2024 Austin area of Texas Tomato U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Tomato U-Pick Orchards in Austin area of Texas 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 any state, nor even every state, have tomatoes 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.

Bastrop County

• Bastrop Garden Farms - Tomatoes, Peppers, Spinach, Leafy Greens, Other Seasonal Vegetables
  316 Old Highway 71 (Country Road 335), Cedar Creek, TX . Phone: 512-303-5672. Email: ladybutterfly@bastropbotanicalgardens.com. Open: By appointment ONLY - see their website, Facebook page, call or email for current crop availability and hours. Click here for a map and directions.
  Bastrop Garden Farms Facebook page. . . I am told they are organically grown. I don't see anything about PYO crops on their website or Facebook page in 2022; I am trying to find out if they have discontinued it.
• Evergreen Farms Christmas Trees - tomatoes, train rides, and prepicked produce, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, tractor-pulled hay rides
  242 Monkey Road, Elgin, TX 78621. Phone: 512-281-4833. Email: evergreen@evergreen-farms.com. Open: Pumpkin Hunt: 10:00-5:00 on Saturday; 1:00-5:00 on Sunday Tree Cutting begins the Friday after Thanksgiving Monday to Friday 12:00-Dark; Week-ends: 9:00-Dark Pumpkin Hunt: October 15,16;22,23;29,30 Hunt for mini pumpkins among the Christmas trees; Ride a train through the field, play all kinds of Pumpkin games. Directions: From Austin: Hwy. 290 East; 8 miles past Manor turn right on County Line Road; 2 miles left on Monkey Road; Farm will be on the left after 2 miles. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard. . . Crops are usually available in October, November, December. No admission, each activity $2.00. Farm vegetables also available that have been grown on the farm, but already picked.

Burnet County

• Sweetberry Farm - strawberries and blackberries in season, new potatoes, tomatoes, pumpkins
  1801 FM 1980, Marble Falls, TX 78654, TX . Phone: 830-798-1462. Email: info@sweetberryfarm.com. Open: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday from 8:30 am to 5:30pm, Sunday from 1pm to 5pm, Closed Wednesdays. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions.
  Sweetberry Farm Facebook page. .Monday,Tuesday,Thursday,Friday,Saturdayfrom8:30amto5:30pm,Sundayfrom1pmto5pm,ClosedWednesdays.MarbleFalls.BesuretogetDiscountcoupons.Theyhavepickyourownstrawberriesandblackberriesinseason,newpotatoes,tomatoes,pumpkinsandacornfieldmazeinFall.HarvestSchedule:Strawberries-MarchtomidMay,Blackberries-midMaythroughJune,NewPotatoes-May,Tomatoes-MaythroughthefirstofJuly,TheHayfieldMazes-MaythroughJuneandlateSeptemberthroughNovember,Pumpkins-lateSeptemberthroughOctober.Links:FreshNewsat:MarbleFalls.HarvestScheduleandHours,CostandPrices,HayfieldMazes:'Texas'and'America'.OrContactUs.ClickhereforourFacebookpage.(UPDATED:April14,2018,JBS)CommentsfromavisitoronMay20,2012:"MainlyStrawberriesandblackberries,butaddnewvegetablesallthetime.Theycurrentlyhavetomatoes,potatoes,andonionsasthemaincrop.Othersvaryassalesandrequestsindicate.,restrooms,giftshop,concessionsorrefreshmentstand,picnicarea,cornmaze,pumpkinsbroughtinfromthefield,pettingzoo,grouptours"

Caldwell County

• Boldheart Farms - No pesticides are used, asparagus, flowers, herbs or spices, tomatoes,
  1192 Sand Hill Road, Dale, TX 78616. Phone: (512) 718-4218. Email: thecottages@boldheartfarms.com. Open: We are open by appointment; Heirloom Tomatoes are coming in beautiful now from the start of July Call ahead. Directions: from Lockhart take 20 to 713 cross 86 stay on 713 through McMahan, turn right at second right onto Sand Hill road. Look for big red barn and shop. white house. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . We are open by appointment; Heirloom Tomatoes are coming in beautiful now (from the start of July) Call ahead. The ONLY pyo crops offered are ripe and ready tomatoes, lots of tomatoes, all kinds of tomatoes, herbs, eggs, iris, roses. As of mid-June, We are open by appointment and have lots of tomatoes ripening and ready!! Give us a call!! We do not use pesticides on the crops. The ONLY pyo crops offered are heirloom tomatoes, all sizes and shapes and colors, asparagus, HERBS. We are re-opened and the garden is fabulous!! DUCK EGGS!! heirloom tomatoes all kinds! asparagus in season, HERBS. Roses and iris We have added Muscovey Duck eggs for the bakers! They are amazing. Call ahead and we will set them aside for you. Call for appt. and we really enjoy sharing our vegetables. We are having a BOOM of a SALE on our Heirloom tomatoes Thursday, Friday, Saturday this week only!!!! July 15, 16, 17 SALE Chemical Free - $4 a pound. Just outside McMahan, Tx. (UPDATED: July 04, 2021) (ADDED: October 31, 2015)

Milam County

• Star Farmers Market - blackberries, cucumbers, melons, onions, peaches, peppers, plums, pumpkins, summer squash, winter squash, strawberries, tomatoes, other vegetables, prepicked produce, farm market, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, birthday parties, weddings and wedding parties, school tours, events at your location (call for info)
  701 East Highway 79, Rockdale, TX 76567. Phone: 512-446-3078. Email: starfarmersmarket@yahoo.com. Open: 7 days a week from 12 pm to 5 pm or by appointments. Directions: We are .3 mile east from Rockdale, Texas on us 79. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover. . Fax: 512 446 3078. . Crops are usually available in March, April, May, June, July, September, October, November. Call to set up special group outings. Facebook page. is a small (under 15 acres) varietal farm, with some 'you pick' crops, seasonal crops nearly year round, several farmers markets besides our road side store which has jams, jellies, butters, local honey besides all the crops we can possibly think of and then some. Spring crops are Strawberries, rhubarb and a few different greens, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, green onions, then comes blackberries, peaches, plums, grapes, potatoes, onions, squashes of several varieties, salad greens, tomatoes, peas (black eyes, purple hulls, creamers and maybe some others) We have some okra, snow peas or sugar peas, hot and sweet peppers, winter squash, pumpkins and then start all over again. As soon as one crop is done, that ground is prepared for the next crop. We have a well which is a blessing during the dry seasons. We have school groups, senior groups, home school groups and just fun days out for families or individuals. We can harvest if you call ahead so your order can be picked up at our store or any of the farmers markets we participate in.

 

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