While it seems like a clever trick to get free labor on farm owners' part, I always enjoy pick-your-own (or U-pick) farms. Local produce can't get much fresher! The many pick-your-own (PYO) farms in Maryland in the Baltimore area specialize in crops such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, peaches, cherries, apples, pumpkins and tomatoes.
Blueberries are my favorite and not just because they taste so good. But there are no thorns and very little stooping or stretching. For the most part, strawberry season is over. Cherries and raspberries are starting to ripen, and blueberries are just around the corner.
Going to a Pick-Your-Own Farm
© Laureen Miles Brunelli, licensed to About.com, Inc.
It is absolutely essential to call for PYO farm hours and crop availabilities. Months listed below are estimated dates for the beginning of that crop's picking season. However, seasons vary from year to year due to weather conditions. Hours are subject to change. Some farms are not open on Sunday, while others are only open on weekends. Call first!
Things to Bring to a PYO farm:
- Water
- Sunscreen
- Bug spray
- Comfortable shoes
- Containers (sometimes, these are sometimes provided)
Things not to bring: Pets
Baugher's Orchard
||Carroll County||1236 Baugher Rd.
Westminster, MD 21158
Farm: 410-848-5541
Restaurant: 410-848-7413
Farm market
Restaurant
Baked goods
Playground (at restaurant)
Petting zoo
Pick Your Own:
- Strawberries (June)
- Garden Peas (June)
- Sweet Cherries (end of June)
- Sour Cherries (July)
- Peaches (mid July)
- Apples (mid-August)
- Pumpkins and gourds (weekends in October)
Brad's Produce
||Harford County||550 Asbury Road
Churchville, MD 21797
410-734-GROW
Farm market
Pick Your Own:
- Strawberries (late May)
Butler's Orchard
||Montgomery County||22200 Davis Mill Rd.
Germantown, MD 20876
301-972-3299
Farm market
Pick Your Own:
- Strawberries (mid May)
- Peas (late June)
- Blueberries (late June)
- Tart cherries (late June)
- Apples (September)
- Red raspberries (mid-August)
- Pumpkins (October)
- Christmas trees (late November)
Catoctin Mountain Orchard
||Frederick County||15036 North Franklinville Rd.
Thurmont, MD 21788
301-271-2737
Farm market
Baked goods
Create your own bouquet
Pick Your Own:
- Cherries (June)
- Raspberries (June)
- Blackberries (July)
- Blueberries (July)
- Peaches (July)
- Apricots (July)
- Plums (July)
Huber's Farm
||Baltimore County||11898 Philadelphia Rd.
Bradshaw, MD 21087
410-679-1941
Farm market
Pick Your Own:
- Strawberries (late May)
- Blackberries (June)
- Pumpkins (September)
Larriland Farm
||Howard County||2415 Woodbine Rd.
Woodbine, MD 21797
410-442-2605
Farm market
Baked goods
Create your own bouquet
Pick Your Own:
- Strawberries (early June)
- Tart Cherries (late June)
- Red Raspberries (late June)
- Black Raspberries (late June)
- Purple Raspberries Royalty (mid July)
- Blueberries (late June)
- Thornless Blackberries (August)
- Peaches (mid July)
- Apples (mid August)
Lohr's Orchard
||Harford County||3212 Snake Ln.
Churchville, MD 21028
410-836-2783
Farm market
Pick Your Own:
- Strawberries (late May)
- Sour Cherries (June)
- Peaches (late July)
- Sweet corn (August)
- Tomatoes (August)
- Apples (mid August)
- Pumpkins (late September)
Mayne's Tree Farm
||Frederick County||3420 Buckeystown Pike
Buckeystown, MD 21717
301-662-4320
Farm market
Christmas trees
Pick Your Own:
- Strawberries (late May)
