2024 Eastern Shore of Maryland Blackberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Blackberry U-Pick Orchards in Eastern Shore of Maryland in 2024, by county

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

Caroline County

• Kings Berries - Minimizes chemical and pesticide use, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries (red), raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (Autumn, red), U-pick and already picked, porta-potties
  24029 Meadows Drive, Ridgely, MD 21660. Phone: (410) 490-8604. Email: jack@kingsberries.com. Open: Typical season is from Late June through August Wednesday through Friday, from 4 pm to 7 pm; Saturday, from 9am to 1pm; Closed Sundays. Directions: Blueberry season is typically June 15 to Mid-August Blackberry season is typically early July to Early August Red Raspberry season is typically Mid-July to late August. We minimize use of pesticides and other chemicals. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard.
  Kings Berries Facebook page. . Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. We grow Chester and Freedom varieties of Blackberries. The early ripening variety is Chester and they are a large berry with a sweet taste. The Freedom blackberry are a new variety and they are very large in size and very sweet. Both of these varieties are trailing thornless.. no stickers! (UPDATED: July 23, 2019, JBS) (ADDED: July 03, 2018)

Cecil County

• Milburn Orchards - blueberries, cherries, blackberries, grapes, raspberries and apples
  1495 Appleton Road, Elkton, MD 21921. Phone: 410-398-1349. Email: info@milburnorchards.com. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. . Alternate phone: 800-684-3000. . Click here for a map. They have cherries, blackberries, raspberries and apples for pick-your-own. 2019 update: New this season: We have implemented a new policy which requires a $5 prepayment per person ages 16-59. Upon arrival you will be given a wooden nickel in exchange for your $5 deposit. When you've finished picking, your berries will be weighed and the $5 deposit will be applied to your purchase and you will be charged for the remaining balance.No refunds will be issued for total charges less than $5.00.(UPDATED: May 16, 2019, JBS) A visitor writes: "They also have a market and in the fall they have craft shows, corn and hay mazes and pumpkins. There is also a petting zoo. It's a fun place to take the kids!"

Dorchester County

• Emily's Produce - u-pick strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and pumpkins
  2206 Church Creek Road, Cambridge, MD 21613. Phone: 443-521-0789. Email: emilysproduce@yahoo.com. Open: Daily 9 am to 4 pm; Weather Dependent. Directions: on Route 16 one mile from the Cambridge South Dorchester High School. . Click here for a map and directions.
  Emily's Produce Facebook page. . . Family owned and operated. Roadside market. Homemade desserts on weekends as well as a wide variety of jams, jellies, and relishes. Facebook page. Emily's u-pick strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, and pumpkin patches are abundant in selection and flavor. Also Fresh Picked Fruits and Vegetables. Grass Fed Beef and Farm Fresh Eggs. Fresh-Baked Goods: Our homemade pies, fruit breads, and more are daily using only the freshest of seasonal ingredients! Jams, Jellies, and Relishes: Samples are always available from our popular line of jams, relishes, sauces, and more. Daily Lunch Specials and Homemade Meals & Sides: Family recipes passed down for many generations Our fresh-cut flowers, potted plants, and hanging baskets come straight from our greenhouse. No Advance Reservations Required. 5 Acres to Social Distance. Walking Is Required. Picking Containers Are Supplied. Check In For Picking Instructions. 2021 price is Price / $5 per quart / 2 for $9 / 4 for $16.

Kent County

• Lockbriar Farm - strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, peaches, nectarines, apples, cherries, apricots, plums
  10051 Worton Road, Chestertown, MD 21620. Phone: 410-778-9112. Email: upick@lockbriarfarms.com. Open: Call or see their website. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. . . (ADDED: May 12, 2010X)
• Redman Farms - blackberries, pumpkins, strawberries, porta-potties
  8689 Bakers Ln, Chestertown, MD 21620. Phone: (410) 708-5919. Email: cathy@redmanfarms.net. Open: Call for current hours. Directions: Follow the signs and look for our . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
  Redman Farms Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: (410) 708-9772. Open flags. We have moved our location to "The Farm"! 8689 Bakers Ln Offering more products, a safe environment and a real Farm experience. (UPDATED: May 12, 2021)

