2024 Northern Indiana Pumpkin U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Find a pick-your-own farm near you! Then learn to can and freeze! Since 2002! We update continuously; Beware the copycat websites!

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Pumpkin U-Pick Orchards in Northern Indiana in 2024, by county

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

Lake County

  • C & L Lawncare - pumpkins, raspberries (Spring, yellow), Cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises), U-pick and already picked
    ||, Griffith, IN 46319. Phone: (219) 238-6906. Email: info@candllawncare.com. Open: Monday - Friday: 8 am to 6 pm Saturday: 8 am to 12 pm. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . . (ADDED: August 27, 2019)
  • County Line Orchard - Apples, pumpkins, pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, corn maze, haunted corn maze, child-sized haybale maze, and prepicked produce, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, tractor-pulled hay rides, wagon rides, face painting, petting zoo
    200 County Line Road, Hobart, IN 46342. Phone: 219-947-4477. Email: orchard200@msn.com. Open: click here for current hours and dates. Directions: We are located 33 miles SE of Chicago. Exit 8094 at Ripley, go south to Rte 6, go east to County Line Rd - turn right on County Line Road. We are 1 mile on the Right hand side of the road. Easy access from I-65 - exit at Rte 6 and go east to County Line Rd - turn right on County Line Road ! mile on the right hand side. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard. County Line Orchard is family owned and operated. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard. . Fax: 219-947-7933. . We are located 33 miles SE of Chicago. Exit 80/94 at Ripley, go south to Rte 6, go east to County Line Rd - turn right on County Line Road. We are 1 mile on the Right hand side of the road. Easy access from I-65 - exit at Rte 6 and go east to County Line Rd - turn right on County Line Road ! mile on the right hand side. is family owned and operated. Facebook page. In addition to apples and pumpkins we have a Kid's Farm, 8-acre corn maze, haunted trail, country store and kitchen with some of the best homemade apple cinnamon donuts in Lake County.
  • De Jong Farm - Uses integrated pest management practices, beans, beets, broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, eggplants, flowers, herbs or spices, kale, onions, peas, peppers, pumpkins, summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes, other vegetables,
    8700 Grand Blvd, Merrillville, IN 46410. Phone: (708) 259-0516. Email: dejongfarmIN@gmail.com. Open: Hours vary; please see our Facebook page for current availability and hours. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, PayPal. . We use integrated pest management practices. (ADDED: February 01, 2021)
  • Merrillville Farms - Minimizes chemical and pesticide use, blueberries, corn (sweet), cucumbers, melons, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes, other vegetables, prepicked produce, farm market
    6716 South Colorado Street, Hobart, IN 46342. Phone: 219-947-0223. Email: loumikolics@yahoo.com. Open: during normal business hours, 7 days a week Seasonal. Directions: 6716 Colorado Street, Hobart IN 46342 - From US 30 near Westfield Shopping Center - Turn North \(At Walmart\) onto Colorado Street from US 30, continue 1.5 miles over RR Tracks, our farm is on the left. From 61st Avenue and I-65 Intersection, Head East 1 mile until Colorado St, Turn Right 12 on right is our farm. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . during normal business hours, 7 days a week (Seasonal). 6716 Colorado Street, Hobart IN 46342 - From US 30 near Westfield Shopping Center - Turn North (At Walmart) onto Colorado Street from US 30, continue 1.5 miles over RR Tracks, our farm is on the left. From 61st Avenue and I-65 Intersection, Head East 1 mile until Colorado St, Turn Right 1/2 on right is our farm. Crops are usually available in May, June, July, August, September, October. We minimize use of pesticides and other chemicals. Seasonally a vendor at the Crown Point Farmer's Market, Schererville Farmers Market, and as always pre-picked produce is available at our farm or for u-pick. Facebook page. A visitor writes on July 09, 2013: "My cousin and I came here this past Sunday. They had tons of giant blueberries! The staff was very nice and the prices were reasonable. They also had fresh eggs for sale. Very convenient location for people living in Gary/Chicago. We will come back next year!"

Porter County

 

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

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

McSunley Stainless Steel 21QT Canner, Any Stovetop

Pressure Canners for all stovetops

Looking for canning equipment and supplies?

Water bath canner with a jar rack

Electric pressure canner

Pressure canners for gas, electric and induction stoves: Presto 23Qt or T-fal 22Qt

Canning scoop (this one is PERFECT)

Ball Blue book (most recent version)

8oz canning jars for jams

Regular canning lids

Wide mouth canning lids

 


Find Other types of farms:

Easter egg hunts

Children's consignment sales

Farm markets and roadside stands

Road trips and camping resources

Local Honey, apiaries, beekeepers

Local Meat, Milk and Eggs

Consumer fraud and scams information

Home canning supplies at the best prices on the internet!

Maple Syrup Farms, sugarworks, maple syrup festivals

Environmental information and resources

Farms For Your Event for birthday parties, weddings, receptions, business meetings, retreats, etc.

Festivals - local fruit and vegetable festivals

Pumpkin patches and corn mazes

Christmas Tree Farms and lots


Get the
most recent version of
the Ball Blue Book


 

 

With this Presto 23 quart pressure canner and pressure cooker, you can "can" everything, fruits, vegetables, jams, jellies, salsa, applesauce, pickles, even meats, soups, stews. Model 01781
Pressure Canners for all stovetops  

You can make jams, jellies, can fruit, applesauce, salsa and pickles with water bath canners, like this Granite Ware 12-Piece Canner Kit, Jar Rack, Blancher, Colander and 5 piece Canning Tool Set
McSunley Stainless Steel 21QT Water Cath Canner, Any Stovetop