2024 San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties in California Pea U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Pea U-Pick Orchards in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties in California in 2024, by county

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

San Luis Obispo County

• BeeWench Farm - Registered naturally grown, apples, asparagus, beans, beets, broccoli, carrots, corn (sweet), cucumbers, eggplant, flowers, horseradish, herbs or spices, lavender, melons, onions, peas, peppers, pumpkins, summer squash, winter squash, strawberries, tomatoes, other vegetables, Other fruit or veg, Turkeys, Honey from hives on the farm, Fresh eggs, picnic area you may bring your own food, farm animals, school tours, group reservations
  198 San Juan Rd, Shandon, CA 93461. Phone: 805-423-7187. Email: info@beewenchfarm.com. Open: Thursday and Friday 9am to 1pm By appointment. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard.
  BeeWench Farm Facebook page. . . We are registered naturally grown for all crops. is located on 10 beautiful acres in Shandon where we raise pastured chicken, pastured pork, dairy goats and hens for eggs. We sell meat and eggs at local farmers markets, on the farm and via the Community Supported Agriculture model. Our pastured chicken is also featured on the menu at local restaurants specializing in fresh, organically grown food. (UPDATED: May 02, 2018, JBS) ((ADDED: February 18, 2015)
• Jack Creek Farms - Uses natural growing practices, beans, cucumbers, flowers, herbs or spices, lavender, olallieberries, onions, peas, pumpkins, summer squash, tomatoes, other vegetables, Honey from hives on the farm, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, farm animals, birthday parties, weddings and wedding parties, school tours
  5000 Highway 46 West, Templeton, CA 93465. Phone: 805-239-1915. Email: info@JackCreekFarms.com. Open: Late May through September Thursday, Friday Saturday and Monday 10 am to 6 pm Sunday 11 am to 6 pm Closed on Tuesday and Wednesday; October Thursday, Friday Saturday, Monday and Tuesday 10 am to 6 pm Sunday 11 am to 6 pm Closed on Wednesday November Thursday, Friday Saturday and Monday 10 am to 5 pm Sunday 11 am to 5 pm Closed on Tuesday and Wednesday; December Please check website - dates and hours are dependent upon weather. Directions: Our farm is midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles in San Luis Obispo County, about a half hour drive from Hearst Castle. We are located west of Templeton and Paso Robles; and east of Cambria, Harmony and Cayucos, on Highway 46 West. If you are coming from the north or south on Highway 101, we are located about 7 miles west of Highway 101 on Highway 46 West. If you are traveling from Highway 1, we are exactly 16 miles east of Highway 1 on Highway 46 West. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover.
  Jack Creek Farms Facebook page. . Our farm offers a number of special events each year including an annual Kid's Day on the Farm (August), Old-fashioned Threshing Bee (September - Labor Day Weekend), Heirloom Tomato Tasting (September), Scarecrow Contest (September through October), Pumpkin Painting Workshop (October) and more; Please check our website for exact dates and times; For updates on our current harvest, please check the bottom left-hand side of every page on our website. We use natural practices, but are not seeking organic certification. We offer u-pick with almost every crop grown on our farm.You can pick your own sweet onions and garlic in early June, and blackberries from our olallieberry patch in late June and early July. Middle July means u-pick lavender season, for buds or bundles. July and August means u-pick peach and plum season. In August we have available for u-pick all of our heirloom tomatoes (over 50 different varieties), and September through November means u-pick apple season.(UPDATED: October 02, 2021, JBS)
• SLO Creek Farms - Certified Organic, apples, beans, beets, carrots, corn (sweet), cucumbers, flowers, herbs or spices, lavender, melons, onions, peas, peppers, pumpkins, summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes, Honey from hives on the farm, porta-potties are available, picnic area, birthday parties, weddings and wedding parties, school tours, events at your location (call for info)
  6455 Monte Rd, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. Phone: (702)245-3135. Email: slocreekfarms@live.com. Open: everyday, from 11:00am to 5:00pm, Mid August through Mid December. Directions: On the East side of highway 101 and San Luis Bay Drive. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
  SLO Creek Farms Facebook page. . Fax: (702)261-0060. . Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. We do not use pesticides on the crops. U-Pick Organic Apples. Start a family tradition by visiting SLO Creek Farms in beautiful San Luis Obispo, CA. We invite you and your family to come wander our orchard as you search for the best apples. Grab one of our apple baskets to fill with the apples you choose straight from the tree. Make sure you taste the apples and eat as many as you can along the way. It's free to pick, just purchase the apples you take home with you. With 40 acres of organic apple trees, there are plenty to go around. Go ahead and bring your friends and family and make picking apples a fun family event. We have the following apples: Jonalicious, Empire, Early Fuji, Gala, September Wonders, Sundancers, Granny Smith, and Braeburn. More details about each variety are listed on the apple schedule page. All Ages Welcome! (UPDATED: May 02, 2018, JBS)
  Comments from a visitor on September 22, 2011: "This is a beautiful place to bring your friends and family.They also have pick your own crab apples (aka, crabapples)"

