Southern Connecticut - 2018 PickYourOwn.org

Find a pick-your-own farm near you! Then learn to can and freeze!

Find a local pick your own farm here!

Looking for a local, pick-your-own farm in Southern Connecticut?  Scroll down this page and you will see the U-Pick farms in Southern Connecticut, sorted by county. Those that offer organic or sustainably grown produce are identified by the words "organic" and/or "sustainable" in Green, next to their name  (see "What does Organic mean?"). The U-pick crops they offer follow the name of the farm. To search the page for a specific crop, use Ctrl-F (or on an ipad or Mac, use their "search on this page" function) If they have a website, the name will be in blue and underlined; click on it and it will open their website. Beware of copycat websites (such as the one that starts with "Eatwell", "pickit" and the ones that ends with ".farm"; they do not verify or update their information, they just steal it from us once in a great while (they are plagiarists operating in Russia and China, as well as some 20-somethings trying to make a quick buck), so theirs are always out-of-date -and often copied incorrectly I make updates daily (each farm as changes are reported, or I find it). See the customer and farmer menus at the top menu bar to submit updates and corrections and help me keep each current!

And if you know of any I missed and want to add a farm, please let me know!   I'm making updates for 2018 as fast as I can - if you find anything out-of-date, wrong or not working - please let me know!

What's in season in May 2018, and other timely information:

Notes for May 2018: Spring is here and that means Strawberry season is upon us!  It started in February in Florida, Texas, southern California; then March along the Gulf coast, April in the Deep South and west coast, May through much of the country, and June in northern areas. Blueberries. Are next, about a month later. Of course, cool weather crops, like Rhubarb, asparagus and greens should be available almost everywhere. Check your area's copy calendar (see this page) and call your local farms for seasonal updates.

See these pages to find a local Strawberry Festival, or a Cherry or cherry blossom festival or a Blueberry festival.

We also have easy home canning, jam and jelly making, preserving, drying and freezing directions. You can access recipes and other resources from the drop down menus at the top of the page or the site search. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to write me! It is easy to make your own ice cream, even gelato, or low fat or low sugar ice cream - see this page. Also note, there are many copycat website listing U-pick farms now.  They have all copied their information form here and usually do not ever update.  Since 2002, I've been updating the information every day but Christmas; so if you see anything wrong or outdated, please write me!

Children's Consignment Sales occur in both the Spring and Fall  See our companion website to find a local community or church kid's consignment sale!

Southern Connecticut U-Pick Farms and Orchards in 2018, by county

Click on the resources drop-down above, if you need a county map

Middlesex County

  • Gotta's Farm - strawberries, apples, peaches, pears
    661 Glastonbury Turnpike, Portland, CT 06480. Phone: (860) 342-1844. Email: [email protected]. Open: Monday to Friday 8 am to 6:30 pm, Saturday and Sunday 8 am to 6 pm; Gotta's Farm opens May 1st for the season with spring plants. PYO strawberries in June, peaches in Aug, apples in September and October. Open May 1st for the season with annual & perennial flowering plants. Fresh fruits & vegetables available at farm stand from July to December. (UPDATED: June 25, 2016, JBS)
    Comments from a visitor on July 21, 2009: "This has been our family's favorite for many, many years! The crops are amazing, prices great too! They have some of the best PYO apples around."
  • Lyman Orchards - PYO strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, flowers, peaches, nectarines, pears, apples & pumpkins, Corn maze
    Jct. Routes 147 and 157, Middlefield, CT 06455. Phone: (860) 349-1793. Fax: (860) 349-1424. Email: [email protected]. Enjoy 1100 acres of championship golf, championship pies, and Family Fun! CT's largest indoor Farm Market. Corn maze from September 6 - November 2.  Corn maze: Sept.-October. Great food at the Apple Barrel - home of CT's Best Apple Pie! 24 hour PYO hotline: 860-349-6015. It's simple to pick your own at Lyman Orchards. Before coming to pick, always call our 24-hour hotline for up-to-the-minute crop and field conditions, varieties, and current market prices. We update the message as often as necessary (especially in rainy or overcast weather) in order to help you make the best arrangements for your picking trip You can enjoy being a farmer for an afternoon and pick nearly 100 varieties of fruits from June through October. (UPDATED: June 25, 2016, JBS)
    Comments from a visitor on July 07, 2011: "The farm is huge but you can drive close to the different u-pick sites and it's well-signed so they are easy to locate. You pay for what you pick at the location but they still take credit cards. You can bring your own containers if you want and they will pre-weigh them for you (so you don't pay for the weight of the container)."
  • Scott's Connecticut Valley Orchards - blueberries, peaches, apples, pumpkins
    274 Kelsey Hill Road, Deep River, CT 06417. Phone: 860-526-9633. Open: call for hours; Pick-your-own starts in early July to September with blueberries, late July to mid September for peaches, late August through Halloween for apples, and late September on for pumpkins.Click here for a link to our Facebook page(UPDATED: December 06, 2016, JBS) 
  • Scott's Farm and Greenhouses - strawberries, flowers
    81 Plains Road, Route 153, Essex, CT 06426. Phone: 860-767-7059. Strawberries, June, PYO flowers from early July until mid October. We have dahlias, zinnias, sunflowers, snaps, celosia, cosmos, and 30 additional varieties for your cutting pleasure.Pick Your Own Fruit Dates are approximate and are affected by the weather. Click here for a link to our Facebook page.  (UPDATED: December 06, 2016, JBS)

