Find a local pick your own farm here!

Tomato U-Pick Orchards in Madison area of Wisconsin 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.

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

Dane County

  • Eplegaarden Orchard - apples, raspberries, tomatoes, zinnias, sunflors, pumpkins, hayrides, animals and a haunted barn.
    2273 Fitchburg Road, Fitchburg, WI . Phone: 608-845-5966. Email: forest@eplegaarden.com. Open: Mid-August to early-September, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday only, from 9am-noon; and then early September to end of October, on Monday-Saturday from 9am to 6pm, Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm. Click here for a map and directions. Old fashioned orchard featuring selv plukk (U-Pick) apples, raspberries and pumpkins for lots of old fashion rural farm fun. It's the home of the Wisconsin Sesquicentennial Barn and Ole & Lena and Bakke and Dal. Real farm fun for everyone!Our raspberries and grapes get cut back after winter, and new growth shoots out to bear fruit this Fall. We plant Day Neutral-Everbearing Strawberries each Spring which begin to ripen in August and continue to produce into October. We also grow Cherry Tomatoes, Zinnias & Sunflowers for more Pick Your Own fun! Follow us on Facebook or Instagram for the latest news! If you are interested in renting our Big Red Barn or Pavilion for a Company or Family Event please contact us for booking. (UPDATED: June 17, 2025, JBS)
    [ Click here to update the listing ]

  • The Tree Farm - asparagus, beans, beets, broccoli, carrots, Christmas trees, corn (sweet), cucumbers, eggplant (aubergine), flowers, peas, peppers, pumpkins, rhubarb, summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes, other vegetables.
    8454 St Rd 19, Cross Plains, WI 53528. Phone: 608-798-2286. Email: treefarm@midplains.net. Open: May and June we sell asparagus and rhubarb by appointment; July and August we are open Wednesday, Thursdayand Friday, 9-noon and 4-8; Saturday and Sunday 9-5. Directions: The Tree Farm is located in Northwestern Dane County, WI, on Highway 19, four miles west of Highway 12. From Middleton take hwy 12 North and turn west \\(that\\\'s left\\) on hwy 19. From Sauk City take hwy 12 SE, turn south \\(right\\) on hwy KP and then east \\(left\\) on hwy 19. From Black Earth take hwy F north and turn east \\(right\\) on 19. See our website for a map and complete directions. Click here for a map and directions. September and October we are open Wednesday, Thurs, and Friday 9-noon and 4-dusk; Saturday and Sunday 9-5 Thanksgiving we are open Friday 1:30 to 4:30; Saturday and Sunday 9-4:30. From Middleton take hwy 12 North and turn west (that's left) on hwy 19. From Sauk City take hwy 12 SE, turn south (right) on hwy KP and then east (left) on hwy 19. From Black Earth take hwy F north and turn east (right) on 19. See our website for a map and complete directions. Click here for a map to our farm. We raise approximately 40 different kinds of vegetables and herbs for you to pick as well as flowers to cut. A complete list of what we raise and when we expect it to be ready is available on our web site. We raise most vegetables that will grown in our climate. A complete list is available on our web site. (Updated December 22, 2010X) (UPDATED: June 19, 2025, JBS)
    [ Click here to update the listing ]

  • U Pick Strawberry Farm - beans, cucumbers, peas, peppers, summer squash, strawberries, tomatoes, other vegetables, U-pick and already picked, petting zoo
    5396 Hahn Road, Deforest, WI 53532. Phone: 608-417-9485. Email: info@upickstrawberryfarm.com. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. You pick or we pickWe offer wholesale and retail pricingWe encourage fundraising effortsAlso, the educational aspect is very important to usIf you would like to tour our Berry Patch, please feel free to email or call usAt the Berry Patch you will also be able to visit some of our animals.(UPDATED: June 20, 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)