Queen Anne's County

• Godfrey's Farm - blackberries, blueberries, tart cherries, flowers, peaches, strawberries, and prepicked produce
  302 Leager Road, Sudlersville, MD 21668. Phone: 410-438-3509. Email: info@godfreysfarm.com. Open: every day from mid-April through Labor Day, Monday to Saturday 7 am to 5 pm, Sunday 7 am to 12 pm. Directions: Just east of Sudlersville at Route 300 and Leager Road. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard.
  Godfrey's Farm Facebook page. . Emai: . Crops are usually available in May, June, July, August. Located in Queen Anne's County on the eastern shore of Maryland, is an easy 45-minute drive from the Bay Bridge, or just 25 minutes from Dover DE. We are open growing and harvesting the best produce the Eastern Shore has to offer! Come out for a day of u-pick fun featuring the freshest and tastiest Maryland u-pick strawberries (Mid-May to Early June ), tart cherries (mid June), peaches (Late July-August , and blueberries (Mid-June to early August )! Our farm also has a beautiful field of pick-your-own flowers for hand-picked bouquets! (UPDATED: May 16, 2019, JBS)
• Kent Fort Farm - Apples, blackberries, cucumbers, eggplant, peaches, peppers, pumpkins, summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes, other vegetables, restrooms, tractor-pulled hay rides, petting zoo
  135 Eastern Lane, Stevensville, MD 21666. Phone: 410 643-1650. Email: kentfort@crosslink.net. Open: Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, 9 am to 4 pm, Sunday 10 am to 4 pm. Directions: Route 50 to exit 37 south \(east of Bay Bridge\). Go 8 miles to Kent point rd on right. Follow 3 miles to Evans lane on left. Go 200 yards to Eastern lane on right. 2nd entrance on left. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . . Route 50 to exit 37 south (east of Bay Bridge). Go 8 miles to Kent point rd on right. Follow 3 miles to Evans lane on left. Go 200 yards to Eastern lane on right. 2nd entrance on left. Crops are usually available in July, August, October. Open weekends only in October, 10am to 4pm, or by appointment. Peaches: Mid July-August. Peach Fest: 1st Saturday in August. Pumpkins: October weekends 11am-4pm

Talbot County

• Family Affair Farm - strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and pumpkins, U-pick and already picked, school tours
  30091 Rabbit Hill Road, Easton, MD 21601. Phone: 410-310-1331. Email: familyaffairfarm@gmail.com. Open: daily during picking season see website for hours. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Visa, MasterCard.
  Family Affair Farm Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: 717-682-4857. . has u-pick strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, & pumpkins when in season. Come & enjoy the 3-acre corn maze open fall weekends. U-pick Strawberries (May), Blueberries (June) & Blackberries (July) Pumpkin Patch (October), Fall Fun, Corn Maze & School Trips. (UPDATED: June 30, 2016)

Wicomico County

• Peach Blossom Farm - blackberries,
  27616 Little Lane, Salisbury, MD 21801. Phone: 410-742-6545. Open: Family run U - pick farm open from sunup to sundown every day of the week; Berries should be available starting July 10; Please call first to verify on availability. Directions:. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. Family run U - pick farm open from sunup to sundown every day of the week; Berries should be available starting July 10; Please call first to verify on availability Click here for a map and directionsPayment: Cash, Check

Worcester County

 

Blackberry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

In the U.S. Blackberries typically peak during June in the South, and in July in the North. Crops are ready at various times of the month depending on which part of the state you are located. In order to produce good local Blackberries, producers depend on ideal spring and early summer weather conditions. See this page for a list of blackberry festivals around the U.S.

Before you leave to go to the farm:

1. Always call before you go to the farm - 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 Blackberries, 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 Blackberries more than 5 inches deep will bruise the lower berries. Plastic dishpans, metal oven pans with 3 inch tall sides and large pots make good containers. I like the Glad storage containers like the one at right.
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.