New Haven County 

  • Bishop Farms of Cheshire CT - apples, blueberries, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, petting zoo, birthday parties, school tours
    500 So Meriden Road, Cheshire, CT 06410. Phone: 203-272-8243. Fax: 203-272-8674. Email: [email protected]. Directions: Route 84 to 691 exit 3 south on route 10 left onto route 70 1.5 miles on right. And for a map to our farm, click here. Crops are usually available in August, September, October, November, December. Open: Monday to Friday,9am to 5pm , Saturday and Sunday,9am to 6pm. Christmas hours Monday thru Sunday 9am to 7 pm. Starts day after thanksgiving. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa/MasterCard, Discover.
  • Bishop's Orchards location 1 - PYO Strawberries, winery, blueberries, peaches, pears, apples, raspberries and pumpkins
    1355 Boston Post Road (US Rte 1, I-95 Exit 57), Guilford, CT 06437. Phone: (203) 458-7425. Email: [email protected]. Open: from June-October daily until 7pm. Pick-your-own season starts in June with strawberries and goes through October with apples and pumpkins. In December we have cut-your-own Christmas trees. Since 1871, six generations of Bishop's have been serving Connecticut with farm products. The market is open all year till 7 pm (Sun till 6pm), featuring a bakery & kitchen specializing in pies & prepared meal solutions, produce from our 300 acre farm & around the world, meats, dairy products, flowers, and gift baskets. Bishop's Orchards Winery offers our own wine & CT wines 7 days a week. Pick your own in Guilford goes from June till October open from 10-5, with strawberries, blueberries, peaches, pears, apples, raspberries & pumpkins. Visit our Llamas & Alpacas too! Northford Market should read Since 1871, five generations of Bishop's have been serving Connecticut with farm products. Open weekends 10-5 in September and October, Bishop's Northford Orchard has Pick Your Own Apples and Peaches, plus Farm Market products including pies, cider and apples and pumpkins. Our main farm in Guilford is open all year around. There is a blog article about them here.    
  • Bishop's Orchards Location 2- PYO apples & peaches, pumpkins
    1916 Middletown Ave (Rte 17, 3 miles N of Rte 22), Northford, CT 06472. Phone: (203) 458-PICK. Email:  [email protected]. Since 1871, 5 generations of Bishop's have been serving CT with farm products.  Our Guilford Farm is open all year, and our Northford PYO & Market is open in September and October with peaches, apples, mums, pumpkins, pies, & cider.  Weekends, hop on our wagon ride when you PYO apples.  Bishop's has been serving CT since 1871. Open: weekends 10am to 5pm in September and October. Our Northford Orchard has farm market products-pies, cider, apples & pumpkins. Our Guilford farm is open year round (see previous listing).
  • Drazen Orchards - Uses integrated pest management practices, apples, pears, peaches, plums, farm market, picnic area
    251 Wallingford Road, Cheshire, CT 06410. Phone: 203-272-7985. Email: [email protected]. Open: Monday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm Early August to October 31; Closed Tuesdays. Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. Directions: Click here for a map and directions. We use integrated pest management practices. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa/MasterCard, Discover, AmEx. Click here for our Facebook page. 
  • Emerald Green Farm and Gardens - Minimizes chemical and pesticide use, apples, apricots, blackberries, blueberries, nectarines, pears, peaches, plums, raspberries (red), raspberries (black), Fresh eggs, gift shop, restrooms
    84 Tankwood Road, Wallingford, CT 06492. Phone: 203 -949-0594. Email: emerald green [email protected]. Open: Monday to Friday, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Saturday and Sunday, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Phone for holiday hours. Directions: Click here for a map and directions. Blueberries: Late June through September peaches and plums : July through September Apples: Late July through November. We minimize use of pesticides and other chemicals. Payment: Cash, Check. Greenhouses with a large selection of annual flowers and hanging baskets Country store and garden center gift shop.
  • Glendale Farms - Strawberries
    203 Herbert Street, Milford, CT 06460. Phone: (203) 874-7203  Fax: (203) 874-7499. PYO Strawberries available approximately June 5th - June 30th. 
  • High Hill Orchard - Uses natural growing practices, Apples, pears, blueberries (check on the blueberries!), pumpkins, chestnuts, vegetables.
    170 Fleming Road, Meriden, CT, 06450. Phone: (203) 294-0276. Open: July 2nd to September Sat/Sun 10-5 September to Thanksgiving Tuesday to Thursday 12 pm to 6 pm, Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm; Thanksgiving to December 24th - Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. Excellent apple and pear cider in fall. Some organic produce, some are low input. Hayrides in September and October. Visit our farm stand for our own fresh apple cider & vegetables. Click here for a link to our Facebook page.
