This month's notes: February 2012: Winter is upon us, but don't despair! Strawberry and citrus picking actually begins in Florida, southern Texas and southern Californiaa in December. And for the rest of us; there are many delicious jams, jellies, and marmalades that you can make for yourself or as gifts, from frozen or fresh fruit.  See this page for hundreds of easy canning and freezing instructions/recipes, canning equipment guide! Also make your own ice cream - see How to make ice cream and ice cream making equipment and manuals. Then see each state's crop availability calendar for more specific dates of upcoming crops. Organic farms are identified in green!  See our guide to local fruit and vegetable festivals!. Please tell the farms you found them here - and ask them to update their information!!

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When in Florida to find pick your own Citrus farms and orchards and canning & freezing instructions!

This page provides a detailed list of Florida's pick- your- own (PYO, U-pick, pick-it-yourself) farms for everything from apples, berries, fruit, pumpkins, vegetables to cut-you-own Christmas trees!  I'm always looking for suggestions of more farms and events to add and feedback about any you have visited, so if you encounter any, just click on the preceding link, as appropriate!  And if you have a farm and want to add it or correct the information, please click on the link to "add my farm".

Remember to ALWAYS either email, call or click the link to the farm's own website (if they have one) on the morning before you go, to confirm hours, conditions and availability of the specific crops you want! 

We also have our own free and simple, step-by-step, illustrated instructions on canning, freezing and drying  many fruits and vegetables, such as  how to make jam, apple butter, applesauce, spaghetti sauce, salsa, pickles, ketchup or freezing corn .   If you are looking for Canners, mixes, jars, pectin and other canning supplies at the best prices anywhere!

Florida U-Pick Farms and Orchards, sorted by county

Remember: ALWAYS call (or follow the link to the farm's own website, if the name is a blue link) to confirm the information before you go! They may close, run out or change events, times, etc. without notifying me!

Click on the links below for your area, or scroll down the page for a clickable map!

Florida Citrus Harvest Calendar

Harvest Dates and Availability of Citrus in Florida

Oranges Grapefruit Tangerines/ Tangelos
Orange are in season from autumn until spring and include Navel oranges, Temple oranges and Valencia oranges. The Valencia orange is considered to be the best juice orange in the world, accounting for more than half the production of oranges grown. Other oranges include Ambersweet, Hamlin, Pineapple, and Red Navel oranges. Specialty fruit such as tangelos, are available from November to February, and tangerines and grapefruit are available throughout the season. More information about Florida citrus varieties.

Available Description November December January February March April May
Fallglo Tangerine Mild taste, sweet and juicy              
Robinson Tangerine Rich, sweet flavor with few seeds              
Red Navels Red flesh, rich sweet flavor              
Hamlin Orange Excellent juice orange              
Ambersweet Orange Very sweet, usually seedless              
Navels Peels and sections very easily              
Orlando Tangelo Peels easily, very juicy              
Sunburst Tangerine Bright, orange color, rich flavor              
Flame Grapefruit Red flesh, usually seedless              
Star Rubies Dark red, sweet grapefruit              
Ruby Reds Sweet pink grapefruit              
White Grapefruit tart white grapefruit              
Orlando tangelos Peels easily, very juicy              
Sunburst Tangerines Bright, orange color, rich flavor              
Dancy Tangerine Rich, sweet flavor with spicy aroma              
Pineapple Orange Acclaimed for juicy sweetness              
Minneola Tangelo Deep orange to red-orange color              
Honeybell taneglos also called Minneola, Deep orange to red-orange color              
Temples Florida's best eating orange              
Honey Tangerines Rich red flesh, sweet and juicy              
Valencias Loaded with juice, usually seedless              

For availability of other crops (berries, vegetables, etc.)  in Florida, click here!