 

Pea Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Peas (English, Snap peas, Snow Peas, Crowder Peas, etc.) are very easy to grow.  They thrive even in poor soil. In fact, as a legume, pea plants are able to take nitrogen from the air and fix it in nodules in their roots with bacteria to enrich the soil. Whether you grow them yourself or pick them at a PYO farm, or buy them at the market, they're available fresh almost everywhere.

Here's what to look for!

English peas

Pick English Peas when the pod is full and green and the peas are still tender and sweet. Test for maturity frequently by picking a couple of pods and examining them for firmness. Harvest the Chinese and snow peas, which are eaten pod and all, when the pods are 1-1/2 to 2 inches long and the peas are about the size of BB's. The pods are usually picked 5 to 7 days after flowering.

 

Snap Peas - aka, edible-podded peas

Similar to English peas, except the pod itself is also sweet and tender, like the peas inside.

Snow peas, aka Chinese peas

Like snap peas, the pod is edible, except you want to pick them while they are still flat, before the pod starts to swell with peas inside. Harvest Chinese and snow peas, which are eaten pod and all, when the pods are 1-1/2 to 2 inches long and the peas are about the size of BB's.

Specialty Peas

There are many varieties, like purple hulled peas, crowder peas, black-eyed- peas. Each has their followers!

 

When are peas available?

Peas are a cool, even cold weather crop, and can tolerate frost and cold soil. In the U.S. Peas typically peak during February (in the Deep South) through October in the North. Peak season is February through June before the weather gets hot.  Some farms plant a Fall crop too, as they only take 45 to 60 days from the time the seed is planted!

Before you leave to go to the farm:

1. Always call before you go to the farm - it's hard to pick in a muddy field!
2. Most growers furnish picking containers designed for Peas, but they may charge you for them; be sure to call before you go to see if you need to bring containers.
3. 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 while the weather is still cool, but some deet might be good to bring along if it has been rainy.

General Picking Tips

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

Look for Peas that are :

1. firm
2. Bright green (not yellowish!)
3. smooth, shiny pods, not wrinkly on the surface - that's an old or dried out pea.
4. The Peas in the photo at right are, from left:
   - old and yellowing,
   - overripe and lumpy; and
   - dried out and damaged.
5. Avoid placing the picked Peas 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. I prefer to bring a cooler with ice in it. Peas may be kept fresh in the refrigerator for 3 or 4 days
6. It is best to shell English peas and either freeze them or use them promptly.

When you get home

1. Put them in the vegetable crisper in the fridge, in a loose plastic bag.
2. Now, get ready to can or freeze the extra Peas - It is VERY easy! Click on the links for easy instructions.
   • How to can Peas
   • How to freeze English peas, Crowder peas and other shelled peas
   • How to freeze snap peas and snow peas
3. Pea shellers - simple inexpensive devices to quickly shell English peas
    

1. 
2. The Peas in the photo at right are, from left:
   - old and yellowing,
   - overripe and lumpy; and
   - dried out and damaged.
3. Avoid placing the picked Peas 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. I prefer to bring a cooler with ice in it. Peas may be kept fresh in the refrigerator for 3 or 4 days
4. It is best to shell English peas and either freeze them or use them promptly.

When you get home

1. Put them in the vegetable crisper in the fridge, in a loose plastic bag.
2. Now, get ready to can or freeze the extra Peas - It is VERY easy! Click on the links for easy instructions.
   • How to can Peas
   • How to freeze English peas, Crowder peas and other shelled peas
   • How to freeze snap peas and snow peas
3. Pea shellers - simple inexpensive devices to quickly shell English peas
    

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