Beet U-Pick Orchards in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties in California in 2024, by county
Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for beets that we know of in this area.
Not all areas of a state have beets farms 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.
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San Luis Obispo County
- BeeWench Farm - Registered naturally grown, apples, asparagus, beans, beets, broccoli, carrots, corn (sweet), cucumbers, eggplant, flowers, horseradish, herbs or spices, lavender, melons, onions, peas, peppers, pumpkins, summer squash, winter squash, strawberries, tomatoes, other vegetables, Other fruit or veg, Turkeys, Honey from hives on the farm, Fresh eggs, picnic area you may bring your own food, farm animals, school tours, group reservations
198 San Juan Rd, Shandon, CA 93461. Phone: 805-423-7187. Email: info@beewenchfarm.com. Open: Thursday and Friday 9am to 1pm By appointment. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard.
BeeWench Farm Facebook page. We are registered naturally grown for all cropsis located on 10 beautiful acres in Shandon where we raise pastured chicken, pastured pork, dairy goats and hens for eggs. We sell meat and eggs at local farmers markets, on the farm and via the Community Supported Agriculture model. Our pastured chicken is also featured on the menu at local restaurants specializing in fresh, organically grown food. (UPDATED: May 02, 2018, JBS) ((ADDED: February 18, 2015) - SLO Creek Farms - CERTIFIED ORGANIC, apples, crabapples, beans, beets, carrots, corn (sweet), cucumbers, flowers, herbs or spices, lavender, melons, onions, peas, peppers, pumpkins, summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes, Honey from hives on the farm, porta-potties are available, picnic area, birthday parties, weddings and wedding parties, school tours, events at your location (call for info)
6455 Monte Rd, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. Phone: (702)245-3135. Email: slocreekfarms@live.com. Open: everyday, from 11 am to 5 pm, Mid August through Mid December. Directions: On the East side of highway 101 and San Luis Bay Drive. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
SLO Creek Farms Facebook page. Fax: (702)261-0060 Picking updates: Click here for picking updatesWe do not use pesticides on the crops U-Pick Organic Apples. Start a family tradition by visiting in beautiful San Luis Obispo, CA. We invite you and your family to come wander our orchard as you search for the best apples. Grab one of our apple baskets to fill with the apples you choose straight from the tree. Make sure you taste the apples and eat as many as you can along the way. It's free to pick, just purchase the apples you take home with you. With 40 acres of organic apple trees, there are plenty to go around. Go ahead and bring your friends and family and make picking apples a fun family event. We have the following apples: Jonalicious, Empire, Early Fuji, Gala, September Wonders, Sundancers, Granny Smith, and Braeburn. More details about each variety are listed on the apple schedule page. All Ages Welcome! (UPDATED: May 02, 2018, JBS)
Comments from a visitor on September 22, 2011: "This is a beautiful place to bring your friends and family.They also have pick your own crab apples (aka, crabapples)"
Beets
Beets Picking Tips, Recipes and Information
(a.k.a, "Beetroots")
When are fresh beets available?
Beets are a warm weather crop, and seeds won't germinante in cold soil, although once growing, they can handle cold and even light frosts. It takes them about 55 to 70 days from seed to harvest.
In the U.S. beets typically peak in harvesting from June through October in the South, and in July to September in the North. But they can be ready as early as early June in many places, if the weather is good.
Before you leave to go to the farm:
- Always call before you go to the farm - it's hard to pick in a muddy field!
- Most growers furnish picking containers designed for beets, but they may charge you for them; be sure to call before you go to see if you need to bring containers.
- Bring something to drink and a few snacks; you'd be surprised how you can work up a thirst and appetite! And don't forget hats and sunscreen for the sun. Bugs usually aren't a problem, but some deet might be good to bring along if it has been rainy.
Tips on How to Pick Beets
Whether you pick beets from your garden or at a Pick-Your-Own farm, here are a few tips to keep in mind.
- Harvest beets when they are 1-1/4 to 2 inches in diameter. Small beets have a sweeter taste.
- The smaller younger leaves (beet tops) can also be eaten as greens. Some folks steam the leaves and putter butter on them. Others use the smallest leaves in a fresh salad! The leaves should be 1.5 to 6 inches long.
- The beets should be firm not soft or mushy
- And red (not yellowish - unless you're picking yellow beets!
- Try to avoid beets with bug damage to the beet itself, or animal gnaw marks!
- Avoid placing the picked beets in the sunlight any longer than necessary. It is better to put them in the shade of a tree or shed than in the car trunk or on the car seat. Cool them as soon as possible after picking. I prefer to bring a cooler with ice in it. Beets may be kept fresh in the refrigerator for 3 or 4 days
When you get home
- Cut the tops off, leaving about 2 inches of stem attached to the beet to keep the beet from "bleeding".
- Put them in the vegetable crisper in the fridge, in a loose plastic bag.
- They will be good for about a week like that.
Beet recipes and home canning
Now, get ready to can or freeze the extra beets - It is VERY easy! Click on the links for easy instructions.
Beet nutritional facts
- There are 43 calories in 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of beets.
- Raw beetroots are 88% water, 10% carbohydrates, 2% protein, and less than 1% fat.
- Beet tops may be cooked and eaten, as they are an excellent source of vitamin A, iron, and betacarotene.
- Beets are a great source of fiber, folate, and potassium, which makes them especially good for pregnant women..
- Beets contain antioxidants, called betalains, carotenoids, and flavonoids, which prevent colon cancer and heart disease.
Weird beet facts
- The scientific name for beets is Beta vulgaris.
- Beets are naturally very high in sugar
- Sugar made from beets took a large chunk of the sugar market away from sugar cane, since beets can be grown almost anywhere.
- Beet seeds are actually dried beet fruits, like a raison and each containing a half dozen or more seeds! When you plant them, spread them out!
- Ancient text from 800 B.C. mentioned beets growing in the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the wonders of the ancient world.
- Beet juice has been used as red dye since the 16th century.
- Thomas Jefferson planted beets at Monticello.
- Medieval cooks stuffed beets into pies.
- In the TV show, The Office character, the character Dwight Schrute, owns a beet farm.
- Some cultures believe that if a man and woman eat from the same beet, they will fall in love.
- Beets are a traditional food at Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
- Beets are commonly red, but there are golden beets which are also are sweet, but do not stain surfaces like red beets do.
- Beets are in the same family as Swiss chard.
- The Victorians dyed their hair with beet juice in 19th century England.
- Beet juice stains so well, you can dye your Easter eggs pink using cooked beet juice/water and some vinegar
- Beets should be trimmed or peeled after cooking because the peel holds in the important nutrients.
- You don't need to buy "Superbeet" junk pills sold on TV. Just eat beets, instead!
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
Looking for canning equipment and supplies?
Water bath canner with a jar rack
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)
Jars: 8oz canning jars for jams
Find Other types of farms:
Farm markets and roadside stands
Road trips and camping resources
Local Honey, apiaries, beekeepers
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
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