2024 Northern Suburbs of Columbus, Ohio Blackberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Blackberry U-Pick Orchards in Northern Suburbs of Columbus, Ohio 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 any state, nor even every 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.

Crawford County

• Burnham Orchard's - cherries, peaches, blackberries, apples, pumpkins
  8019 State Route 113, Berlin Heights, OH 44818. Phone: 419-588-2138. Email: theburnhams@burnhamorchards.com. Open: Weekend Activities 11-5 pm; Pick Your Own Apples 9-5; pick your own peaches are usually at the end of July or beginning if august; Pick your own apples start the last weekend of September, pick your own pumpkins are the same. Click here for a map and directions.
  Burnham Orchard's Facebook page. . . In the month of October they have a Fall festival every weekend. Including corn maze and hay rides. Every weekend we do have food vendors, balloon making, farm animals to feed, hayrides, corn maze, apple picking, pumpkin patch, scarecrow making, kids activities, and much more! Currently, the Honeycrisp apple is of great interest because of its superior eating qualities. There has been extensive planting of this variety to be able to bring superior quality fruit to the consumer. Burnham Orchards Facebook page. Another great apple that we just added to our farm is the Evercrisp Apple this is cross of the Honeycrisp and Fuji Apple, it one of our latest apple usually we begin to harvest end of October/ Early November.

Delaware County

• Stratford Ecological Center - Uses natural growing practices, tomatoes, peppers, beans, peas, blackberries in August, flowers (edible and for decor).
  3083 Liberty Road, Delaware, OH 43015. Phone: 740-363-2548. Email: StratfordCenter@aol.com. Open: year round, excepting holidays; Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm and Saturdays, 9 am to 1 pm. Click here for a map and directions. . No fee to visit on your own but group tours are available (see website). NOT a traditional pick-your-own, this is an organic, sustainable farm, with a focus on education. There are many things to come see and experience on the farm. Kids can romp through the trees in search of creepy crawlies or sit and watch a cow grazing. Families can visit the greenhouse and gardens and at the same time pick out their dinner. You can volunteer on the farm. There are a variety of opportunities to choose from - guiding kids on outdoors adventures to feeding the animals to helping with the crops and more! Adults can come and learn ways to simplify their life and broaden their knowledge through the Adult Education program. Cash or check only. Variety (mostly vegetables) - depends on what's planted. Typical produce are tomatoes, peppers, beans, peas, blackberries in August, flowers (edible and for December or). In addition to produce, they sell honey, eggs and meat to the public (beef, lamb, pork, occasionally chicken). Also have hiking trails in their wooded area, which includes 95 acres of a State Nature Preserve. Public restrooms available. Can see the farm animals too. Annual Maple Sugar Festival in March and an annual Fall Harvest Fair in September.

Morrow County

• Broadleaf Farms - Uses natural growing practices, blackberries, sunflowers, farm animals
  8656 Street Route 314, Mansfield, OH 44904. Phone: 419-989-3975. Email: Broadleaffarms2021@gmail.com. Open: Beginning in late June Blackberries PYO from 10 am to 6 pm every day. Directions: On State Route 314 south of Steam Corners Road. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard.
  Broadleaf Farms Facebook page. . . We use natural practices, but are not yet certified Organic. The ONLY pyo crops offered are blackberries and sunflowers. (ADDED: January 21, 2021)

Richland County

• Olivesburg Berry Patch - asparagus, blackberries, blueberries, herbs or spices, lavender, raspberries (red), rhubarb, strawberries, prepicked produce
  1820 Adams Road Route 2, Mansfield, OH 44903. Phone: 419-895-1614. Email: memories@olivesburgberrypatch.com. Open: June hours are 8 am to 8 pm 7 days; July, August and September hours are 10 to 6 Tuesday through Saturday. Directions: We are 1 mile south of Olivesburg just off SR 545 on Adams Road. 8 miles north of Mansfield and 6 miles east of Ashland and 12 miles west of Shelby. We are 10 miles north of Charles Mill Lake and 25 north of Mohican State Park. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. 04984Olivesburg Berry Patch . Strawberry season is from June 1 to July 1; Black Raspberries July 1 to July 21; Red Raspberries from July 7 to October 1; Blackberries from August 1 to October 1. For directions, click here, and for a map to our farm. Crops are usually available in June, July, August, September. Our desire is for your family or individuals to have a fun, relaxing day in this rural place, enjoying nature and some of God's Creation.. and of course pick lots of nice big sweet juicy berries!:) Facebook page. For much more information, see these pages on their website: Berry Patch, Garden Patch, Plant Patch, Pumpkin Patch, Berry Lore, Recipes, Home Made, News Events, Contact Us, Find us.
• The Blueberry Patch - blackberries, blueberries, raspberries (red), U-pick and already picked, gift shop, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties are available, restrooms, birthday parties, school tours
  1285 West Hanley Road, Mansfield, OH 44904. Phone: 419-884-1797. Email: info@theblueberrypatch.org. Open: hours, days and dates. Directions: I-71 exit 169 at S.R.13,go 2.2 miles west on Hanley Road past McDonald\'s. Just 1000 feet east of S.R. 42 North of Lexington. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover.
  The Blueberry Patch Facebook page. . Fax: 4198841798. . Hours of Operation: - - Fall/Winter - - Mon - Sat 10 am to 6, Sunday 11 am to 5 - - Spring/Sum; - - (May 1st - Sept 1st)Mon - Sat 9 am to 7, Sunday 11 am to 5. Click here for current open Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. I-71 exit 169 at S.R.13,go 2.2 miles west on Hanley Road past McDonald's. Just 1000 feet east of S.R. 42 North of Lexington. Blueberry Season typically runs from Early July to September, Red Raspberry Season typically runs from Mid August to Frost. Click here for our Facebook page. Ohio's largest blueberry farm! with frozen berries available all year long. 18+ acres and growing and 27 varieties of blueberries grown. Plenty of parking. Buses are welcome. Now with Online Sales of Blueberry Plants, and Gifts. We also propagate and sell our own blueberry bushes. Pies, jams, jellies, our own cookbook and more! Gift shop and greenhouses with seasonal flowers and blueberry gifts. Bring a blanket and picnic for a great day-outing! Supervised children are always welcome. Biggest blueberry contest for ages up to 12, ends mid-Aug. Also visit the Lexington Blueberry Festival in August with a pie eating contest, blueberry bake-off, blueberry confections, parade, 5K run, bands, family activities and much more all day! Featuring: Blossoms Cafe & Tea Room, and Now Beanery: featuring fresh roasted coffees from around the world. Also propagates Blueberries Plants and Bushes for Retail and Wholesale. Christmas wreaths and boughs, Christmas decorations.
  Comments from a visitor on July 25, 2012: "Awesome farm. We picked 24 lbs, In under two hours. Looking forward to getting there earlier next season for more varieties."

 

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