Blueberry U-Pick Orchards in Hartford and Surrounding Connecticut in 2024, by county

Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for blueberries that we know of in this area. Not all areas of any state, nor even every state, have blueberries 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.

Hartford County

• 4-H Center at Auer Farm - Blueberries and raspberries
  158 Auer Farm Road, Bloomfield, CT 6002. Phone: (860) 242-7144. Email: 4hcenter@comcast.net. Open: CALL. Click here for a map and directions. . Fax: (860) 243-0005. . The 4-H Education Center is a non-profit corporation with a mission to teach the science of agriculture. PYO support our mission.
• Belltown Hill Orchards - apples, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, nectarines, pears, peaches, plums, pumpkins, Other fruit or veg, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties are available, picnic area
  483 Matson Hill Road, South Glastonbury, CT 6073. Phone: 860-633-2789. Email: belltownorchards@snet.net. Open: mid-June to late October, Varies on varieties, please call ahead or check our website. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  Belltown Hill Orchards Facebook page. . . We offer many varieties of stone fruits like peaches, nectarines and plums, and berries, apples, pears, and of course a full pumpkin patch for your Pick-Your-Own needs. We are also one of the only farms in Connecticut to offer Pick-Your-Own cherries. Typical seasons are apples (August through October); blueberries (July and August); sweet cherries (mid-June to early July); tart cherries (July); nectarines (mid-July to mid-September); peaches (mid-July to early September); pears (mid-July to mid-September); plums (July and early September); pumpkins (mid-September through October); raspberries (mid-August to mid-September).A visitor writes on November 14, 2014: "They have PYO apples, pears, peaches, cherries and more. The kids love the tractor ride around the farm. It's fantastic."
• Dondero Orchards, LLC - Rhubarb, apples, peaches, plums, blueberries, black raspberries & strawberries, pears, flowers, pumpkins, tomatoes & lettuce.
  529 Woodland Street, South Glastonbury, CT 6073. Phone: (860) 659-0294. Email: DonderoOrchards@cox.net. Open: see their website for dates, hours and availability. Click here for a map and directions.
  Dondero Orchards, LLC Facebook page. . Alternate phone: (860) 633-2375. . Dondero Orchards Facebook page. During the season, we offer pick your own Strawberries, Raspberries, Blueberries, Peaches, Apples, Pears, Plums, Lettuce, Peas and more! We also grow more fruit, vegetables & herbs. Their bakery was voted BEST in CT for our Arugula Pesto, Strawberry Rhubarb Pie, Bread and Butter Pickles, Green Tomato Relish! CT Specialty Food Association held the competition. We're celebrating 101 years! Follow us for more info about our farm dinners in the summer and family events throughout the year, plus specials on our produce and products.
• Dondero Orchards, LLC Mountain View Farms - strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, peaches, plums, apples, pears, peppers, eggplant and tomatoes
  3582 Hebron Avenue, Glastonbury, CT 6033. Phone: 860-430-2122. Email: DonderoOrchards@cox.net. Open: see their website for dates, hours and availability. Click here for a map and directions.
  Dondero Orchards, LLC Mountain View Farms Facebook page. . We also grow more fruit, vegetables & herbs. Hebron Avenue farm is 3 years strong this year and growing in leaps and bounds! Dondero Orchards Facebook page. During the season, we will offer pick your own strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, peaches, plums, MacIntosh, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Macoun and Cortland Apples, Bartlett and Bosc Pears, Peppers, Egg Plant and Tomatoes.
• Draghi Farm - PYO peaches, plums, nectarines, apples, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, vegetables, Farm stand
  379 Scantic Road, East Windsor, CT 6088. Phone: 860-282-9063. Open: July thru October from 8 am to 6 pm daily. Click here for a map and directions. fresh picked available at our farm stand. Homemade pies, local honey.
