2024 Southern Indiana Corn U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Corn U-Pick Orchards in Southern Indiana in 2024, by county

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

Lawrence County

• Applacres, Inc. - Apples, apple butter, blackberries, cider, fruit baskets and boxes, nectarines, melons, peaches, pears, pumpkins, strawberries, sweet corn, winter squash.
  9104 State Road 37, Bedford, IN 47421. Phone: 812-279-9721. Open: Year Round. Directions: 3 miles south of Bedford on State Road 37. Monday through Saturday 9 am to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 1 pm to 6 p.m. . Click here for a map and directions. Open

Martin County

• Lark Ranch - Apples, corn (sweet), pumpkins, pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, corn maze, and prepicked produce, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, horse-drawn hay rides, tractor-pulled hay rides, wagon rides, pony rides
  3145 Killion Mill Road, Loogootee, IN 47553. Phone: 812-295-9555. Email: info@larkranch.com. Open: Fridayfrom 4 pm to 10 pm Saturdayfrom 12 pm to 10 pm Sundayfrom 12 pm to 6 pm Last 3 weekends in September until the last weekend in October Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard. Directions: Take 231 North from Loogootee about 4 miles. Take the first right past the Moco Gas station, take your first left \(about 1 mile\), the road will make a right turn - stay on the black top, take your first left past the one room school house. Turn left into the farm at the silver barn. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard. . Fax: 812-295-3820. . Take 231 North from Loogootee about 4 miles. Take the first right past the Moco Gas station, take your first left (about 1 mile), the road will make a right turn - stay on the black top, take your first left past the one room school house. Turn left into the farm at the silver barn.

Vanderburgh County

• Mayse Farm Market - U-pick strawberries, corn mazes, hayrides
  6409 N. St. Joe Avenue, Evansville, IN 47712. Phone: (812) 963-3175. Email: maysefarmmarket@mw.twcbc.com. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions.
  Mayse Farm Market Facebook page. . . UPDATE for 2021, Their website says they no Pick-your-own strawberries "at this time"; Monday - Saturday: 8:30 am - 6 pm, Sunday: 10 am - 4 pm. On-site Farm Market. Other fun activities for families, groups, scouts, and school tours. The ONLY pyo crops offered is strawberries.

Warrick County

• Engelbrecht Orchard - Apples, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cucumbers, cantaloupe, cherries, green beans, nectarines, peaches, peppers, pumpkins, pears, plums, raspberries, summer and winter squash, sweet corn, strawberries, tomatoes, turnips, watermelon.
  3922 Saint Rd. 261, Newburgh, IN 47630. Phone: 812-853-8778. Open: Daily from 10 am to 3 pm. Click here for a map and directions. . East of Hwy. 164 at the intersection of Hwy. 66 and 261 in Newburgh. You won't get anything fresher than pumpkins and apples that you hand-pick right from Engelbrecht's Orchard & Pumpkin Patch! Pick-your-own apples and other exciting fun on the farm at Engelbrecht's Orchard just north of Evansville, Indiana . With 13 varieties of apples, our apple season picks up in July, with delicious, crunchy apples for eating and cooking available well into October. As with our apples and other fresh fruit, each season is slightly different, so if you are coming to the orchard, please check our U-Pick box for availability. Check our ripening calendar for information on when your favorites will be ready for picking! (UPDATED: January 24, 2022 JBS) (ADDED: October 07, 2017, JBS)

 

 

Choosing and Picking Corn

Corn reaches it's peak sweetness and flavor when the kernels are full, and just touching each other, like a good set of teeth!  They should not be bloated and smushed so tightly that there is no space left at all. The bloated overripe ears will have a bland, starchy taste.

Here's what to look for:

• The tips of the silks coming out of the ear should be a light brown.
•  If you break a kernel with your fingernail, the liquid should be slightly milky in color.
•  The ears should be filled out and have developed good girth but not bloated.

Harvesting

 To harvest, snap off the ears by hand with a quick, firm, downward push; then twist and pull.
 Avoid twisting or yanking the ears, as this can damage the stalk or the ear itself.

Storing the corn

Corn is at its prime eating quality on the stalk for only 72 hours before becoming over mature. The most important factor is cooling it as soon as possible after harvesting it.  Get it into the fridge or cover it with ice! Many farmers say you should remove the shucks right away, too.  I've found that removing most of the shuck, but leaving a few leaves to cover each ear is best to prevent the kernels from drying out.  See this page for more about storing corn before using it.

Cooking:

The worst mistake people make is overcooking corn.  In fact, corn isn't really cooked; it's just heated up. If you cook it form more than a few minutes (3 minutes), then you are simply breaking down the sugars and turning a nice, crisp sweet ear into bland mush. It's not a pot roast; the purpose of heating it is NOT to break down the cells, just to heat them to bring out the flavor and melt the butter!

Here's how to cook the corn:

1. Fill a large pot (large enough so the shucked ears can fit inside, laying down) about 2/3 full of water and start bring it to a boil
2. Shuck the ears, and snap off the stalk end and the very tip of ear (especially if you will use "corn stickers" , (handles) to hold the ears.
3. When everyone is sitting down at the table and you are serving the rest of the meal, put the corn in the boiling water and set the time for 3 minutes.
4. After 3 minutes, using tongs, retrieve the ears and serve them with butter (Corn boats are wonderful for corn!

 

Freezing Corn

You can easily freeze the sweet corn and have that great taste in the dead of winter! 

• Freezing whole ears of corn on the cob
• Freezing corn, cut off the cob

Canning Corn

This too, is easy... but it DOES require a Pressure Canner.  You cannot safely do this with a water bath canner.  Food poisoning is no joke!

• Here is how to can corn!
•  how to make canned creamed corn.
• Southern Chow-Chow (also called Piccalilli)
• Pickled corn relish

Other corn recipes

• How to make sweet corn ice cream
• Corn bread, or sweet corn muffins (like Chi Chi's)

• Corn fritters (a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch breakfast

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