2025 Northwest Suburbs of Columbus, Ohio Corn U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Corn U-Pick Orchards in Northwest Suburbs of Columbus, Ohio in 2025, by county

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

Not all areas of a state have corn 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

Marion County

• Lawrence Orchards - Apples, peaches, pumpkins, Christmas trees- you choose and we cut, Precut Christmas trees, pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, corn maze, straw or hay bale maze, child-sized haybale maze, and prepicked produce, gift shop, restrooms
  2634 Smeltzer Road, Marion, OH 43302. Phone: 740-389-3019. Email: orchard@marion.net. Open: Monday to Saturday 9 am to 6 pm Closed Sundays. Directions: for a map to our farm, . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard.
  Lawrence Orchards Facebook page. . Emai: Crops are usually available in August, September, October, November, DecemberApplefest - last Saturday in September - horse-drawn wagon rides through the orchards, music, food, entertainment, games, petting area, mazes, lots of fun! We grow 26 different varieties of apples! FWe have JONAGOLD APPLES, EMPIRE APPLES, GRIMES GOLDEN, RED DELICIOUS, GOLDEN DELICIOUS, HONEYCRISP APPLES, JONATHAN APPLES, CORTLAND APPLES, GALA APPLES, AND MORE! We provide containers and wagons to take into the orchard. The rows of trees are clearly marked and easily accessible with no ladders needed whatsoever. While you're here make sure the kids see our ponies, goats, bunnies, ducks, and chickens! You can even bring a picnic lunch and make a day of it. Facebook page. Our farm market is open Mondays - Saturdays from 9 am to 6 pm. Applefest - last Saturday in September: Just an old-fashioned day at the orchard. Horse-drawn wagon rides, pony rides, a wonderful petting farm, corn bin play area, train rides, pumpkin painting, scarecrow making, hay maze, hay field hike, caramel apple bar, apple pies, old time music throughout the day! And APPLEBUTTER AND HORSERADISH DAY Saturday in late September or early October from 9 am to 3 pm; Free admission

Union County

• The Maize At Little Darby Creek - corn maze, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours
  8657 Axe Handle Road, Milford Center, OH 43045. Phone: 937-349-4781. Email: hplains@imetweb.net. Open: UPDATE for 2020, Their website or Facebook page says they no longer offer Pick-your-own but they still have the maze and Fall activities. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Visa, MasterCard. Corn maze and fall activities: September 20 to November 2, 2008We have lots to do: Ball Zone, Fun for everyone! Includes basketball, football & baseball. Hayrides to the Pumpkin Patch; Cow Train, Corn Cannons, Barnyard Bouncer jumping pillow, Dodgeball, Petting Zoo -- Miniature donkey, goats, lamb, rabbits, chickens, ducks and pigs; Pedal Carts, Pumpkin Blaster, Kiddie Maze with Follow the Leader--everyone rolls large dice and follows the lead of the person with the highest number rolled. The lead person chooses an action for everyone to perform -- skip, whistle, moo like a cow, walk sideways, etc.; Laser Tag, Tube Slide, Corn Ball, PVC Roller Slide, Rubber Duck Races, Goat Mountain, Kids' Fun Barn, Greased Pole. (UPDATED: July 8, 2020 JBS)

 

Corn

Corn Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Corn reaches it's peak sweetness and flavor when the kernels are full, and just touching each other, like a good set of teeth!  They should not be bloated and smushed so tightly that there is no space left at all. The bloated overripe ears will have a bland, starchy taste.

Here's what to look for:

• The tips of the silks coming out of the ear should be a light brown.
•  If you break a kernel with your fingernail, the liquid should be slightly milky in color.
•  The ears should be filled out and have developed good girth but not bloated.

Harvesting

 To harvest, snap off the ears by hand with a quick, firm, downward push; then twist and pull.
 Avoid twisting or yanking the ears, as this can damage the stalk or the ear itself.

Storing the corn

Corn is at its prime eating quality on the stalk for only 72 hours before becoming over mature. The most important factor is cooling it as soon as possible after harvesting it.  Get it into the fridge or cover it with ice! Many farmers say you should remove the shucks right away, too.  I've found that removing most of the shuck, but leaving a few leaves to cover each ear is best to prevent the kernels from drying out.  See this page for more about storing corn before using it.

Cooking:

The worst mistake people make is overcooking corn.  In fact, corn isn't really cooked; it's just heated up. If you cook it form more than a few minutes (3 minutes), then you are simply breaking down the sugars and turning a nice, crisp sweet ear into bland mush. It's not a pot roast; the purpose of heating it is NOT to break down the cells, just to heat them to bring out the flavor and melt the butter!

Here's how to cook the corn:

1. Fill a large pot (large enough so the shucked ears can fit inside, laying down) about 2/3 full of water and start bring it to a boil
2. Shuck the ears, and snap off the stalk end and the very tip of ear (especially if you will use "corn stickers" , (handles) to hold the ears.
3. When everyone is sitting down at the table and you are serving the rest of the meal, put the corn in the boiling water and set the time for 3 minutes.
4. After 3 minutes, using tongs, retrieve the ears and serve them with butter (Corn boats are wonderful for corn!

 

Freezing Corn

You can easily freeze the sweet corn and have that great taste in the dead of winter! 

• Freezing whole ears of corn on the cob
• Freezing corn, cut off the cob

Canning Corn

This too, is easy... but it DOES require a Pressure Canner.  You cannot safely do this with a water bath canner.  Food poisoning is no joke!

• Here is how to can corn!
•  how to make canned creamed corn.
• Southern Chow-Chow (also called Piccalilli)
• Pickled corn relish

Other corn recipes

• How to make sweet corn ice cream
• Corn bread, or sweet corn muffins (like Chi Chi's)

• Corn fritters (a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch breakfast

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