Find a local pick your own farm here!

Beet U-Pick Orchards in Northern Virginia 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.

New! As inflation remains high, see this page for reliable (tested) brands of generic canning lids at lower costs, and cost-saving measures for getting fruit and vegetables and home canning.
 If you are having a hard time finding canning lids, I've used these, and they're a great price & ship in 2 days.

New! Road tripping and camping is a great way to have a fun, safe and inexpensive family trip. The national and state parks and monuments are open, and campgrounds usually cost between $10 and $40 per night. September to November is the best camping weather.  See our new website Road Tripping and Camping.com for tips, tricks, guides, checklists and info about parks, monuments and other places to visit.

New! We just went live with our latest website, FunFactoryTours.com - As they name implies, you can find a fun factory tour, including chocolate, automobiles, historical forts and sites, famous buildings, Active Federal facilities even fun geology: like fossils and volcanic areas

Clarke County

  • Mackintosh Fruit Farm - apples, asparagus, apricots, beans, beets, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, carrots, cherries, cucumbers, eggplants, flowers, grapes, herbs or spices, nectarines, onions, peaches, peppers, pumpkins, raspberries (red), raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (Autumn, red), raspberries (black), raspberries (Spring, black), raspberries (Autumn, black), rhubarb, summer squash, winter squash, strawberries, tomatoes, other vegetables, Honey from hives on the farm, Fresh eggs, Cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises), U-pick and already picked, farm market, concessions or refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, birthday parties, weddings and wedding parties, school tours, group reservations
    1608 Russell Rd, Berryville, VA 22611. Phone: 540-955-6225. Email: lori@mackintoshfruitfarm.com. Open: Wednesday to Sunday, from 8 am to 6 pm, May to October 31 and on Memorial Day, July 4 Thursday, Labor Day, Columbus Day, and Halloween . Directions: Route 7 West Take right onto Russell Road 1.5 miles on the right. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
    Mackintosh Fruit Farm Facebook page. Picking updates: Click here for picking updatesEvents: Peach Festival, Honey Bee Day, Honey Crisp Day, Apple Butter Day, monthly farm dinners, and cider pressing; Calendar-May-strawberries, asparagus, rhubarb, and greens; June - strawberries, sweet cherries, raspberries, blueberries, broccoli, onions, and flowers; July-blackberries, black raspberries, blueberries, donut peaches, peaches, corn, eggplants, peppers, and tomatoes; August-apples, Asian pears, yellow and white peaches, plums, grapes, and honey; September-apples, pawpaws, honey crisp apples, Asian pears, and potatoes; October -apples, pumpkins, fall squash, sweet potatoes, and ciderAll pick your own fruit and vegetables are also available as pre-picked in the market for purchase. Events: We can also host your events including: group meetings, school tours, weddings, and rehearsals. Call for more details. (UPDATED: January 19, 2020 JBS) (UPDATED: June 22, 2016)

Loudoun County

  • Sprouting Roots Farm - Uses natural growing practices, beets, cucumbers, eggplants, flowers, herbs or spices, kale, melons, onions, peppers, summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes, other vegetables, watermelons, Other fruit or veg, restrooms
    15669 Limestone School Road, Leesburg, VA 20176. Phone: (571) 226-0824. Email: info@sproutingrootsfarms.com. Open: Hours and availability of crops to pick varies considerably; please text, call or email for current availability and hours; Typical season is from mid June through October ; in season, Saturday and Sunday, from 9 am to 12 pm. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Venmo, PayPal, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
    Sprouting Roots Farm Facebook page. We use natural practices, but are not seeking organic certification(ADDED: September 23, 2021)

Shenandoah County

  • Deauville Farm - Uses natural growing practices, beans, beets, cucumbers, peppers, pumpkins, winter squash, tomatoes, Fresh eggs
    7648 Crooked Run Road, Basye, VA 22810. Phone: 540 856-2130. Email: deer1@shentel.net. Open: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, from 10am to 4 pm, April through November. Directions: from Mount Jackson I81 exit 273, Route 11 south to route 263 west. Go 13 miles to Basye. First right after Bryce Resort \(Alum Springs Road route 717. Go 3 34 mi, turn right onto Crooked Run Road. Second driveway on left. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. from Mount Jackson I81 exit 273, Route 11 south to route 263 west. Go 13 miles to Basye. First right after Bryce Resort (Alum Springs Road route 717. Go 3 3/4 mi, turn right onto Crooked Run Road. Second driveway on leftWe use natural practices, but are not seeking organic certificationPreviously a deer farm, Deauville is now a small farm offering PYO heirloom veggies and eggs. on weekends, April through November guests who come to see the animals and gardens, and to buy venison, eggs, vegetables or plants. You can pick your own vegetables beginning in late April with salad greens, followed by a wide range of summer veggies including over a hundred varieties of heirloom tomatoes.

 

Beets

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:

  1. Always call before you go to the farm - it's hard to pick in a muddy field!
  2. 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.
  3. 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 BeetsBeets

Whether you pick beets from your garden or at a Pick-Your-Own farm, here are a few tips to keep in mind.

  1. Harvest beets when they are 1-1/4 to 2 inches in diameter. Small beets have a sweeter taste.
  2. 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.
  3. The beets should be firm not soft or mushy
  4. And red (not yellowish - unless you're picking yellow beets!
  5. Try to avoid beets with bug damage to the beet itself, or animal gnaw marks!
  6. 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 homeCanned beets

  1. Cut the tops off, leaving about 2 inches of stem attached to the beet to keep the beet from "bleeding".
  2. Put them in the vegetable crisper in the fridge, in a loose plastic bag.
  3. 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.

  1. How to can beets
  2. How to make pickled beets
  3. How to freeze beets 

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)