  • Hickory Hill Orchards - peaches, apples, pears, pumpkins, nectarines
    351 South Meriden Road, Cheshire, CT 06410. Phone: (203) 272-0181. Alternate phone: (203) 272-3824  Fax: (203) 272-3824. Email:[email protected]. Directions: click here. Open Daily 10:00am - 5:30pm; August 20, 2005 through December 2005. Country store, gift baskets, dried & silk flowers, cider, pies, donuts. Weekend hayrides, school groups welcome.  
  • Ives Farm - pumpkins, strawberries, pumpkin patch-pick in the field, corn maze, and prepicked produce, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, tractor-pulled hay rides, pony rides
    1585 Cheshire St, Cheshire, CT 06410. Phone: 203-272-5847 And for a map to our farm, click here. Crops are usually available in May, July, August, September, October. Open: Summer Hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am to 5pm. Fall Hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 5pm. "Flowers" May 1st, Annuals, Hanging Baskets, Geraniums & Perennials, Retail & Wholesale. "Strawberries" June 5th to July 1st (weather permitting) "Fresh Sweet Corn & Produce" July 10th "Fall Activities" October 1st to 31st Payment: Cash, Check, Visa/MasterCard.
  • Norton Brothers Fruit Farm - blueberries, raspberries, apples, pears, peaches, Pumpkins, PYO apples, pears & peaches, Christmas trees, Hay rides.
    450-466 Academy Road, Cheshire, CT 06410. Phone: (203) 272-8418. PYO apples, pears, plums, peaches. Retail fresh produce, gifts, pumpkins.  Open mid-spring through the winter, the farm has native strawberries as soon as they're ready; blueberries and raspberries for pick-your-own starting in June; peaches soon after for picking, six varieties of pears, and from August through October over 34 varieties of apples to pick. Hay rides, pumpkins, scarecrows, and Christmas trees and decorations keep everyone busy during the seasons. September and October are the busiest times for area schools to have educational and fun tours throughout the farm. Birthday and other parties can use the farm facilities also. Click here for a link to our Facebook page.  (UPDATED: December 06, 2016, JBS)
    Comments from a visitor on September 27, 2011: "Hi! First of all, I want to thank you for running such an amazing, comprehensive site! I always turn here first for canning info and to find local farms. I especially liked Norton Brother's Farm in Cheshire, CT. It's a great family-run place, with tons of apples and raspberries, and without the crowds and overwhelming size of some of the larger places. They even had a couple of old tractors near the parking lot for kids to climb on, which was a bigger hit than the fruit for my 4-year-old! "
    Comments from a visitor on July 07, 2011: "Not as busy as bigger farms. The walk from the farm stand to the picking site might be far (i.e. blueberries). More expensive than other farms. "
  • Rose Orchards - apples, pears, raspberries, strawberries, prepicked produce, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, farm animals, school tours
    33 Route 139, North Branford, CT 06471. Phone: 203-488-7996. Open: Hours vary by season, please call us for more information;
    The farm market is open from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm seven days a week; The Creamery is now open for the season 9 am to 9 pm. Directions: And for a map to our farm, click here. Crops are usually available in May, June, July, August, September, October. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa/MasterCard, AmEx. The Rose Farm is committed to providing good family fun in a beautiful outdoor setting complete with farm animals for the children to feed, a hay maze for children to play in, and a scenic hayride tour through a covered bridge and the woods. Pick Your Own is available for strawberries, apples, pears, and raspberries. We have a large variety of fresh baked pies and baked goods, including bread, muffins, cookies, and biscuits. The Creamery serves old fashioned frozen custart and frozen yogurt. We have sundaes, pie a la mode, and a variety of other confections. Click here for a link to our Facebook page. 
  • Zentek Farms - tomatoes, peppers, beans, eggplant
    325 Higgins Road, Cheshire, CT  06410. Phone: (203) 272-0444. Fax: (203) 250-9190. Email: [email protected]  . Open: PYO starts in August. We also have a farm market-we raise corn and other vegetables. Typicasl availability: JUNE: Strawberries.
    AUGUST: Green Beans, Eggplant, Hot and Sweet Peppers, Italian Flat Beans, Tomatoes, Yellow Beans. SEPTEMBER: Cabbage, Canteloupes, Green Beans, Eggplant, Hot and Sweet Peppers, Italian Flat Beans, Tomatoes, Yellow Beans, Watermelons/. OCTOBER: (if no frost) Beans, Cabbage, Eggplant, Peppers, Tomatoes. CLOSED ON RAINY DAYS. Call ahead to be sure we are open. Click here for a link to our Facebook page. 

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