• Dzen Blueberry Hill and Strawberry Hill - Pick-your-own strawberries, blueberries, and Christmas trees
  87 Barber Hill Road, East Windsor\/South Windsor line, CT 6016. Phone: 860-648-1355. Click here for a map and directions. . Fresh picked available. (UPDATED: May 31, 2014, from the CTgov website)
• Dzen Brothers Tree Farm - blueberries, strawberries, Christmas trees
  215 Barber Hill Road, South Windsor, CT 6074. Phone: (860) 648-2233. Email: dzentree@aol.com. Click here for a map and directions.
  Dzen Brothers Tree Farm Facebook page. . Fax: (860) 648-9065. We offer PYO blueberries in June and PYO red raspberries in June and July (call to confirm the latter). We offer cut your own Christmas trees in December. Visit our website at for more details. Dzen Tree Farm Facebook page.
• Easy Pickin's Orchard - PYO Apples, peaches, plums, raspberries, blueberries, vegetables, flowers & pumpkins. Wagon rides
  46 Bailey Road, Enfield, CT 6082. Phone: (860) 763-FARM. Email: farmerb@easypickinsorchard.com. Open: Mid-July thru October: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 9am to 12noon; Friday thru Sunday 9am to 5pm; Closed Tuesdays; Labor Day and Columbus Day: 9am to 5pm ; For "off season" hours, see our website. Directions: See their website for directions. EASY PICKIN\'s is a unique farm in a quiet corner of Enfield, Connecticut. Not only do we grow over 100 different varieties of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and herbs, we offer you the opportunity to pick these treasures from our gardens and groves. The kids will enjoy an outing at the farm with all the sites and activities, but don't miss the chance to teach them about the garden. Easy Pickin\'s has expanded its operations to include apples, peaches, plums, pears, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, vegetables, flowers, herbs, and much, much more. Our goal is to provide fresh produce to our customers while providing them with an enjoyable experience. Customers can simply come and enjoy the outdoors or they can participate in the other activities we offer such as wagon rides, scarecrow making, and our very popular annual Gourd Hunt. . Click here for a map and directions.
  Easy Pickin's Orchard Facebook page. /763-3276. . See their website for directions. EASY PICKIN's is a unique farm in a quiet corner of Enfield, Connecticut. Not only do we grow over 100 different varieties of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and herbs, we offer you the opportunity to pick these treasures from our gardens and groves. The kids will enjoy an outing at the farm with all the sites and activities, but don't miss the chance to teach them about the garden. Easy Pickin's has expanded its operations to include apples, peaches, plums, pears, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, vegetables, flowers, herbs, and much, much more. Our goal is to provide fresh produce to our customers while providing them with an enjoyable experience. Customers can simply come and enjoy the outdoors or they can participate in the other activities we offer such as wagon rides, scarecrow making, and our very popular annual Gourd Hunt. We also have a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program; see the details on our website.
  Comments from a visitor on September 20, 2010: "A friend had a birthday party there for her son and now I am a regular, great place"
• Ferndale Berry Farm - blueberries
  282 Southington Road, Kensington, CT 6037. Phone: 860-829-8282. Email: judyhall1@comcast.net. Click here for a map and directions. . Pick Your Own ! We welcome families to visit our farm and enjoy our berries. (ADDED: May 05, 2015, JBS)
• Gilson Farm Greenhouses - - blueberries
  57 Wapping Road, Windsorville, CT 6016. Phone: (860) 623-0409. Click here for a map and directions. . PYO . Strawberries: June. : July - August. covered in netting Children welcome, call for picking conditions.
• Hrubiec Farms - Blueberries, Christmas Trees
