2024 Memphis and Southwest Tennessee Blackberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Blackberry U-Pick Orchards in Memphis and Southwest Tennessee 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.

Hardeman County

• Falcon Ridge Farm - blackberries, blueberries, corn (sweet), peas, pumpkins, summer squash, winter squash, strawberries, gift shop, concessions or refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, pony rides, petting zoo, farm animals, birthday parties, weddings and wedding parties, school tours, events at your location (call for info)
  22630 Highway 18 North, Toone, TN 38381. Phone: 731-658-5200. Email: mail@falconridgefarm.net. Open: End of April to Early May When Strawberries are ready to harvestthrough August Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday - 8 am to 5 pm. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard. . Fax: 731-658-9356. . End of April to Early May ( When Strawberries are ready to harvest)through August Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday - 8 am to 5 pm.
• Mac Fawcett - blackberries,
  210 Mask Road, Hickory Valley, TN 38042. Phone: 731-609-3982. Email: Macfawcett@yahoo.com. Open: Seven days a week, 6 am to 10 am, and 4 pm to dusk. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . Alternate Phone: 731-609-1686. . Starting in Hickory Valley on Highway 18, south of the Post Office, turn on Ames Road; at Mask Road, turn right; 3rd drive on right. Starting in Somerville (Fayette County), turn right onto Jernigan Road; turn right onto Sardis Road. Sardis Road turns into gravel in Hardeman County. This is same road in Hardeman County as Mask Road. Large Sweet blackberries: PYO and/or pre-picked, $5 per gallon PYO and $10 Gallon pre-picked.
• Plum Berry Fruit Farm - Apples, Blackberries, Watermelons, Peaches, Pears, Muscadines
  23610 US Hwy. 64, Hornsby, TN 38044. Phone: (731) 659-2926. Email: mackcarterjr@aol.com. Open: call for hours and availability. Directions: Located on the South Side of US Hwy. Click here for a map and directions. . Alternate phone: 731-433-8098. . is . 64 in Hornsby, TN which is eight (8) miles East of Bolivar TN. s grows peaches, pears, blackberries, muscadines, and water melons. (ADDED: June 26, 2018, JBS)

Haywood County

• Briley House & Farms - Blackberries, Pumpkins
  144 Whitehead Road, Brownsville, TN 38012. Phone: (731) 772-1448. Email: Sherry.Tritt@gmail.com. Click here for a map and directions. . Alternate phone: (731) 772-6875. Fax: (731) 772-1469. . We offer farm and school tours. We also have sweet corn and field corn available in addition to growing Tennessee pumpkins, cotton, and Vaughn Bermuda Hay. On Interstate 40 take Exit 56. Head West toward the city of Brownsville. Proceed 4 miles and on the left hand side of the road see Zion Gin Company, Inc. Obtain country road directions from the gin office. Call or Email us for more information and additional directions. (ADDED: May 25 2015, JBS)

Shelby County

• Jones Orchard - apples, blackberries, blueberries, nectarines, pears, peaches, plums, pumpkins, strawberries, and prepicked produce
  6824 Big Creek Church, Millington, TN 38053. Phone: (901) 872-0703. Email: jonesorchard@bigriver.net. Open: Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 6 pm; Sunday from 1 pm to 6 pm. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard.
  Jones Orchard Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: 901-873-3150. . Crops are usually available in April through October. click here for picking updates.; Typical dates (call or see our website before you come!): Strawberries April 9 to May 30 Peaches June 1 to September 15; Plums June 1 to June 21; Nectarines June 1 to July 15; Blackberries June 7 to July 15; Blueberries June 15 to July 15; Apples September 1 to September 30; Pumpkins October 1 to October 31. We have over 25 varieties of peaches in production, spanning 110 acres of land. All peach varieties are available at our Pick Your Own Orchards. We also offer 3 acres of strawberries, 10 acres of plums, 10 acres of nectarines, 10 acres of blackberries, 5 acres of blueberries, 5 acres of pears, 5 acres of apples, and 5 acres of pumpkins. Jone's Orchard Facebook page. (This is formerly Farmer Jim's strawberries at the Agricenter). .
  Comments from a visitor on October 29, 2009: "Yes, we enjoyed it very much. Family owned and open to all new things to make the market work yet use many traditional values for the land."
  Comments from a visitor on July 03, 2009: "We went on 3 July 2009 - the trees were loaded with Peaches, yellow and red plums. The peaches were the best - in the sense they were everywhere and very easy to pick. The area around the trees were maintained ok - we could drive our car all the way inside the orchard and around the trees. We can easily spend about 2 hours, picking various fruits. "Another visitor comments: "Visited this jumbo farm for the first time today. Friendly, helpful staff and fruit trees as far as one can see. We almost got lost in the peach section. Great fruit. Be sure to visit their restaurant--outstanding home cooking. Terrific bargain within spitting distance of Memphis."
• Windermere Farms and Apiaries - CERTIFIED ORGANIC, blackberries, blueberries, broad beans, figs, raspberries (Autumn, red), Honey from hives on the farm, U-pick and already picked, porta-potties, picnic area, picnic area you may bring your own food, farm animals, school tours
  3060 Woodhills Dr, Memphis, TN 38128. Phone: (901) 326-6379. Email: freida@winfarms.com. Open: Follow on Facebook or eMail notifications. Directions: West on James Road one half mile from exit at I-40 and Highway 14 then right on James Road \(Scenic Highway on GPS\) then right on destination street \(3050 Woodhills Drive\). May through October. We are certified organic for all . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  Windermere Farms and Apiaries Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: (901) 347-2601. . West on James Road one half mile from exit at I-40 and Highway 14 then right on James Road (Scenic Highway on GPS) then right on destination street (3050 Woodhills Drive). May through October. We are certified organic for all crops! Pick your own crops: Blueberries, Purple hull peas, Turnip greens. Henderson lima beans. (UPDATED: November 23, 2020)

 

Blackberry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

In the U.S. Blackberries typically peak during June in the South, and in July in the North. 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 forgage 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