto Lee Bonner Road. Go 18th mile to 4-way stop. Proceed straight onto Church Road. Cross over wooden trestle bridge and past church on left. Turn right onto Plowman Road. Proceed a little over one mile. Look for mail box on left. Gate entrance to farm will be directly on your right. """. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . Alternate Phone: 205-799-1277. Fax: 205-752-9536. . Be darned sure to call before you go - I haven't seen an update from this farm in years. From Northport civic center go west on highway 82 to mile marker "32". Proceed and take the next left onto Lee Bonner Road. Go 1/8th mile to 4-way stop. Proceed straight onto Church Road. Cross over wooden trestle bridge and past church on left. Turn right onto Plowman Road. Proceed a little over one mile. Look for mail box on left. Gate entrance to farm will be directly on your right.

Winston County

• Southern Yankees Farm - apples, chestnuts, grapes, other berries, peaches, peppers, plums, winter squash, tomatoes, Other fruit or veg, Honey from hives on the farm
  9003 Helicon Road, Arley, AL 35541. Phone: 256-747-6967. Email: southernyankeesfarm@yahoo.com. Open: Harvest season; Daylight till dusk and Monday thru Saturday. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . (UPDATED: June 25, 2018, JBS)

 

Tomato Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Pick tomatoes that are firm and free of blemishes. Cracking is common in very hot weather, especially after a rain, and if you intend to use the tomatoes within 1 day, that will be ok.

During hot summer weather, pick the tomatoes when they have a healthy pink/red (or yellow or orange depending on the variety) color and let them finish the last day or two of ripening indoors. Tomatoes do not need to be in the sunlight in order to ripen. If you have green fruit on the plants in the fall when frost is approaching, pick the tomatoes and store them in a cool, dark place to ripen.

Tomato Varieties

In general paste or Roma-type tomatoes are the best to using for canning, as they have thicker, meatier walls and far less water. And cherry tomatoes are the worst to use, as they are mostly water.  But you can use any type you can get hold of.  You may just have to cook them down longer to boil off excess water.  See our Master list of tomato varieties

Growing tomatoes

• Master list of tomato varieties
• Master List of Heirloom Tomato Varieties
• How to Grow Tomatoes in Your Yard or Patio - Everything you need to know
• Detailed directions to starting tomatoes from seed
• Master List of Roma and Paste Tomato Varieties for the Home Garden
• Master list of disease-resistant tomato varieties
• Tomato plant diseases

Canning, Freezing, Drying, Preserving Tomatoes and more!

Below are links to pages with easy and reliable directions about how to can, preserve, freeze and make other goodies from tomatoes.  Some of these require a Pressure Canner to prevent potential spoilage and food poisoning, due to the low acid content of the food.  For others, you can use a water bath canner OR a Pressure Canner.  I've noted what's required for each, below, following each entry, with
W for water bath,
P for Pressure canner, and
W, P for either may be used!

And don't miss: Answers to common tomato canning problems and see this page about what to do with your unripe green tomatoes!

Prepping tomatoes

• How to quickly and easily remove tomato skins

Canning tomatoes (in water bath canners )

• How to can tomatoes using a water bath canner - W
• Diced, chopped or crushed tomatoes - W
• Bruschetta - W
• Tomato sauce - W
• Tomato paste - W
• Barbecue sauce (BBQ sauce) - W
• Chili sauce from your own tomatoes and peppers - W
• Diced, chopped or crushed tomatoes - W
• Tomato Preserves- W
• Tomato salsa - W
• Spaghetti sauce - without meat - W, P
• Spiced Green tomatoes- W
• Pickled Green Tomatoes - W - another pickled green tomato recipe, this one sweet
• Ketchup.. or if you prefer... How to make catsup - W, P
• NEW! SUPER-EASY homemade ketchup recipe - W
• Salsa from your unripe, GREEN tomatoes! - W
• Tomatillo salsa - W
• How to make roasted tomatoes, boiling water bath canner version - W

Canning Tomatoes in Pressure canners

• Canned tomatoes using a Pressure Canner - P
• Baked  Beans With Tomato or Molasses Sauce - P
• Canning your own chili con carne (with meat) - P
• How to make roasted tomatoes, pressure canner version - P
• Spaghetti sauce - with meat  - P
• Stewed tomatoes - P
• Tomato soup or tomato-basil soup - P
• Tomato sauce - P
• Tomato juice - P
• Tomato juice, like V8 - P

Freezing Tomatoes

• How to freeze tomatoes from you garden or the farm; for that fresh taste this winter!
• Space-saving prepping and freezing extra tomatoes from your garden to can later

Drying tomatoes

• NEW! How to make Sun-Dried Tomatoes
• Food drying basics and principles
• How to dry your own herbs
• Food Dehydrators - models, specs and pricing information

Ripening green tomatoes in your garage or basement

If you want to bring your green tomatoes indoors before a freeze in the Fall, and ripen them, see:

• How to ripen your green garden tomatoes indoors in the Fall and Winter.

And if you'd like to start you own tomatoes from seed (you can save a small fortune and grow the heirloom varieties you like) see this page for easy directions for growing your own tomato plants from seed.

Frequently Asked Questions About Canning, Freezing and Preserving Tomatoes

• See this page for answers to many common questions about tomatoes.

 

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