Apple U-Pick Orchards in Lexington and north-central Kentucky in 2024, by county
Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for apples that we know of in this area. Not all areas of any state, nor even every state, have apples 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.
Boone County
-
McGlasson Farms -
apples, tomatoes, pumpkins, greens, pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered
from the field, and prepicked produce, restrooms, picnic area
5832 River Road, Hebron, KY 41048. Phone: 859-689-5229. Open: Monday through Friday 9am to 6pm, Saturday & Sunday 9am to 5pm July 1 through October 31 for all other fruits and vegetables Directions: Three miles west of Anderson Ferry on Route 8 (River Road) in Kentucky Click here for a map and directions. Crops are usually available in June, July, August, September, October. Payment: Cash, Check. Turnip and Mustard greens available for pick your own.From July through November, we proudly offer all of our fresh fruits & vegetables grown right here on the farm for sale at our roadside stand. McGlasson Farms facebook page. We grow only the freshest and highest quality produce for our customers, many of which have been regulars for years and have become close family friends. All of our fruits & vegetables are picked and ready for sale at the stand, but there are also several opportunities for pick-your-own produce throughout the year, such as tomatoes, greens and of course pumpkins in the fall. (UPDATED: September 3, 2023, JBS)
Bourbon County
- Stepping Stone Farm - Strawberries, Blueberries, Apples, Sunflowers, U- Pumpkins, Indian corn, gourds.
1674 Cynthiana Rd, Paris, KY 40361. Phone: 859-588-3286. Email: steppingstonefarm2@gmail.com. Open: for the season at the end of April. Click here for a map and directions. . U-Pick Strawberries in May, Blueberries in July, Apples and Pumpkins in September and OCtober, Plus Tomatoes in Greenhouse and Sunflowers in July. pick apples (including Gala, McIntosh, Cortland, Mutsu, Stayman Winesap, York, Granny Smith, Fuji, and many more),(formerly Reed Valley Orchard) (ADDED: May 6, 2022)
Bracken County
- Hillside Orchard - apples, pumpkins, raspberries, prepicked produce, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, school tours
4979 Aa Highway N, Foster, KY 41043. Phone: 606-747-5635. Email: mail@hillsideorchardandcountrystore.com. Open: May to December 24; Friday 3 pm to 7 pm, Saturday 10 am to 7 pm and Sunday 12 pm to 7 pm. Directions: from Cincinnati, take I-275 to AA Highway, drive 29 miles south on the AA Highway, Hillside Orchard is on the left. If traveling from Maysville, drive 21 miles north on the AA Highway from Route 68, Hillside Orchard is on the right. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . . Crops are usually available in August, September, October, November, December.
Fayette County
- Duntreath Farm - U-pick apples.
4954 Paris Pike, Lexington, KY 40511. Phone: 859-299-2254. Email: bubbasue@qx.net. Open: Year round by appointment only. Click here for a map and directions. . . Paris Pike (US 27/68), 6 miles north of Lexington.
Owen County
- Ayres Family Orchard - apples, blackberries, grapes, pears, peaches, persimmons, plums, Other fruit or veg, Cider mill fresh apple cider made on the premises, gift shop, birthday parties, weddings and wedding parties, school tours
525 Wilson Lane, Moterey, KY 40359. Phone: 502-514-1594. Email: ayresapples@att.net. Open: Monday to Friday 8 am to 8, Saturday 8 am to 8, Closed Sunday. Directions: 18 Miles North of Frankfort Ky on US 127. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, WIC Vouchers. . Alternate Phone: 402-484-5236. .
Scott County
- Evans Orchard and Cider Mill - apples, strawberries, blueberries, flowers, pears, pumpkins, U-pick and already picked, farm market, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, face painting, pony rides, petting zoo, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours, events at your location (call for info)
180 Stone Road, Georgetown, KY 40324. Phone: 502-863-2255. Email: info@evansorchard.com. Open: Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30am to 6 pm, Sundays from 12 pm to 6 pm; If you are coming out for a particular variety, please call ahead to see if they are ripe. Directions: From Lexington: Take Newtown Pike (922) North eight miles from the I-75 overpass. Take a right on Stone Road. Evans Orchard is the third drive on the left (approximately 1,000 feet). From Georgetown or I-75 North: take Exit 126 and turn right off of exit. Go to US 460 and turn Left going East on US 460. Travel 3 miles and turn right onto Newtown Pike (Route 922) at the caution lights. Go one mile and turn Left onto Stone Road Evans Orchard is the third drive on the left. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx. . . Pick-Your-Own Apples, Pears, Strawberries and Blueberries. At Evans Orchard, we grow over 20 different varieties of gourmet apples along with several varieties of delicious pears and blueberries. Fresh vegetables all spring and summer, peaches, apples and pumpkins in the fall, Bushels of Family Fun all year long in our playland and petting zoo! Festivals include: Sweet Corn Festival third Saturday in July, Apple picking usually starts second weekend in September and Harvest Festival beginning the third weekend in September and continuing through the end of October. Come explore all we have to offer at Evans Orchard!. (UPDATED: June 28, 2012, by a visitor)
Washington County
Woodford County
- Eckert's Versailles Orchard (Formerly Boyd Orchards) - apples, blackberries, grapes, pears, pumpkins, raspberries (red), raspberries (Autumn, black), U-pick and already picked, farm market, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, face painting, pony rides, petting zoo, farm animals, birthday parties, weddings and wedding parties, school tours
1396 Pinckard Pike, Versailles, KY 40383. Phone: 859-873-3097. Email: boydorchards@hotmail.com. Open: See our website for current hours. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover.
