2024 Lexington and north-central Kentucky Apple And Pumpkin U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Apple And Pumpkin U-Pick Orchards in Lexington and north-central Kentucky 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.

Bourbon County

• Stepping Stone Farm - Strawberries, Blueberries, Apples, Sunflowers, U- Pumpkins, Indian corn, gourds.
  1674 Cynthiana Rd, Paris, KY 40361. Phone: 859-588-3286. Email: steppingstonefarm2@gmail.com. Open: for the season at the end of April. Click here for a map and directions. . U-Pick Strawberries in May, Blueberries in July, Apples and Pumpkins in September and OCtober, Plus Tomatoes in Greenhouse and Sunflowers in July. pick apples (including Gala, McIntosh, Cortland, Mutsu, Stayman Winesap, York, Granny Smith, Fuji, and many more),(formerly Reed Valley Orchard) (ADDED: May 6, 2022)

Bracken County

• Hillside Orchard - apples, pumpkins, raspberries, prepicked produce, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, school tours
  4979 Aa Highway N, Foster, KY 41043. Phone: 606-747-5635. Email: mail@hillsideorchardandcountrystore.com. Open: May to December 24; Friday 3 pm to 7 pm, Saturday 10 am to 7 pm and Sunday 12 pm to 7 pm. Directions: from Cincinnati, take I-275 to AA Highway, drive 29 miles south on the AA Highway, Hillside Orchard is on the left. If traveling from Maysville, drive 21 miles north on the AA Highway from Route 68, Hillside Orchard is on the right. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . . Crops are usually available in August, September, October, November, December.

Scott County

• Evans Orchard and Cider Mill - apples, strawberries, blueberries, flowers, pears, pumpkins, U-pick and already picked, farm market, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, face painting, pony rides, petting zoo, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours, events at your location (call for info)
  180 Stone Road, Georgetown, KY 40324. Phone: 502-863-2255. Email: info@evansorchard.com. Open: Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30am to 6 pm, Sundays from 12 pm to 6 pm; If you are coming out for a particular variety, please call ahead to see if they are ripe. Directions: From Lexington: Take Newtown Pike (922) North eight miles from the I-75 overpass. Take a right on Stone Road. Evans Orchard is the third drive on the left (approximately 1,000 feet). From Georgetown or I-75 North: take Exit 126 and turn right off of exit. Go to US 460 and turn Left going East on US 460. Travel 3 miles and turn right onto Newtown Pike (Route 922) at the caution lights. Go one mile and turn Left onto Stone Road Evans Orchard is the third drive on the left. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx. . . Pick-Your-Own Apples, Pears, Strawberries and Blueberries. At Evans Orchard, we grow over 20 different varieties of gourmet apples along with several varieties of delicious pears and blueberries. Fresh vegetables all spring and summer, peaches, apples and pumpkins in the fall, Bushels of Family Fun all year long in our playland and petting zoo! Festivals include: Sweet Corn Festival third Saturday in July, Apple picking usually starts second weekend in September and Harvest Festival beginning the third weekend in September and continuing through the end of October. Come explore all we have to offer at Evans Orchard!. (UPDATED: June 28, 2012, by a visitor)

Woodford County

• Eckert's Versailles Orchard (Formerly Boyd Orchards) - apples, blackberries, grapes, pears, pumpkins, raspberries (red), raspberries (Autumn, black), U-pick and already picked, farm market, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, face painting, pony rides, petting zoo, farm animals, birthday parties, weddings and wedding parties, school tours
  1396 Pinckard Pike, Versailles, KY 40383. Phone: 859-873-3097. Email: boydorchards@hotmail.com. Open: See our website for current hours. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover.
  Eckert's Versailles Orchard (Formerly Boyd Orchards) Facebook page. . . Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. Strawberries usually begion around Mid- May. Please feel free to check back on the website or call the Orchard for more information. Offers pick-your-own crops including strawberries, peaches, apples, and pumpkins that are available May through late October. Versailles Orchard Bonfire Sites & Haunted Hayrides are a fun evening with your group! The perfect outing for church groups, sports teams, friends and family gatherings. Enjoy pig races, a corn maze, haunted hayrides and more at Eckert's Versailles Farm. Discover a full list of fun things to do at Eckert's. We offer school tours and field trips during apple picking and pumpkin picking seasons at our Eckert's Country Store & Farms in Versailles, Kentucky. Book your school field trip today. Our Country Store is simple and offers the kind of homemade goodies that make your mouth water. Yes, we have fresh-baked pies in apple, pumpkin and other flavors. You can also find jams, jellies, salsa and a variety of treats to enjoy with family and friends. And don't forget about our famous apple cider donuts! s! U-Pick Apples and Pumpkins available!. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, WIC Vouchers. Unforgettable Playgrounds and Slides. NEW for 2011: TREE HOUSE!. (UPDATED: September 25, 2019, JBS)

 

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