Tips on How to Pick Blackberries

1. There are two types of blackberries to know about: thorny and thornless! Obviously, the thornless are easier to pick, but some people claim the thorny varieties are sweeter. With the thorny plants, you want to reach into the plant in the gaps, so you don't need to touch anything but the berry you're after, avoiding the thorns.
2. A ripe blackberry is deep black with a plump, full feel. It will pull free from the plant with only a slight tug.  If the berry is red or purple, it's not ripe yet.
3. Repeat these operations using both hands until each holds 3 or 4 berries.Unlike strawberries, blackberries are usually pretty tough, I dump mine into the bucket. Repeat the picking process with both hands.
4. Don't overfill your containers or try to pack the berries down.

General Picking Tips

Whether you pick Blackberries from your garden or at a Pick-Your-Own farm, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1. Pick only the berries that are fully black. Reach in between the stems to grab for hidden berries ready for harvest. Bend down and look up into the plant and you will find loads of berries that other people missed!
2. Avoid placing the picked berries in the sunlight any longer than necessary. It is better to put them in the shade of a tree or shed than in the car trunk or on the car seat. Cool them as soon as possible after picking. Blackberries may be kept fresh in the refrigerator for up to a week, depending upon the initial quality of the berry. After a few days in storage, however, the fruit loses its bright color and fresh flavor and tends to shrivel.

When you get home

1. DON'T wash the berries until you are ready to use them or freeze them.  Washing makes them more prone to spoiling.
2. Pour them out into shallow pans and remove any mushed, soft or rotting berries
3. Put a couple of days supply into the fridge, wash  off the others, drain them and freeze them up! (Unless you're going to make jam right away) Blackberries are less perishable than blueberries or strawberries, but refrigerate them as soon as possible after picking. Temperatures between 34 F and 38 F are best, but, be careful not to freeze the blackberries (while they are in the fridge)!
4. Even under ideal conditions blackberries will only keep for a week in a refrigerator, so for best flavor and texture, use them as soon as possible after purchase

Blackberry Recipes, Freezing and Jam directions

1. How to make Blackberry jam - It is VERY easy - especially with our free Blackberry jam directions - very easy!
2. How to make Blackberry jelly
3. How to freeze berries
4. Blackberry syrup, make and can it! 
5. Seedless blackberry pie!
6. Blackberry Festivals: Where, When and More to Find an Blackberry Festival Near You this year:

Blackberry Facts and Tips

• Black Raspberries, also known as "black caps" are a very healthy food; packed with anthocyanins!
• The USDA says 1 cup of blackberries has about 62 calories.
• 1 cup of blackberries, not packed down weighs about 140 grams.
• Select plump, firm, fully blackberries. Unripe berries will not ripen once picked.
• Ohio State University's Article Regarding Their Prevention of Cancer
• Oregon Berry Black Raspberry Brochure
• Blackberry tea was said to be a cure for dysentery during the Civil War. During outbreaks of dysentery, temporary truces were declared to allow both Union and Confederate soldiers to "go blackberrying" to forgage for blackberries to ward off the disease.
• Blackberries were enjoyed by the ancient Greeks, who believed them to be a cure for diseases of the mouth and throat, as well as a preventative against many ailments, including gout.
• The blackberry leaf was also used as an early hair dye, having been recommended by Culpeper, the English herbalist, to be boiled in a lye solution in order to "maketh the hair black".
• Guide to blackberry varieties
• Researchers have known for quite some time that berries contain antioxidants which help to fight cancer causing free radicals.  A study at the University of Ohio has found that blackberries are the most potent cancer fighting berries of them all, by nearly 40 percent!
• U-pick Blackberry farms typically sell berries by the pound. A quart equals 1 and 1/2 pounds of fresh berries.
• Do the math and be careful not to over-purchase as Blackberries quickly mold when left at room temperature, and only last a couple of days in the refrigerator.
• You can easily freeze berries that you cannot use right away - just wash, cut the hulls off and pop them into a ziplock bag, removing as much air as possible.  Those vacuum food sealers REALLY do a good job of this! The berries will keep for many months frozen without air.
• Want to go to a blackberry festival? See this page for a list!

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