2024 Southern Illinois Apple And Pumpkin U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Apple And Pumpkin U-Pick Orchards in Southern Illinois in 2024, by county

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

Marion County

• Schwartz Farms in Centralia - apples, blueberries, peaches, pears, strawberries, watermelons, tomatoes, pumpkins
  1942 Copple Road, Centralia, IL 62801. Phone: 618-532-8058. Email: applejam1@charter.net. Open: strawberries in May, peaches and blackberries in June,apples and pumpkins from September thru November. Directions: In Southern Illinois and just an easy hours drive from St. Louis, Schwartz Orchard is just east of Centralia. If you live in Mt. Vernon, Centralia, or Salem we are in your neighborhood. Fresh Produce and Beautiful Flowers. Fresh, in season apples peaches, pears, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, tomatoes, pumpkins and more are available at Schwartz Orchard. We offer both picked and "you" pick fruits and berries. . Click here for a map and directions.
  Schwartz Farms in Centralia Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: 618-249-8546. . Also apple cider, honey, molasses & apple butter. Schwartz Orchard Facebook page. Come see our different varieties of blooming flowers and beautiful hanging baskets. Schwartz Orchard has a complete kitchen. We offer baked goods from Strawberry Shortcake to Peach Cobbler. We don't stop there. come by and try one out. We have picnic tables for you to sit back, snack and enjoy. Place your orders for your family reunions. We will have them "hot" and waiting for you to pick up. We have apple butter, jellies, and jams with eight new "low" sugar items. Apples, strawberries, blackberries. Award winning apple cider. Bakery with apple cider donuts, pastries, strawberry shortcake and homemade cobblers.

St. Clair County

• Braeutigam Orchards - apples, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, eggplants, peaches, peppers, plums, pumpkins, tomatoes, other vegetables, Fresh eggs, U-pick and already picked, farm market, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours
  2795 Turkey Hill Lane, Belleville, IL 62221. Phone: (618) 233-4059. Open: Seasonal from June to October Monday thru Friday: 8 am to 6 pm Saturday: 8 am to 5 pm Sunday: 9 am to 5 pm. Directions: 20 miles Southeast of Street Louis. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover.
  Braeutigam Orchards Facebook page. . Picking updates: Click here for picking updates.
• Eckert's Country Store and Farms - apples, peaches, pumpkins, strawberries, gift shop, concessions \\/ refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, pony rides, petting zoo, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours
  951 South Green Mount Road, Belleville, IL 62220. Phone: (618) 233-0513. Email: eckert-info@eckerts.com. Open: See our website for current hours. Directions: See our website for directions. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  Eckert's Country Store and Farms Facebook page. . . Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. See our website for current crop information. Starting as a simple roadside stand in 1910, the sixth and seventh generations of the Eckert family now operates three retail, entertainment and farming establishments in southern Illinois. Eckert's Belleville location is open year round and is home to the Country Store, Restaurant, Garden Center, Custard Shop and Pick-Your-Own farm. Visit our website to learn more about our wide array of products, ripening dates, activities and so much more!. Just twenty-five minutes from downtown St. Louis, our Belleville "homeplace" farm is the site of our original 1910 roadside stand. Our Belleville farm complex has grown to offer something for every member of your family: a Country Store, a beautiful Garden Center, a Country Restaurant, an old-fashioned Custard Shop, fruit orchards!!, kids activities.
• Eckert's Millstadt Farm - apples, hayrides, jumping pillows, pumpkin cannon, strawberries, blackberries, peaches, pumpkins, Christmas trees
  2719 Eckert Orchard Lane, Millstadt, IL 62260. Phone: (800)745-0513. Open: See our website for current hours. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. . click here for farm directions. Only a short drive from downtown St. Louis, your whole family will love Eckert's Millstadt Fun Farm! Visit the incredible creations in Uncle Aubrey's Workshop, squeal with delight at Billy Bob's pig races, ride the Deere Express through the orchard, then plunge into the 70-foot underground slide at Eckert's Mining Company! Wagon rides to the apple orchard and pumpkin patch are a favorite for all. Visit Uncle Aubrey's Workshop, or join us for a Haunted Hayride this September & October - if you dare! There's so many activities for the kids see and do.. you will wear the kids out.. and Mom and Dad, too! Our jumping pillow is a giant colorful, inflatable pillow that is so much fun and will keep your kids entertained. Fun for adults, too! We can't forget about the amazing pumpkin cannon, the Jack-O-Lobber. The Jack-O-Lobber fires a pumpkin a half-mile! Shows are every hour on the hour Friday through Sunday. If you are craving mouth-watering country food like roasted sweet corn or chicken shish kababs be sure to stop by Bob's N'Cobs Food Stand. Of course, hotdogs, bratwurst, KettleKorn, homemade ice cream and funnel cakes are always on the menu too! Eckert's is known far and wide for its great country entertainment. Watch a real live melodrama play out on the Grand Stage. (ADDED: August 26, 2011, by Blake)

 

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