For more information about citrus, look here:

Click on your area in this list or click on the map further down this page:

Other information:

Current Weather - Click on a map for forecast, or enter a zip code for a different location.
Orlando Tampa Panhandle

Festivals and Events

  • Bostwick Blueberry Festival - See their website for most current dates; Saturday, May 19, 2012 from 8 am - 4 pm
    Bostwick Community Center Bostwick Public Library 125 Tillman Street, Bostwick, FL 32007. Phone: 904-268-3346. Directions: Off US Highway 17, 7 miles north of Palatka. It is held at the Bostwick Community Center in Bostwick, Florida, 125 Tillman Street. And for a map to our farm, click here. Crops are usually available in May. Open: Saturday, May 19, 2012 from 8 am - 4 pm. Payment: Blueberry pancake breakfast served from 8 am to noon (5.00), arts and crafts, country store, fresh blueberries, homemade blueberry pies and other blueberry baked goods for sale, plants for sale, library book fair, continuous entertainment, refreshments and snacks.  Click here for our Facebook page.  (UPDATED: September 15, 2011)

 

Ball home canning kit water bath canner

Home Canning Kits

Features:

  • Everything you need to get started with waterbath canning (fruits,pickles, jams, jellies, salsa, sauces and tomatoes)
  • 21-1/2 qt. enamel water bath canner
  • Funnel, jar lifter, lid lifter, bubble freer spatula
  • Ball Blue Book

This is the same type of standard canner that my grandmother used to make everything from applesauce to jams and jellies to tomato and spaghetti sauce. This complete kit includes everything you need and lasts for years: the canner, jar rack, jar grabber tongs, lid lifting wand, a plastic funnel, labels, bubble freer, and the bible of canning, the Ball Blue Book. It's much cheaper than buying the items separately. You'll never need anything else except jars & lids (and the jars are reusable)! There is also s simple kit with just the canner and rack, and a pressure canner, if your want to do vegetables (other than tomatoes). To see more canners, of different styles, makes and prices, click here!
 


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This page was updated on 8-Jul-2011

Remember to ALWAYS call the farm or orchard BEFORE you go - weather, heavy picking and business conditions can always affect their hours and crops!

PYO Farms in Other Countries: [ Australia ] [ Canada ] [ South Africa ] [ New Zealand ] [ United Kingdom ]

Our other free, informative sites you may like:

EHSO.com - Environmental health and safety information and guidance for the home
ConsumerFraudReporting.org - Information about identity theft, frauds and scams; how to report them and how to protect your identity.
FitnessAndHealthScience.org - Practical fitness, health and diet information that works.
And our other related websites!

Care to Donate to help me keep the website going? Donate to me at Benevia here:

Use the feedback form for questions, comments and feedback about farms -  Use this form suggest a farm to add to the website? 
Or as a last result (I reply to the forms FIRST),write me at 
 Write to pickyourown.org
All images and text  Copyright © Benivia, LLC 2004 - 2010 All rights reserved.   
Disclaimer and Privacy Policy
Permission is given to link to any page on www.pickyourown.org 
Looking for jobs on farms?  Farmers: If you'd like to advertise or have your own web page(s), click here!

Remember to ALWAYS call the farm or orchard BEFORE you go - weather, heavy picking and business conditions can always affect their hours and crops!

PYO Farms in Other Countries: [ Australia ] [ Canada ] [ South Africa ] [ New Zealand ] [ United Kingdom ]

Our other free, informative sites you may like:

EHSO.com - Environmental health and safety information and guidance for the home
ConsumerFraudReporting.org - Information about identity theft, frauds and scams; how to report them and how to protect your identity.
FitnessAndHealthScience.org - Practical fitness, health and diet information that works.
And our other related websites!

Care to Donate to help me keep the website going? Donate to me at Benevia here:

Use the feedback form for questions, comments and feedback about farms -  Use this form suggest a farm to add to the website? 
Or as a last result (I reply to the forms FIRST),write me at 
 Write to pickyourown.org
All images and text  Copyright © Benivia, LLC 2004 - 2010 All rights reserved.   
Disclaimer and Privacy Policy
Permission is given to link to any page on www.pickyourown.org 
Looking for jobs on farms?  Farmers: If you'd like to advertise or have your own web page(s), click here!