2024 Southeastern North Carolina Corn U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Corn U-Pick Orchards in Southeastern North Carolina 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.

Brunswick County

• Indigo Farms - Asparagus, Blackberry, Blueberries, Corn, Flowers, Greens, Grapes, Muscadine Grapes, Peaches, Pumpkins, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Vegetables, Watermelon
  1542 Hickman Road NW, Calabash, NC 28467. Phone: (910) 287-6794. Open: For pick your own it is best to call as it may vary with crops and temperatures. Directions: Located 15 miles couth of Shallotte, turn off US 17 south at Brunswick Plantation & Golf Links onto Hickman Road, go 4 more miles straight to NCSC state line. The market is on the right, highly visible. . Click here for a map and directions.
  Indigo Farms Facebook page. . Other Phone: (910) 287-6403. click here for a map to the farm. Hay Rides, Tours. Monday to Saturday 8 am to 5:30 pm (Varies with season). Typical harvest dates: Strawberries - February to May & Thanksgiving-New Year Asparagus - March-May Blueberries & Blackberries - May-August Persimmons & Pumpkin - Fall Figs - July-September Grapes - September Melon, Tomatoes, Sweet Corn -June-August Lettuce & Greens Jan-May. Special Services: Farm Heritage Day - 1st Saturday in October, Pumpkin Day - 3rd Saturday in October, Farm Market, Garden Center, Florist & Produce, Bakery & Farm tours as well as hayrides. Located 15 miles couth of Shallotte, turn off US 17 south at Brunswick Plantation & Golf Links onto Hickman Road, go 4 more miles straight to NC/SC state line. The market is on the right, highly visible. Market Facebook page. The Farm, which is in both NC and SC, has many different activities during the year. The spring starts with Pick-Your-Own (PYO) strawberries, followed by PYO blueberries and blackberries in the summer. Educational tours of the farm are available for groups by reservation. October is full of family fun with Pumpkin Patch hayrides, pig races, and the Haymaze. Bonfires and night-time hayrides are available by reservation in October and November. Don't forget to come out for our event days the first and third Saturdays in October!

Columbus County

• Coval L. Formy-Duval - Cantaloupe, Corn, Greens, Onions, Pumpkins, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Watermelon, Collards
  22766 New Britton Hwy 130 East, Whiteville, NC 28472. Phone: (910) 642-5323. Open: 7 am to 8 pm; April-June Call for days of operation. Directions: Take New Bdritton Hwy 130 east 2.7 miles from Whiteville to tobacco barn on left. . Click here for a map and directions. 7 am to 8 pm; April-June (Call for days of operation.). Crop availability: Strawberries - April-June Sweet Corn - June-July Pumpkins - September-October Peas - August-September Collards - December-January Watermelon, Cantaloupe & Tomatoes - June-September Okra - June-October Onions - March-May.

Robeson County

• Bo's Berry Patch - Corn, Onions, Pumpkins, Strawberries, Watermelon, Flowers
  903 Ashpole Church Road, Rowland, NC 28383. Phone: (910) 422-8659. Email: psfarms@carolina.net. Open: Monday to Friday 8 am to 6 pm, Saturday 8 am to 4 pm; mid April thru mid June. Directions: Located at 2190 Ashpole Church Road, Rowland, NC. . Click here for a map and directions. Bo's Berry Patch Phone: (910) 422-0715. Crop availability: Strawberries & Sweet Onions - mid April-May Sweet Corn - June Watermelon - July Pumpkins & Mums - October.
• Henderson Produce - Beans, Blueberries, Corn, Grapes, Potatoes, Squash, Tomatoes, Watermelon
  2740 NC 71 Hwy North, Maxton, NC 28364. Phone: (910) 844-3983. Email: yakl@roadrunner.com. Open: Monday to Saturday 6 am to 8:30 pm; Jun 9-September 20. Directions: From Maxton, go 4 miles north on Hwy 71. Farm is one quarter mile north Campbell Soup Company. . Click here for a map and directions. . Other Phone: (910) 844-5447. , Open Typical harvest dates: Blueberries - June 10-mid July Dixie Lee Peas - mid June-mid September Butterbeans - mid June-mid September Tomatoes, Okra, Watermelon, Snap Beans, New Potatoes & Squash - June-August Sweet Corn (yellow or white) - July-August Tomatoes, Okra, Watermelon, Snap Beans, New Potatoes, Squash - June-August White Grapes, Peas & Butterbeans - September Peas & Butterbeans. Special Services: Shelling & Cleaning for peas & butterbeans; Call in orders available. click here for a map to the farm.

Sampson County

• Lil' Charlie's Produce - Beans, Cantaloupe, Corn, Cucumber, Potatoes, Tomatoes, Watermelon
  3241 N. US 421 Hwy, Clinton, NC 28328. Phone: (910) 564-3303. Email: siclass@intrstar.net. Open: Sunday to Saturday 7 am to 7 pm; May thru November. Directions: Located 3241 N. US 421 Hwy, Clinton, NC. . Click here for a map and directions. Lil' Charlie's Produce Crop availability: Garden peas - May String beans - June Corn, Cucumbers & Cantaloupe - June-July Tomatoes, Okra, Red & White potatoes - June-August Watermelon & Peas - July-August.

 

 

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