2024 Central-Northwest Minnesota Pumpkin U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Pumpkin U-Pick Orchards in Central-Northwest Minnesota 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.

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

Douglas County

• Country Blossom Farm - strawberries, honeyberries, aroniaberries, raspberries, pumpkins, corn maze
  1951 Englund Rd SW, Alexandria, MN 56308. Phone: (320) 334-1620. Email: countryblossomfarmllc@gmail.com. Open: U-Pick hours are from 7 am to 12 pm and from 4 pm to 8 pm. Click here for a map and directions.
  Country Blossom Farm Facebook page. This year we will be CLOSED from 12 pm to 4 PM, due to the afternoon heat. Call before you come to check the status of the berries and for rain cancelations. If you would like to place an order for pre-picked strawberries call 320-334-1620 and leave a message, someone will return your call. The 2019 cost for for u- pick is $2.25/lb and pre-picked is $3.75/lb. If you would like to pick honeberries you will need to schedule a time to pick before you come so we have staff available. You will need to pick a minimum of 5 1/2 pints, u-pick is $3.00 per half pint and prepicked is $5.00 per half pint. The patch is on the south side of the orchard, follow the signs posted. The orchard store will not be open during strawberry season. See you in June. Typical seasons are: Strawberries from mid-June through July.Honeyberries from Late June to Early July, Honeyberries which are a cross of the Raspberry, Grape and Blueberry taste. Aronia are usually available to pick August through Mid SeptemberDay-Neutral Strawberries are also available to pick August through Mid September. Raspberries from August through November.U-Pick Pumpkin Patch & Squash from early September through October -We are also excited to announce we are planting blueberries to open a u-pick blueberry patch in 2-3 years.We bake our donuts, bars, crisps, strudels, cookies, and famous pies fresh daily. Remember to share, for goodness sake! Order for your next party or event. For year round catering please email us at catering@countryblossomfarm.com. Check out our Catering and Online Store options. Our outdoor activities will open August 10, 2019. Bring your family and pick your own produce or enjoy activities like the corn maze, pedal car races, huge jumping pillow, tractor rides, and so much more. (ADDED: June 18, 2019, JBS)
• Erickson's Petting Zoo - corn (sweet), cucumbers, pumpkins, winter squash, restrooms, picnic area, pony rides, petting zoo, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours, events at your location (call for info)
  11890 Hope Road, Osakis, MN 56360. Phone: 320-762-0184. Email: dave@ericksonspettingzoo.com. Open: Monday to Saturday:10am to 4pm Sunday: 10am to 4pm September and October, open weekends, same hours. Directions: from Interstate 94, take Osakis exit. Two miles west of Osakis on highway 27, one mile north on gravel, 12 mile west. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. from Interstate 94, take Osakis exit. Two miles west of Osakis on highway 27, one mile north on gravel, 1/2 mile west Crops are usually available in August, September, October Hold several activities on the farm. Easter Egg Hunt. Bird, Animal, Equipment & Tack Swap Sales - Lots of fun activities with Pumpkin Patch and Corn Mazes. Live music on Saturdays, trolly rides, petting zoo and pony rides. 2nd Annual Giant Pumpkin Contest, Sunday, October 12. Lots of prizes. We also offer a mobile petting zoo and/or pony ring for festivals and fairs

Otter Tail County

• Otter Berry Farm - Minimizes chemical and pesticide use, pumpkins, raspberries (red), raspberries (Autumn, red), strawberries, U-pick and already picked, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties, picnic area, picnic area you may bring your own food, inflatables or bounce houses, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours, group reservations
  38132 470th Avenue, New York Mills, MN 56567. Phone: (218) 346-5034. Email: otterberryfarm@gmail.com. Open: Strawberries - mid June to early July Raspberries - Late August to 1st hard frost. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  Otter Berry Farm Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: (218) 841-9703Strawberries - mid June to early July Raspberries - Late August until 1st hard frost Pumpkins, Gourds, Squash - September to October Corn Maze - September through October;. We minimize use of pesticides and other chemicalsConveniently located near Perham, a few miles off of highway 10 in the heart of Lakes Country. We are a family friendly farm! Come make lasting memories with your family here at the farm. Always check our Facebook page or call the Berry Line before traveling a long distance to see us. We may have to close early due to weather or if we are picked out. Our strawberry field and corn maze is handicap accessible. Sorry no pets or smoking allowed at the farm. (UPDATED: June 18, 2019, JBS) (ADDED: December 15, 2018)

Traverse County

• Coffman Apple Orchard - apples, pumpkins, winter squash,
  7182 US highway 75, Wheaton, MN 56296. Phone: (320) 815-5233. Email: bcoffman04@gmail.com. Open: September 1 to November 15 Availability of crops varies, please call or email for availability details; We are flexible with hours and have a stand open 24 hours. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . Alternate Phone: (320) 563-8549 7 miles North of Wheaton, MN on US Highway 75, East side of road. Apple orchard along highway. Honeycrisp available from September 1 to November 15 Harrel Red available from October 1 to November 15 Pumpkins available from October 1 to November 15. We use integrated pest management practices (IPM)We grow Honeycrisp and Harrel Red apples as well as pumpkins, butternut squash, buttercup squash and gourds. (ADDED: October 17, 2018)

 

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