2024 Louisville and western central Kentucky Blackberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Blackberry U-Pick Orchards in Louisville and western central Kentucky in 2024, by county

Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for blackberries that we know of in this area.

Not all areas of a state have blackberries 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.

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.

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Larue County

• Marcum Farms - beans, beets, blackberries, carrots, corn (sweet), cucumbers, eggplant, flowers, melons, peppers, pumpkins, summer squash, winter squash, strawberries, tomatoes, other vegetables, watermelons, Fresh eggs, farm animals
  150 B F Brown Rd, Magnolia, KY 42757. Phone: (270) 317-7331. Email: circle_m_farms@hotmail.com. Open: Monday thru Saturday from 9 am to 6 from April till end of growing season. Directions: From Lincoln Parkway in Hodgenville, Ky travel south on 31E 3.5 miles turn left on Country Lane, travel 1 mile to B F Brown Road turn left, 300 feet to Farm Market and Strawberry patch. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. (UPDATED: January 17, 2022)

Meade County

• Roberts Family Farm - blackberries, pumpkins, Honey from hives on the farm, gift shop, concessions or refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, farm animals, school tours, group reservations
  125 Kennedy Rd, Guston, KY 40142. Phone: (270)422-2361. Email: rffarm@bbtel.com. Open: Monday to Friday, from 5:30 pm to dark; Saturday, from 1 pm to 10 pm, Sunday, from 1 pm to dark, September 15 to October 31. Directions: From Brandenburg take Highway 710 \(Old State Road\) approximately 4 miles toward Guston. At stop sign \(Salem Church will be on your right\), continue straight through exactly one mile to Kennedy Road. Turn right onto Kennedy Road. Turn left into first gravel driveway to enter Roberts Family Farm.U-Pick Blackberries in July-August:; Pumpkin Patch, Hayrides, Corn maze, Momma Rob\'s Bakery,Weekends Only: Enjoy grilled food and goodies sold by The Cooke�s Choice and Kentucky KettleHead Pum - truncated. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard. From Brandenburg take Highway 710 (Old State Road) approximately 4 miles toward Guston. At stop sign (Salem Church will be on your right), continue straight through exactly one mile to Kennedy Road. Turn right onto Kennedy Road. Turn left into first gravel driveway to enter.U-Pick Blackberries in July-August:; Pumpkin Patch, Hayrides, Corn maze, Momma Rob's Bakery,Weekends Only: Enjoy grilled food and goodies sold by The Cooke�s Choice and Kentucky KettleHead Pumpkin Patch and Corn maze is open from September 15th through October 31st, Christmas trees: Three weekends starting Thanksgiving weekend (UPDATED: December 2, 2022, JBS)

Shelby County

• Berry Bee Acres - No pesticides are used blackberries, Honey from hives on the farm
  6535 Shelbyville Road, Simpsonville, KY 40067. Phone: (502) 220-8722. Email: jay021486@yahoo.com. Open: Sunday, from 2 pm to 7 pm; Monday to Saturday 9am til 6 pm; Closed on Sunday; during blackberry season. Directions: 6535 Shelbyville Road, Simpsonville, KY Signs and banners are posted during picking times. Just east of Simpsonville Elementary school on US highway 60. We do not use pesticides on the . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. Berry Bee Acres The ONLY pyo crops offered are Blackberriescrops(UPDATED: July 27, 2023) (ADDED: July 30, 2020)
• Mulberry Orchard - Uses integrated pest management practices, apples, blackberries, pumpkins, Honey from hives on the farm, Fresh eggs, gift shop, concessions or refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, petting zoo, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours, group reservations
  1330 Mulberry Pike, Shelbyville, KY 40065. Phone: (502) 655-2633. Email: Amanda@MulberryOrchardKY.com. Open: Mid June through early November Tuesday to Saturday 9am to 6pm and Sunday 1pm to 5pm. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  Mulberry Orchard Facebook page. We use integrated pest management practices(ADDED: March 17, 2021)

Spencer County

• Fairfield Fruits - No pesticides are used blackberries, raspberries (red), strawberries,
  6130 Little Union Road, Taylorsville, KY 40071. Phone: 502-507-1248. Email: deanfruit@bardstown.com. Open: daily open time is 8 am; closing time 6 pm; closed Sunday; late May to August 31. Directions: Farm is located half mile from Fairfield, Kentucky at 6130 Little Union Road \(State Route 652\). . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. Farm is located half mile from Fairfield, Kentucky at 6130 Little Union Road (State Route 652)Strawberries start May 25 and last for 3 weeks; Blackberries start June 20 and last till August; Raspberries start July 2 and last till August; Please call for updates. We do not use pesticides on the cropsU-Pick Strawberries, Blackberries, Raspberries - Flavorful Local Tastes at Great Prices. Strawberries late May to June 15. Blackberries June 20 - Aug 31 - XXtra large, solid black, trellised chest high, thorny/thornless. Raspberries June 20 - Aug 31

 

Blackberry

Blackberry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Blackberries typically peak during June in the South of the U.S., and in July in the north and in Canada. Crops are ready at various times of the month depending on which part of the state you are located. In order to produce good local Blackberries, producers depend on ideal spring and early summer weather conditions. See this page for a list of blackberry festivals around the U.S.

