2024 southwestern Iowa, Omaha area Pumpkin U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Pumpkin U-Pick Orchards in southwestern Iowa, Omaha area in 2024, by county

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

Not all areas of a state have pumpkins 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.

Pottawattamie County

• 3 Bee Farms - apples, pumpkins, Honey from hives on the farm, Cider mill fresh apple cider made on the premises, gift shop, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties are available, picnic area, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours, events at your location (call for info)
  14922 535th Street, Griswold, IA 51535. Phone: 712-778-4256. Email: donna@3beefarms.com. Open: September through the end of October hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9 am until 5 pm; Sunday is 1 pm until 5 pm; We are Closed on Wednesdays. Directions: We are located one mile west of Griswold, IA on highway 92. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, WIC Vouchers, SFMNP Vouchers. Honey Fest September 15 and 16; Johnny Appleseed Fest September 22 and 23; Family Fun Fest September 29 and 30; Apple Days Ocotber 6 and 7; Harvest Festival October 20 and 21; Pumpkin Fest October 27 and 28We also accept Snap (EBT)
• Ditmars Orchard - Apples, peaches, pumpkins, pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, and prepicked produce, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, tractor-pulled hay rides, wagon rides
  19475 225th Street, Council Bluffs, IA 51503. Phone: 712-256-7053. Email: LyleDitmars@hotmail.com. Open: Tuesday thru Satuday 10 to 5, Sunday noon to 5 Generally open August 1 thru December 15. Directions: Council Bluffs Exit 8 from I-80 then east on Highway 6 one half mile to Hunt Ave. North 1 and one half miles. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
  Ditmars Orchard Facebook page. Fax: 712-388-0483. Click here for a map to our farm. Crops are usually available in August, September, October, November However, special events can scheduledCider made on site in season. Hot apple pie and fried apple pie with ice cream. Cider slushes. Hand poured candles and other items including gourmet sodas
• Pioneer Trail Orchard & Pumpkin Patch - Apples, Pumpkins, hay rides, corn maze and much more.
  21534 Chestnut Road, Council Bluffs, IA 51503. Phone: 712-366-1505. Email: webmaster@ptapples.com. Open: The Pumpkin Patch and events will be open October 1st; Monday through Thursday from 5 pm to 9 pm, Friday from 5 pm to 10 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 10 pm, Sunday from Noon to 7 pm. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Click here for a map! We currently have planted over 625 apple trees of 5 varieties for pick-your-own: Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Jonathan, Macintosh, Fuji Myra Red

 

Pumpkin

Pumpkin Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Do you want it for a party, decoration or eating?

For a wedding or party:

See this page: Finding pumpkins for weddings

Decoration to paint or carve:

OK, Then you need only look for any pumpkin that is

• visually appealing, evenly a deep orange. The shape is just whatever appeals to you. If it grew on its side and has a flat spot, you can either make that the make or use it as part of your design!
• free from cuts, soft spots, bruises. The flesh should feel hard, and not give easily. Infections can invade easily and cause rot
• Make sure the stem is attached.

Store it carefully, especially if you pick it from the vine yourself. Cure a fresh-picked pumpkin by keeping it in a dry place. Don't handle or disturb it. Curing toughens the rind, making it less prone to rot. Pumpkins will keep for months in a cool (50 F to 65F dry, low humidity environment; such as a cool, dry basement.

Tip: If you like roasted or baked pumpkin seeds, you can save the seeds from any pumpkin!

To make a pumpkin pie!

Then you need a small, sweet type of pumpkin that has been developed for eating. They are smaller, typically about 8" to 10" diameter. The meat is much less stringy and smoother than a decorative pumpkin variety. Pumpkin is rich in vitamin A and potassium. One-half cup of cooked pumpkin provides more than the recommended daily allowance of vitamin A. One cup of cooked pumpkin contains only 81 calories. It's low in fat and sodium! Usually you can get these at the grocery store, and some of the pumpkin patches and farm stands have them. Be sure to tell them that you intend to use it for a pumpkin pie. Again, look for firm, no soft spots, or signs of any rot. See this page for easy, illustrated directions to make a pumpkin pie from a fresh pumpkin!

Varieties of Pumpkins

• Sugar - Excellent for baking
• Jack O'Lantern - most common for carving
• White Lumina - unusual, medium-sized white pumpkin
• Mini - Great for decoration
• Gourds - Many varieties, used for decorations

For a very complete, detailed list of many varieties of pumpkins and where to get the seeds, see this page!

Want to Grow Your Own Pumpkins?

Then see this page!

Pumpkin recipes

• How to prepare cooked pumpkin from a fresh pumpkin (for use in all the recipes)
• Illustrated instructions to make a pumpkin pie from a fresh pumpkin - the best pumpkin pie you will ever taste! (metric version for the UK, Europe, Australia, Japan, etc.)
• How to home-can pumpkin (in a cooked, cubed form) and why you shouldn't home-can the pureed forms.
• Traditional Pumpkin Pie
• Chocolate pumpkin pie
• Pumpkin Spice Muffins
• Pumpkin muffins
• Pumpkin Bread
• Pumpkin Butter!
• Pumpkin cheesecake - INCREDIBLE!!! You have to try this one!
• Pumpkin Cookies
• Pumpkin soup - even if you normally aren't a soup lover; you will love this one.
• Butternut-Chestnut Panchetta-Bacon Soup - Pumpkin or Butternut squash combines with chestnuts and bacon, ham or panchetta in this great soup
• Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
• No Sugar Pumpkin Pie
• Apple Cider Doughnut Recipe (with maple glaze or sugar glaze)

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