Find a local pick your own farm here!

Tomato U-Pick Orchards in West of Cleveland: Erie, Huron and Lorain counties in 2025, 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.

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 If you are having a hard time finding canning lids, I've used these, and they're a great price & ship in 2 days.

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Lorain County

  • Fitch's Farm Market - pumpkins and pick-your-own strawberries, tomatoes, peppers and beans.
    4413 Center Road (State Route 83), Avon, OH 44011. Phone: 440-934-6125. Open: May-October Monday to Friday 9:30 am to 7 pm, Saturday 9:30 am to 5 pm and Sunday 11:30 am to 5 pm. Click here for a map and directions. Strawberries (already-picked & U-pick, early June)Beans (already picked & U-pick, mid June), Many Peppers and Tomatoes. We have the below for Pick Your Own: Round Tomatoes, Roma Tomatoes (Plum), Green Bell Peppers, Long Green Italian Roaster Peppers (Sheppard), Medium Hot Peppers, Jalapeno, Habanero, Cayenne, Ghost, Thai Chili Peppers (1/2 peck minimum). Poblano Peppers, Hot Banana Peppers. Each is a half bushel minimum (except ones noted) and like all pick your own, it is weather permitting. If you have further questions, fell free to call (UPDATED: May 22, 2025, JBS)
    [ Click here to update the listing ]

  • Hook's Greenhouse and Farm Market - tomatoes, other vegetables, Other fruit or veg, porta-potties are available
    50740 State Route 18, Wellington, OH 44090. Phone: 440-647-5480. Email: hooksgreenhouse@aol.com. Open: Currently picking Peppers, Kale and Collards Septamber 1 to October 31, 12pm to 6pm. Directions: We are located 5 miles West of Wellington on Route 18, in Southern Lorain County. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, SFMNP Vouchers. . Most of our produce is Pesticide Free, occasionally we spray cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and sweet corn. We pride ourselves with growing fresh healthy produce that our family and yours can eat safely!. (UPDATED: May 22, 2025, JBS)
    [ Click here to update the listing ]

 

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. Varieties of tomatoes

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

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

Canning tomatoes (in water bath canners )Home canned tomato soup

Canning Tomatoes in Pressure canners

Freezing Tomatoes

Drying tomatoes

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:

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

 

Other Local Farm Products (Honey, Horses, Milk, Meat, Eggs, Etc.)
(NOT pick-your-own, unless they are also listed above)