  421 Southington Road, Kensington, CT . Phone: 860-828-4281. Open: Pick Your Own blueberries in July-August on Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 12 pm. Click here for a map and directions. . No Sunday picking. Christmas trees: Pre-Tag in Nov. Cut Your Own from Thanksgiving-Dec. Saws supplied.
• Kuras Farms - PYO blueberries, raspberries, tomatoes
  1901 Mountain Road, West Suffield, CT 6093. Phone: (860) 668-2942. Email: kurascs@cox.net. Click here for a map and directions. . July 5th - September 1st. Raspberries July 5th - 20th and September 1st - October 15th. Retail farm stand. All home grown. July 5th - October 15th vegetables and specialties. (UPDATED: May 31, 2014, from the CT website)
• Rose's Berry Farm LLC - Uses integrated pest management practices, apples, blackberries, blueberries, pears, pumpkins, raspberries (red), raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (Autumn, red), raspberries (Autumn, yellow), strawberries, U-pick and already picked, farm market, gift shop, picnic area, school tours, Christmas Trees
  295 Matson Hill Rd, S. Glastonbury, CT 6073. Phone: 860-633-7467. Email: rosesblues@cox.net. Open: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturdays 8 am to 5 pm, Thursdays 8 am to 8 pm and Sundays 9 am to 5 pm; Breakfast with a View on Sundays only 8:30 am to 1 pm, hours of operation are ALWAYS subject to change due to weather conditions and crop availability. Directions: From Route 2 East take exit 7. This is Route 17 South. Follow 17S for 4 miles. At the third light take a left. Follow Hopewell Rd for about a mile till the road forks. Bear Right onto Matson Hill Road. The farm is on the left at the top of the hill. Directions from other areas available on our website . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  Rose's Berry Farm LLC Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: 860-657-3119. Fax: 860-657-3062. . . Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. We use integrated pest management practices. Pick-Your-Own Blueberries- (July-August)Pick-Your-Own Raspberries- (1st Season June-July) (2nd Season Mid August- Mid September)Apples- (September-October).
• Sweet Wind Farm - Uses natural growing practices, blueberries, cucumbers, peas, peppers, pumpkins, summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes, other vegetables, Maple Syrup from trees on the farm, and prepicked produce, restrooms
  339 South Road, Route 179, East Hartland, CT 6027. Phone: 860-653-2038. Email: sweetwind@sweetwindfarm.net. Open: PYO Saturdays beginning in July from 10 am to dusk; Call for appt; for a different time; Farmstand open daily from 10 am till dusk with pre - picked produce and maple products. Directions: Follow route 20 west from Granby Center into Hartland. Take a left onto route 179, farm is down 1 12 miles on right. Take route 219 from Barkhamsted onto Route 179, farm is on just past town line on left. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . Follow route 20 west from Granby Center into Hartland. Take a left onto route 179, farm is down 1 1/2 miles on right. Take route 219 from Barkhamsted onto Route 179, farm is on just past town line on left. Crops are usually available in July, August, September, October, November, December. Blueberry Festival annually second Saturday in July; Pumpkin Festival annually last Saturday in September Maple Festival annually 2nd Saturday in March; PYO Blueberries begins in July-September Vegetables July - October; Christmas trees Nov-December; Live trees anytime; Farmstore open year 'round with maple products. We use natural practices, but are not yet certified Organic. Blueberry Festival, Pumpkin Festival, Maple Festival. Sugarhouse tours and classes during sugaring season. Maple products sold wholesale to retailers.
• Walnut Ledge Farm - Uses natural growing practices, blueberries, Maple Syrup from trees on the farm, porta-potties are available
  360 Matson Hill Road, South Glastonbury, CT 6073. Phone: 860-633-2286. Email: info@walnutledgefarm.com. Open: Monday - Friday 8am to 5pm July 1st - August 15th. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  Walnut Ledge Farm Facebook page. . We use natural practices, but are not seeking organic certification.

