2024 Central Indiana Tomato U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Tomato U-Pick Orchards in Central Indiana in 2024, by county

Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for tomatoes that we know of in this area.

Not all areas of a state have tomatoes 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

Marion County

• dfTOM Urban Farm - No pesticides are used, beans, beets, cucumbers, eggplants, herbs or spices, onions, summer squash, tomatoes, Other fruit or veg, U-pick and already picked
  242 W Troy Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46225. Phone: 317-331-4104. Email: dftomurbanfarm@gmail.com. Open: Always call before you go - Tuesday to Friday 9 am to 4 Saturday 10 am to 4 Sunday 10 am to 2 Monday Closed. Directions: 242 West Troy Avenue, between South Meridian and Bluff Road, just south of downtown Indianapolis. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. dfTOM Urban Farm Alternate Phone: 812-327-8060Fax: 317-426-2411 We do not use pesticides on the cropsWe offer the following veggies: 5 varieties of tomatoes Roma and Blue Lake green beans Greens...collard, kale, blue kale, swiss chard Okra Cucumbers..Longhorn and pickling Zucchini and yellow squash Bell Peppers...green, yellow, black AND MUCH MORE!!!.
• Waterman's Family Farm - strawberries, tomatoes, corn, other vegetables, pumpkins, corn mazes, hayrides and much more
  7010 E Raymond Street, Indianapolis, IN 46239. Phone: 317-888-4189. Email: mike@watermansfamilyfarm.com. Open: Daily, May through July. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions.
  Waterman's Family Farm Facebook page. Check here for crop availabilityFrom I-465 on the south side of Indianapolis: take SR 37 south 5 miles. Farm on west side of 37, 1/4 mile south of county line. Bring the whole family for a farmload of fun. Waterman's Grown Produce: These are approximate dates and are subject to change as weather permits. ​Strawberries June 1 to June 20Sweet Green Peas June 8 to July 4Sweet Corn July 3 to September 30Green Beans July 10 to FrostBeets July 10 to September 30Bell and Hot Peppers July 17 to FrostTomatoes July 22 to FrostCantaloupes July 30 to September 30Greens September 20 to October 31(UPDATED: May 22, 2019, JBS)

Morgan County

• Beasley Creek Farms - apples, corn (sweet), cucumbers, flowers, pumpkins, tomatoes, Other fruit or veg, Christmas wreaths and boughs, Christmas decorations, pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, corn maze, child-sized haybale maze, and prepicked produce, snacks and refreshment stand, picnic area, tractor-pulled hay rides, face painting, petting zoo
  210 St. John Road, Martinsville, IN 46151. Phone: 765-342-0209. Email: info@beasleys-orchard.com. Open: Friday 1 pm to 10 pm Saturday, Sunday - 9am - 10 pm Payment: Cash, only. Directions: Call 765-342-0209 for directions . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. ley-creek-farms">Beasley Creek Farms Crops are usually available in September, October, November, December The apple orchard is only part of the 165 acres of farm fun we have to offer. We host seasonal activities and events all throughout the year! The Fall season features a corn maze, hayrides to the pumpkin patch, apple cannons, the barnyard bonanza activity area, straw mountain, apple cider, apples, and everything fall! Activities are available EVERY DAY from September 16th through October 31st, with Fall Festivals hosted each weekend! (UPDATED: September 19, 2023, JBS)

Wayne County

• Price Farms - Indian corn, mums, pumpkins, sweet corn, tomatoes.
  On U.S. 40 in Centerville, Centerville, IN . Phone: 765-825-9697. Click here for a map and directions. 2 miles west of Centerville on U.S. 40. Hours: 1 pm to 6 p.m

 

Tomatoes

Tomato Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Pick tomatoes that are firm and free of blemishes. Cracking is common in very hot weather, especially after a rain, and if you intend to use the tomatoes within 1 day, that will be ok.

