2024 Northwestern Illinois Apple And Pumpkin U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Apple And Pumpkin U-Pick Orchards in Northwestern Illinois in 2024, by county

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

Bureau County

• Bureau Creek Orchard - Apples, red raspberries, pumpkins
  14180 1800 East St, Princeton, IL 61356. Phone: (815)875-6137. Open: 9 am to 6:30 pm daily from August 25 to November. Click here for a map and directions. . Restrooms on site. Just opened this year in August.

Marshall County

• Schneider Orchard - fresh apples, pumpkins
  1036 County Road, 1150 North; Henry, IL 61537. Phone: . Click here for a map and directions.
• Tanner's Orchard - Pick your own apples, Apples, cider, grapes, pumpkins, cider, Christmas decorations, gourmet foods, candles, jams and apple butter, bakery, deli, School tours, restrooms, picnic areas, kids petting zoo and play area,
  740 State Route 40, Speer, IL 61749. Phone: 309-493-5442. Email: info@tannersorchard.com. Open: July & August, M-Sa 8 am to 5 pm, closed on Sunday; then in September & October: daily 8 am to 8 pm (U-Pick open 10 am to 5 pm Daily). Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash and credit cards welcome.
  Tanner's Orchard Facebook page. . and in November: M-Sa 8 am to 5 pm, and closed on Sunday. Tanners Orchard Facebook page. Tanners also has hayrack rides and a corn maze in the Fall! The orchard sports over 11,000 trees and 17 varieties of apples. We grow over 20 acres of pumpkins along with various other fruits and vegetables. Find a large assortment of gifts and delicious food offerings in our Farm Market and Apple Bin Bakery. Our Back 40 Fun Acres will keep the entire family busy for the day.
  Comments from a visitor on September 16, 2012: "I have been going to Tanner's since I was a little girl and now take time out to drive my family a fair distance to visit them every year. We absolutely love the variety of activities, food choices, market items and fun we have when there. I have also taken my girl scouts to do their tour for kids, however they are strict in scheduling these only during their designated time. The tour is a great option and provides a lot. Covered wagon rides out to the orchard and pumpkin patch, samples of donuts and cider (1 donut per person and Gallon(s) of cider, color books, behind scene tour of packing, storing, cider making areas, etc. plus access to the back 40 activity/playground area is included in the price. "
  Comments from a visitor on September 13, 2010: "The has been around for decades as a U-Pick apple farm. They have a great playground and petting zoo for the kids along with corn mazes. They are best known for their apple cider donuts and apple cider, but also have a large bakery/market too. Love the orchard and have been going since I was a kid. Now taking my kids too it, and they keep adding more activities."
  Comments from a visitor on November 18, 2009: "Tanners Orchard has become a family destination with fresh apples and pumpkins, a bakery, a large county farm market, wagon rides to the orchard for pick your own fruit, a corn maze and a children's playground with farm animals. I have a blast every time I visit Tanners Orchard. The people are friendly, the food is good, and the price is right. And it's fun! My husband and I are addicted and visit frequently every year."

Putnam County

• Boggios Orchard and Produce - Pick Your Own apples and pumpkins, petting zoo, fresh apple cider, Indian corn, variety of squash, Corn Maze, popcorn, and gourds, pony rides, petting zoo, farm animals, group tours
  12087 Illinois Hwy 71, Granville, IL 61326. Phone: 815-339-2245. Email: info@boggiosorchardandproduce.com. Open: SUMMER HOURS Monday to Saturday 9 am to 6 pm Sunday 9 am to 5 pm. Directions: From the intersection of SR (State Route) 26 and I 80 in Princeton, go east on I 80 for 4.3 miles to Exit 61/I 180. Go south on I 180 for 13.4 miles. At the Connecting Road exit, take the ramp for SR 71 and go east 4.9 miles to the market on the right. Daily, July through mid November. . Click here for a map and directions.
  Boggios Orchard and Produce Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: 815/339-2460. . Boggio's Orchard and Produc Facebook page. Handicap Accessible; Restrooms; Hiking; Picnic area, Fresh picked vegetables and bake items. Peddle cars, jumping pillow, bunny bounce, animal feeding and climbing tunnels.
  Comments from a visitor on October 20, 2012: "I had a blast petting the animals and they have a delicious bakery! "
  Comments from a visitor on October 08, 2010: "I'm originally from that area so I've been there several times. It's a nice time with the family, but not as big as Tanner's Orchard in Speer, IL "