Tolland County

• Bastiani's Blueberry Farm - blueberries
  211 East Street, Hebron, CT 6248. Phone: (860) 228-3868. Email: bastianilynn@yahoo.com. Click here for a map and directions. . Family owned and operated PYO blueberry farm. Opened from approximately the beginning or middle of July through the end of August. Families & children are welcome.
• Hurst Farm - UPDATE for 2019, The owner tells me they no longer have Pick-Your-Own, but they still have a farm stand and sell already picked strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, local honey
  746 East Street, Andover, CT 6232. Phone: (860) 646-6536. Email: Hurstfarm@sbcglobal.net. Click here for a map and directions. . . Prepicked strawberries, raspberries, blueberries available. We don't use any insecticides & use our team of oxen instead of tractors most of the time. Hayrides in the fall. Country store open daily!
• Scantic Valley Farm - pick your own blueberries and strawberries, pumpkins, winter squash, corn maze, Fresh eggs, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area
  327 9th District Rd, Somers, CT 6071. Phone: 860 749 3286. Email: scanticvalley@cox.net. Open: Directions: Route 91 to Exit 47E onto Route 190east Continue 7 miles on 190 Turn right onto Ninth District Rd Farm is located two miles down Ninth District Look for our signs! 7 miles. Directions: Route 91 to Exit 47E \(onto Route 190east\) Continue 7 miles on 190 Turn right onto Ninth District Rd Farm is located two miles down Ninth District Look for our signs! 7 miles. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard.
  Scantic Valley Farm Facebook page. . . Route 91 to Exit 47E (onto Route 190east) Continue 7 miles on 190 Turn right onto Ninth District Rd Farm is located two miles down Ninth District Look for our signs! 7 miles. We also have delicious things to eat like our Specialty Burgers featuring beef we raise here on the farm and our signature Apple Cider Donut Sundae! They also have all natural grass-fed beef with our heritage Belted Galloway herd, heritage breed pork, and fresh local eggs, in adfdition to the pick your own blueberries and strawberries in the summer.
• Winterbrook Farm - Blueberries, peaches, Maple Syrup from our new Sugar House
  116 Beffa Road, Staffordville, CT 6076. Phone: (860) 684-2124. Email: winterbrookfarmct@gmail.com. Open: mid-Jul - August, daily 7am-7pm weather permitting. Click here for a map and directions.
  Winterbrook Farm Facebook page. . Call for conditions, email for directions. Blueberries grown under nets - no pesticides or herbicides. Pick anytime daily late July - early September From Staffordville 19N, right on New City Road for 2 miles; left on Beffa Road for 1 mile. Facebook page. Bring your family and pick your own berries, no sprays, no pesticides!
• Wright's Orchard and Dried Flower Farm - No pesticides are used, blueberries, raspberries, apples, pumpkins, vegetables, flowers
  271 South River Road, Tolland, CT 6084. Phone: (860) 872-1665. Email: wtjwright@sbcglobal.net. Open: August 1 - Dec. Click here for a map and directions. . PYO blueberries, raspberries, apples, pumpkins, mums and dried flowers. Open 24, Thurs. - Tuesday from 1 pm to 5:30 pm. Closed Wednesday. Visit our 19th century basket and flower barn.

 

Blueberry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Blueberries are one of the easiest fruit to prepare and serve. There's no peeling, pitting, coring or cutting. They have few natural pests, (other than birds), so pesticides are generally unnecessary! This year's crop is fantastic (see related news story), thanks both to the weather and to more farms planting more blueberry bushes due to increased consumer demand over the past few years as more studies proclaim the anti-oxidant and other health properties of blueberries.

Click here to find a local Blueberry Festival (usually held between April and July).

If you are looking for information about a similar berry, the saskatoon (also called the June berry or Serviceberry) see this page about saskatoons.

Picking tips:

Select plump, full blueberries with a light gray-blue color. A berry with any hint of red isn't fully ripened.

Ripening AFTER picking?

First, it is key to know that once picked, blueberries will NOT become any sweeter, nor will the flavor improve. The only change that occurs is the color. They will APPEAR to ripen, but it is only a color change, from white to green to rose to red to pale blue to fully blue. So, white and green colored blueberries will not "ripen" after they are picked; while blueberries that have already turned purple, red or blue-ish usually DO change color after they are picked (if they are kept at room temperature to "ripen").