During hot summer weather, pick the tomatoes when they have a healthy pink/red (or yellow or orange depending on the variety) color and let them finish the last day or two of ripening indoors. Tomatoes do not need to be in the sunlight in order to ripen. If you have green fruit on the plants in the fall when frost is approaching, pick the tomatoes and store them in a cool, dark place to ripen.

Tomato Varieties

In general paste or Roma-type tomatoes are the best to using for canning, as they have thicker, meatier walls and far less water. And cherry tomatoes are the worst to use, as they are mostly water.  But you can use any type you can get hold of.  You may just have to cook them down longer to boil off excess water.  See our Master list of tomato varieties

Growing tomatoes

• Master list of tomato varieties
• Master List of Heirloom Tomato Varieties
• How to Grow Tomatoes in Your Yard or Patio - Everything you need to know
• Detailed directions to starting tomatoes from seed
• Master List of Roma and Paste Tomato Varieties for the Home Garden
• Master list of disease-resistant tomato varieties
• Tomato plant diseases

Canning, Freezing, Drying, Preserving Tomatoes and more!

Below are links to pages with easy and reliable directions about how to can, preserve, freeze and make other goodies from tomatoes.  Some of these require a Pressure Canner to prevent potential spoilage and food poisoning, due to the low acid content of the food.  For others, you can use a water bath canner OR a Pressure Canner.  I've noted what's required for each, below, following each entry, with
W for water bath,
P for Pressure canner, and
W, P for either may be used!

And don't miss: Answers to common tomato canning problems and see this page about what to do with your unripe green tomatoes!

Prepping tomatoes

• How to quickly and easily remove tomato skins

Canning tomatoes (in water bath canners )

• How to can tomatoes using a water bath canner - W
• Diced, chopped or crushed tomatoes - W
• Bruschetta - W
• Tomato sauce - W
• Tomato paste - W
• Barbecue sauce (BBQ sauce) - W
• Chili sauce from your own tomatoes and peppers - W
• Diced, chopped or crushed tomatoes - W
• Tomato Preserves- W
• Tomato salsa - W
• Spaghetti sauce - without meat - W, P
• Spiced Green tomatoes- W
• Pickled Green Tomatoes - W - another pickled green tomato recipe, this one sweet
• Ketchup.. or if you prefer... How to make catsup - W, P
• NEW! SUPER-EASY homemade ketchup recipe - W
• Salsa from your unripe, GREEN tomatoes! - W
• Tomatillo salsa - W
• How to make roasted tomatoes, boiling water bath canner version - W

Canning Tomatoes in Pressure canners

• Canned tomatoes using a Pressure Canner - P
• Baked  Beans With Tomato or Molasses Sauce - P
• Canning your own chili con carne (with meat) - P
• How to make roasted tomatoes, pressure canner version - P
• Spaghetti sauce - with meat  - P
• Stewed tomatoes - P
• Tomato soup or tomato-basil soup - P
• Tomato sauce - P
• Tomato juice - P
• Tomato juice, like V8 - P

Freezing Tomatoes

• How to freeze tomatoes from you garden or the farm; for that fresh taste this winter!
• Space-saving prepping and freezing extra tomatoes from your garden to can later

Drying tomatoes

• NEW! How to make Sun-Dried Tomatoes
• Food drying basics and principles
• How to dry your own herbs
• Food Dehydrators - models, specs and pricing information

Ripening green tomatoes in your garage or basement

If you want to bring your green tomatoes indoors before a freeze in the Fall, and ripen them, see:

• How to ripen your green garden tomatoes indoors in the Fall and Winter.

And if you'd like to start you own tomatoes from seed (you can save a small fortune and grow the heirloom varieties you like) see this page for easy directions for growing your own tomato plants from seed.

Frequently Asked Questions About Canning, Freezing and Preserving Tomatoes

• See this page for answers to many common questions about tomatoes.

 

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