Eckert's Versailles Orchard (Formerly Boyd Orchards) Facebook page. . . Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. Strawberries usually begion around Mid- May. Please feel free to check back on the website or call the Orchard for more information. Offers pick-your-own crops including strawberries, peaches, apples, and pumpkins that are available May through late October. Versailles Orchard Bonfire Sites & Haunted Hayrides are a fun evening with your group! The perfect outing for church groups, sports teams, friends and family gatherings. Enjoy pig races, a corn maze, haunted hayrides and more at Eckert's Versailles Farm. Discover a full list of fun things to do at Eckert's. We offer school tours and field trips during apple picking and pumpkin picking seasons at our Eckert's Country Store & Farms in Versailles, Kentucky. Book your school field trip today. Our Country Store is simple and offers the kind of homemade goodies that make your mouth water. Yes, we have fresh-baked pies in apple, pumpkin and other flavors. You can also find jams, jellies, salsa and a variety of treats to enjoy with family and friends. And don't forget about our famous apple cider donuts! s! U-Pick Apples and Pumpkins available!. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, WIC Vouchers. Unforgettable Playgrounds and Slides. NEW for 2011: TREE HOUSE!. (UPDATED: September 25, 2019, JBS)
Apple Picking Tips, Recipes and Information
Apples ripen from the outside of the tree towards the center, so the apples out the outside of the tree will ripen first. Once they are picked, they stop ripening. Picking apples directly from a tree is easy. Roll the apple upwards off the branch and give a little twist; don't pull straight away from the tree. If two apples are joined together at the top, both will come away at the same time. Don't shake the trees or branches. If the apple you are trying to pick drops, (or others on the tree) go ahead and pick it up. They're perfectly fine! But do wash them before you eat them! More info: How to tell when apples are ripe
- Once picked, don't throw the apples into the baskets, place them in gently, or they will bruise and go bad more quickly.
- Don't wash apples until just before using to prevent spoilage.
- For an explanation of why apple slices turn brown and how to stop it, see this page!
-
Keep apples cool after picking to increase shelf life. A cool basement is ideal, but the fruit/vegetable drawer of a refrigerator will work, too. A refrigerator is fine for small
quantities of apples. Boxed apples need to be kept in a cool, dark spot
where they won't freeze. Freezing ruptures all of an apple's cells, turning
it into one large bruise overnight. The usual solution is to store apples in
a root cellar. But root cellars often have potatoes in them: apples and
potatoes should never be stored in the same room because, as they age,
potatoes release an otherwise ethylene gas, which makes apples spoil faster.
If you can keep the gas away from your apples, they will keep just fine.
Just don't store them right next to potatoes.
Prevent contact between apples stored for the winter by wrapping them individually in sheets of newspaper. The easiest way to do this is to unfold a section of newspaper all the way and tear it into quarters. Then stack the wrapped apples . See more here: How to store apples at home - Apples don't improve or "ripen" after being picked - this is an urban myth - see this page for the truth - with references!
Which apple variety is best?
There are tens of thousands of varieties of apples, developed over centuries. They vary in sugar, acoidity, flavors, storing, crispness and many other attributes. See our guides to apple varieties:
- Summary table of many apple varieties and their characteristics
- Detailed descriptions of each apple variety with detailed characteristics
- Apple varieties, sorted by the order in which they typically ripe
- Apple varieties that don't turn brown when they are cut
- Why are some apples brown or spotted inside when you first cut them open?
Canning apples - fully illustrated, with step-by-step instructions
- How to make applesauce
- How to make apple butter
- How to make apple jelly
- How to make apple pie filling (canned)
- How to can apples
- Home canned apple juice
Recipes, illustrated with step by step instructions
- Apple pie recipe and directions and illustrated! I can say, with, ahem, no bias at all, that this is the best apple pie recipe in the world! (Alright, I did have an apple strudel in Vienna once at that place listed in Fodors that was REALLY good, but that wasn't a pie, was it? And since this was the recipe my grandmother used, it must be great!)
- How to make applesauce for a single meal (not canning it) with NO special equipment
- Apple cobbler
- Apple crunch - best of all! Moist, low sugar and using oats!
- Apple crisp - ever-popular, low sugar and using oats!
- Apple, blackberry, cherry, and/or peach cobbler
- Apple-blackberry, crumble - a English favorite (or favourite)
Using fresh apples and miscellaneous
- How to stop cut apples from browning
- Apple festivals - find one near you!
- Apple facts
- Apple seeds and cyanide