2024 Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Pumpkin U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Pumpkin U-Pick Orchards in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania 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

Dauphin County

• Strites' Orchard Farm Market and Bakery - apples, Blueberries, Blackberries, cherries, peaches, pumpkins, raspberries (black), strawberries, Honey from hives on the farm, Cider mill fresh apple cider made on the premises, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, school tours
  1000 Strites Road, Harrisburg, PA 17111. Phone: 717-564-3130. Email: jstrite@verizon.net. Open: U-Pick on Monday through Friday 8am to 6pm, Saturday 8am to 3pm, Sunday from 11 am to 3 pm. Directions: Located just off Route 322 between Harrisburg and Hershey. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx, WIC Vouchers.
  Strites' Orchard Farm Market and Bakery Facebook page. Fax: 717-564-5770 Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. . Open year roundOur U-pick crops are Strawberries, Sweet Cherries, Sour Cherries, Blueberries, Blackberries, Apples, Pumpkins, and Christmas Trees. Strites' Orchard Farm Market and Bakery Facebook page. U-Pick Cherries, Blueberries, Raspberries. Also pre-picked Sweet cherries, Raspberries, Blueberries, Sour Cherries, Broccoli, Beans, Peas, Lettuce, Kale, Cucumbers, Zucchini, Red Beets, New Potatoes, Cauliflower, Peppers, Onions, local honey, canned goods, baked goods, milk, grass-fed beef, and more! Also available- hot house tomatoes, eggplant

Lebanon County

• Good Karma Produce - Uses natural growing practices, Apples, asparagus, beans, beets, blackberries, blueberries, carrots, cucumbers, eggplants, flowers, melons, onions, pears, peas, peaches, peppers, pumpkins, raspberries, summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes, other vegetables, and prepicked produce
  104 Dohner St, Rexmont, PA 17085. Phone: 717-383-9099. Email: melissa@goodkarmaproduce.org. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . UPDATE for 2021, Their website is gone and there's nothing else about them that is current on the internet - I presume they have closed. Does anyone have current information, are they still offering pick your own or are even open? If so, please write me.Wednesday, Thurs, Friday 8 am to 7 pm special orders to be picked up by appointment onlyWe use natural practices, but are not yet certified OrganicWe accept Pennsylvania FMNP checks from seniors, & WIC programs.
• Grays Apple Ridge - apples, pumpkins and grapes
  144 Greble Road, Jonestown, PA . Phone: 717-865-3997. Email: graysappleridge@yahoo.com. Open: Self serve stand open all the time, U-PickF,S 9-5, Sun. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: cash, checks, Venmo.
  Grays Apple Ridge Facebook page. Self serve stand open all the time, U-Pick(F,S 9-5, Sun. 1-5), Opening the day after Labor Day and open Columbus Day. All apples, and pumpkins are available for retail or pick your own. All of our apple trees are dwarf to allow very easy access during picking. Three year old children often pick their own special apples and pumpkins without their parents help. We also sell jams,pickles, apple crisp. Tours are available for small groups such as 4-H, FFA, scouts, church youth groups, and both public & private school groups of 20 or lessOur orchard is presently a self serve facility with approximately 8 varieties, starting the second week in September and ending the first week in December. We also make unpasteurized cider and baked goods. The cider season starts the first Friday of October and ends the first week in December.Gray's Apple Ridge Orchard Facebook page.
• Risser-Marvel Farm Market - peas, pumpkins, strawberries, porta-potties are available, trike track, school tours, group reservations
  2425 Horseshoe Pike, Annville, PA 17078. Phone: 717-838-1438. Email: tina@rissermarvel.com. Open: Call for times and availability. Directions: 12 mile west of Campbelltown, 5 miles east of Hershey on Route 322. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, SFMNP Vouchers.
  Risser-Marvel Farm Market Facebook page. 1/2 mile west of Campbelltown, 5 miles east of Hershey on Route 322 Strawberries generally the end of May into the 2nd or 3rd week of June, weather permitting; Fall activities available September and October; Christmas trees and other items available the day after Thanksgiving until December 20. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard. In addition to our PYO, fresh already picked produce and fall events, we have locally made baked goods and jarred goods (preserves, honey, pickles, chow chow, etc.)

 

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