Before you leave to go to the farm:

1. Always call before you go to the farm - And when they are in season, a large turnout can pick a field clean before noon, so CALL first!
2. Leave early.  On weekends, then fields may be picked clean by NOON!
    
3. Most growers furnish picking containers designed for Blackberries, but they may charge you for them; be sure to call before you go to see if you need to bring containers.
   If you use your own containers, remember that heaping Blackberries more than 5 inches deep will bruise the lower berries. Plastic dishpans, metal oven pans with 3 inch tall sides and large pots make good containers. I like the Glad storage containers like the one at right.
4. 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 Blackberries

1. There are two types of blackberries to know about: thorny and thornless! Obviously, the thornless are easier to pick, but some people claim the thorny varieties are sweeter. With the thorny plants, you want to reach into the plant in the gaps, so you don't need to touch anything but the berry you're after, avoiding the thorns.
2. A ripe blackberry is deep black with a plump, full feel. It will pull free from the plant with only a slight tug.  If the berry is red or purple, it's not ripe yet.
3. Repeat these operations using both hands until each holds 3 or 4 berries. Unlike strawberries, blackberries are usually pretty tough, I dump mine into the bucket. Repeat the picking process with both hands.
4. Don't overfill your containers or try to pack the berries down.

General Picking Tips

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

1. Pick only the berries that are fully black. Reach in between the stems to grab for hidden berries ready for harvest. Bend down and look up into the plant and you will find loads of berries that other people missed!
2. Avoid placing the picked berries 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. Blackberries may be kept fresh in the refrigerator for up to a week, depending upon the initial quality of the berry. After a few days in storage, however, the fruit loses its bright color and fresh flavor and tends to shrivel.

When you get home

1. DON'T wash the berries until you are ready to use them or freeze them.  Washing makes them more prone to spoiling.
2. Pour them out into shallow pans and remove any mushed, soft or rotting berries
3. Put a couple of days supply into the fridge, wash  off the others, drain them and freeze them up! (Unless you're going to make jam right away) Blackberries are less perishable than blueberries or strawberries, but refrigerate them as soon as possible after picking. Temperatures between 34 F and 38 F are best, but, be careful not to freeze the blackberries (while they are in the fridge)!
4. Even under ideal conditions blackberries will only keep for a week in a refrigerator, so for best flavor and texture, use them as soon as possible after purchase

Blackberry Recipes, Freezing and Jam directions

1. How to make Blackberry jam - It is VERY easy - especially with our free Blackberry jam directions - very easy!
2. How to make Blackberry jelly
3. How to freeze berries
4. Blackberry syrup, make and can it! 
5. Seedless blackberry pie!
6. Blackberry Festivals: Where, When and More to Find an Blackberry Festival Near You this year:

Blackberry Facts and Tips

• Black Raspberries, also known as "black caps" are a very healthy food; packed with anthocyanins!
• The USDA says 1 cup of blackberries has about 62 calories.
• 1 cup of blackberries, not packed down weighs about 140 grams.
• Select plump, firm, fully blackberries. Unripe berries will not ripen once picked.
• Ohio State University's Article Regarding Their Prevention of Cancer
• Oregon Berry Black Raspberry Brochure
• Blackberry tea was said to be a cure for dysentery during the Civil War. During outbreaks of dysentery, temporary truces were declared to allow both Union and Confederate soldiers to "go blackberrying" to forage for blackberries to ward off the disease.
• Blackberries were enjoyed by the ancient Greeks, who believed them to be a cure for diseases of the mouth and throat, as well as a preventative against many ailments, including gout.
• The blackberry leaf was also used as an early hair dye, having been recommended by Culpeper, the English herbalist, to be boiled in a lye solution in order to "maketh the hair black".
• Guide to blackberry varieties
• Researchers have known for quite some time that berries contain antioxidants which help to fight cancer causing free radicals.  A study at the University of Ohio has found that blackberries are the most potent cancer fighting berries of them all, by nearly 40 percent!
• U-pick Blackberry farms typically sell berries by the pound. A quart equals 1 and 1/2 pounds of fresh berries.
• Do the math and be careful not to over-purchase as Blackberries quickly mold when left at room temperature, and only last a couple of days in the refrigerator.
• You can easily freeze berries that you cannot use right away - just wash, cut the hulls off and pop them into a ziplock bag, removing as much air as possible.  Those vacuum food sealers REALLY do a good job of this! The berries will keep for many months frozen without air.
• Want to go to a blackberry festival? See this page for a list!

 

 

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