Winnebago County

• Curran's Orchard - Tart Cherries (on dwarf trees) Apples (on dwarf trees), raspberries, straw maze, hayrides and pumpkins.
  6385 Kilburn Ave. (Route 70), Rockford, IL 61101. Phone: 815-963-7848. Email: p.d.curran@att.net. Open: for Cherry picking in summer and for Apples in Fall. Click here for a map and directions.
  Curran's Orchard Facebook page. . . Raspberries: pick your own in August - October. Tart Cherries, pick your own in late June - early July. Pumpkins, enjoy picking that perfect pumpkin from our pumpkin patch, or chose from our pre-picked pumpkins. Complimentary hay wagon rides through the orchard on weekends. Evening wagon rides for groups (by reservation only). Mini straw bales maze! School Tours! A petting corral with farm animals for the kids to enjoy. A glass observation bee hive in the sales barn with live bees (don't worry, the bees are enclosed in the glass hive). Great tasting jams, apple butter, salad dressings, and real maple syrup. Facebook page. Restrooms & picnic area available. September thru November: 9 am to 6 pm, six days a week (closed Mondays). November thru December: 9 am to 5 pm, six days a week (closed Mondays).
• Edwards Apple Orchards - apples, raspberries, pumpkins
  8218 Cemetry Road, Winnebago, IL 61088. Phone: (815) 963-2261. Open: see their website for current crops and hours. Click here for a map and directions.
  Edwards Apple Orchards Facebook page. . For a fun family outing enjoy the experience of picking your own apples, pumpkins and raspberries. Visit the play area featuring our wooden bus and train, the corn cribs, the wagon slide and our animals in the "Petting Farm."
• Valley Orchard - apples, beans, blackberries, blueberries, corn (sweet), pumpkins, raspberries (red), raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (Autumn, red), raspberries (yellow), raspberries (Spring, yellow), raspberries (Autumn, yellow), rhubarb, winter squash, Cider mill fresh apple cider made on the premises, U-pick and already picked, farm market, gift shop, picnic area, school tours
  911 East State Street, Cherry Valley, IL 61016. Phone: 815-332-9696. Email: thevalleyorchard@outlook.com. Open: See our website for current hours. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover. . These are some of the apples that we offer; if you do not see your favorite apple listed, please call, we have over 28 varieties. (This is only an estimate of when the apples will be ready, please call for U-Pick availability.) facebook page. Early Season (August ~ September) has Early Gold, Paula Red, Royal Gala, Honeycrisp, McIntosh, Jonamac, Snow Sweet, Haralson, Sept. Wonder Fugi, Wolf River. Mid Season (September ~ October) offers Ozark Gold, Senshu, Cortland, Jonathan, Jonagold, Empire, MaCoun, Red Delicious, Yellow Delicious, Golden Russet, Crimson Crisp, Autumn Blush, Autumn Gala, Ida Red. Late Season (October ~ November) is Shizuka, Blushing Gold, Rome, Fuji, Winesap, Suncrisp, Candy Crisp, Braeburn, New Town Pippin, Cameo, See comments about this farm here!

 

Pumpkin

Pumpkin Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Do you want it for a party, decoration or eating?

For a wedding or party:

See this page: Finding pumpkins for weddings

Decoration to paint or carve:

OK, Then you need only look for any pumpkin that is

• visually appealing, evenly a deep orange. The shape is just whatever appeals to you. If it grew on its side and has a flat spot, you can either make that the make or use it as part of your design!
• free from cuts, soft spots, bruises. The flesh should feel hard, and not give easily. Infections can invade easily and cause rot
• Make sure the stem is attached.

Store it carefully, especially if you pick it from the vine yourself. Cure a fresh-picked pumpkin by keeping it in a dry place. Don't handle or disturb it. Curing toughens the rind, making it less prone to rot. Pumpkins will keep for months in a cool (50 F to 65F dry, low humidity environment; such as a cool, dry basement.

Tip: If you like roasted or baked pumpkin seeds, you can save the seeds from any pumpkin!

To make a pumpkin pie!

Then you need a small, sweet type of pumpkin that has been developed for eating. They are smaller, typically about 8" to 10" diameter. The meat is much less stringy and smoother than a decorative pumpkin variety. Pumpkin is rich in vitamin A and potassium. One-half cup of cooked pumpkin provides more than the recommended daily allowance of vitamin A. One cup of cooked pumpkin contains only 81 calories. It's low in fat and sodium! Usually you can get these at the grocery store, and some of the pumpkin patches and farm stands have them. Be sure to tell them that you intend to use it for a pumpkin pie. Again, look for firm, no soft spots, or signs of any rot. See this page for easy, illustrated directions to make a pumpkin pie from a fresh pumpkin!

Varieties of Pumpkins

• Sugar - Excellent for baking
• Jack O'Lantern - most common for carving
• White Lumina - unusual, medium-sized white pumpkin
• Mini - Great for decoration
• Gourds - Many varieties, used for decorations

For a very complete, detailed list of many varieties of pumpkins and where to get the seeds, see this page!

Want to Grow Your Own Pumpkins?

Then see this page!

Pumpkin recipes

• How to prepare cooked pumpkin from a fresh pumpkin (for use in all the recipes)
• Illustrated instructions to make a pumpkin pie from a fresh pumpkin - the best pumpkin pie you will ever taste! (metric version for the UK, Europe, Australia, Japan, etc.)
• How to home-can pumpkin (in a cooked, cubed form) and why you shouldn't home-can the pureed forms.
• Traditional Pumpkin Pie
• Chocolate pumpkin pie
• Pumpkin Spice Muffins
• Pumpkin muffins
• Pumpkin Bread
• Pumpkin Butter!
• Pumpkin cheesecake - INCREDIBLE!!! You have to try this one!
• Pumpkin Cookies
• Pumpkin soup - even if you normally aren't a soup lover; you will love this one.
• Butternut-Chestnut Panchetta-Bacon Soup - Pumpkin or Butternut squash combines with chestnuts and bacon, ham or panchetta in this great soup
• Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
• No Sugar Pumpkin Pie
• Apple Cider Doughnut Recipe (with maple glaze or sugar glaze)

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