As the blueberries ripen ON THE BUSH, the flavor goes from tastless to bitter to tasteless tart to tart blueberry flavor to sweet blueberry flavor.

Grocery stores sell blueberries that are tart, not sweet because they had them picked unripe by machine so they are very firm and can handled being bumped around in shipping. They may look good, but are not as tasty as those picked when actually ripe.

So, the key is, PICK ONLY RIPE BERRIES!

How to pick blueberries

Since blueberries hang on the bushes in bunches a but like grapes do, the easiest and fastest way to pick them is hold your bucket under them in one hand and with your other hand, cup a ripe bunch and gently rub them with your fingers. The ripe berries will drop into your bucket, while the unripe ones will remain attached to the bush.

When the bushes are at peak, I can easily pick 2 gallons per hour (if I'm not being distracted by the kids and the sun isn't too hot!). A newbie might do 1 gallon per hour.and at the beginning or end of the season it takes more time as the berries are not as plentiful nor concentrated in clusters.

Tips for storing blueberries after harvesting:

• Once picked, don't place the berries, still warm from the sun, in a closed bag or container. Leave the container open so moisture doesn't form in the container.
• Don't wash berries until just before using, to prevent berries from becoming mushy.
• Chill berries soon after picking to increase shelf life. Store your fresh blueberries in the refrigerator as soon as you get them home, without washing them, in a covered bowl or storage container. If refrigerated, fresh-picked blueberries will keep 10 to 14 days.
• Freeze berries in freezer containers without washing to keep the skins from toughening. Place berries one layer deep. Freeze, then pour the frozen berries into freezer containers. Because unwashed blueberries freeze individually, they can be easily poured from containers in desired amounts. Remember both frozen and fresh berries should be rinsed and drained just before serving. Just before using, wash the berries in cold water.

Blueberry Measurements and Conversions

Keep in mind that blueberries vary considerably in density and moisture content, so these ranges are approximates.

• 1 gallon of blueberries weighs about 7.5 lbs or (4 liters of blueberries is about 3.5 kg)

• 1 pint of fresh blueberries weights about 3/4 of a pound. (1 liter of blueberries is about 700 grams)

• 1 pound of fresh blueberries is usually between about 2 and 3 cups of berries.

• It takes about 4 cups (about of blueberries to make a blueberry pie (see this fantastic and easy blueberry pie recipe)

• A normal batch of blueberry preserves, jam or jelly requires 5 pints of berries.

• Blueberries do come in a variety of sizes from small (190-250 berries per cup) to extra large (<90 berries per cup).

Blueberry Recipes, Canning and Freezing Blueberries

Recipes

• The world's best Blueberry pie, recipe and directions and illustrated!
• Blueberry buckle coffee cake: illustrated directions for this great crumb-topping blueberry coffee cake
• Other easy directions to make blueberry desserts: cobblers, etc.

Canning, freezing and other blueberry recipes:

• How to Freeze Blueberries
• How to Can Blueberries
• How to Make Homemade Blueberry Jam
• How to make blueberry jelly
• How to make and can blueberry syrup (it works for strawberries, raspberries and blackberries, too)
• blueberry pie filling to use later,
• blueberry butter

Baking tips

If you have trouble with blueberries settling to the bottom of muffins and blueberry breads, try one or more of these tips:

• Coat them with flour before adding to the batter. Just gently shake the blueberries in a bag (plastic or paper) with 1/2 cup of flour, then dump them mix in a sieve to remove excess flour.
• It may just be that your batter is too thin. try making the batter a little thicker!
• Fill the muffin cups or baking pan up to 1/4 full with batter (which hasn't had blueberries added to it yet); then stir the blueberries into the remaining batter, and continue to fill the muffin cups or bread pan. The blueberries will start off higher in the mix!

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