2024 Omaha and Eastern Nebraska Apple And Pumpkin U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Apple And Pumpkin U-Pick Orchards in Omaha and Eastern Nebraska 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.

Cass County

• Union Orchard - apples, pumpkins, strawberries, farm market
  2405 South Hwy 75, Union, NE 68455. Phone: (402) 263-4845. Open: Strawberries are a special treat of Spring. Click here for a map and directions.
  Union Orchard Facebook page. . We have a large patch which includes a "You-Pick" area. We will have lots of special foods and activities for our Strawberry Weekend. Be sure to browse our apple ripening section of our ripening calendar to find out when your favorites will be ripe for picking! In the Fall, our pumpkin patch is brimming with vine-ripening pumpkins and Heirloom Squash just ready for the picking! Whether you're looking for a great carving pumpkin, something to add some festive flair, or a tasty pumpkin for Grandma's famous recipe, you will find the perfect pumpkin here on the farm! Haunted Fall Fun: Join us at the orchard for a spooky new addition to the farm.

Lancaster County

• Martin's Hillside Orchard - Raspberries, Strawberries, Apples and Peaches, concession stand (drinks, snacks and\\/or food), picnic area, corn maze, pumpkins brought in from the field, school tours
  2024 Ashland Rd, Ceresco, NE 68017. Phone: 402-665-2140. Open: See their website for for hours and availability. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards . . See their website for directions. Suggested by a visitor, ADDED: May 04, 2011)
  Comments from a visitor on May 04, 2011: "They are a fairly small orchard with mainly apple and peach trees. They grow raspberries and strawberries seasonally and do have a limited amount of pumpkins in October. The owners are very nice and have a large garden area, a sand climbing hill, hay bale mound, corn maize, and tricycle track for the kids. (I'm sure they will be adding more and I could be forgetting something but we've had a good time with my family there both in May for Strawberries and late summer for Apples and Peaches! They were all AMAZING by the way!!"

Otoe County

• Arbor Day Farm Tree Adventure - apples, pumpkins, U-pick and already picked, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, birthday parties, school tours
  2611 Arbor Avenue, Nebraska City, NE 68410. Phone: 402 873-8717. Email: treeadventure@arbordayfarm.org. Open: U - Pick Apples, daily, September 1 through November 1. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx. . Alternate Phone: 402 873-8756. Fax: 401 873-5224. . Giant Corn Maze, open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, September 12 to November 1, 2009; U-Pick Pumpkin Patch, open October 1 to November 1, 2009; Discovery Ride, open daily; Great Pumpkin Party, Saturday, October 24, 2009, from 1 pm to 6 pm. All proceeds support the tree-planting mission of the Arbor Day Foundation.
  Comments from a visitor on September 04, 2009: "Found this farm through your website -- what a treasure. All the kids had fun from 15 to 2 years old! All day trip, very educational."
• Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard - apples, blackberries, cherries, grapes, pumpkins, raspberries, strawberries, Honey from hives on the farm, Cider mill fresh apple cider made on the premises, prepicked produce, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, birthday parties, school tours
  5995 G Road, Nebraska City, NE 68410. Phone: 402-873-5293. Email: eolson@arbordayfarm.org. Open: Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm Saturday 9am to 5pm Sunday 11am to 5pm. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover. . . Wine tastings daily. Walking trails. They have a strawberry festival, too: June 6, 2009 from 9 am to 5 pm

Saunders County

• Martin's Hillside Orchard - Apples, pumpkins, raspberries, strawberries, Christmas trees-you choose and you cut, Christmas trees- you choose and we cut, Christmas wreaths and boughs, pumpkin patch-pick in the field, and prepicked produce
  2024 Ashland Road, Ceresco, NE 68017. Phone: 402-665-2140. Open: Call for hours! Payment: Cash, only. Directions: From Omaha: Take I-80 W towards Lincoln. Take the US-77/North 56th St exit (exit no. 405); Turn right onto US-77 N; Drive approx. 11 miles to Ashland Road. Left on Ashland Rd and follow signs for two miles. Orchard will be on your right. From Lincoln: From Highway 77 and Cornhusker Hwy: Take Hwy 77 N 15 miles to Ashland Road. Left on Ashland Rd and follow signs for two miles. Orchard will be on your right. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . click here for a map to our farm. Crops are usually available in May, June, July, August, October. Christmas tree varieties:U-Choose and Cut varieties: White Pine. You Choose and We cut varieties: White Pine.

 

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