2024 Southeastern Minnesota Winter Squash U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Winter Squash U-Pick Orchards in Southeastern Minnesota in 2024, by county

Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for winter squash that we know of in this area. Not all areas of any state, nor even every state, have winter squash 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.

Dodge County

• Red Barn Learning Farm - corn (sweet), cucumbers, onions, peas, peppers, pumpkins, winter squash, tomatoes, other vegetables, Turkeys (organic, not-hormone-fed), Fresh eggs, U-pick and already picked, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties are available, picnic area, petting zoo, farm animals, birthday parties, weddings and wedding parties, school tours
  27251 State Highway 30, Hayfield, MN 55940. Phone: 507-365-8321. Email: redbarnfarm@kmtel.com. Open: Opening FALL 2012. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard. . Alternate Phone: 507-272-7465. .

Freeborn County

• Hilltop Greenhouse and Farm - asparagus, broccoli, cucumbers, eggplant, herbs or spices, melons, peppers, pumpkins, winter squash, strawberries, gift shop, restrooms, farm animals, school tours
  83204 300th Street, Ellendale, MN 56026. Phone: 507-889-3271. Email: sales@hilltopgreenhouse.com. Open: April to October 31, Please call ahead for availability; Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm. Directions: Hilltop Greenhouse and Farm is located 2 miles North of Hollandale on County Road 28, or 3 miles East of Geneva on County Road 35 then 2.5 miles South on County Road 28. Watch for directional signs. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard. . . opens for the season April 20th with spring sales; Plants and Vegetable will be for sale until the end of October. is family owned and operated. All of our plants and produce are grown on our farm with sustainable practices. Take a ride to the country and enjoy the beautiful countryside view while you are able to shop for unique annuals, vegetables, perennials, shrubs, produce, and more. You will be glad you came and will be sharing the experience with family and friends!.

Goodhue County

• Flower Valley Orchard - Apples, pumpkins, winter squash, gourds, ornamental grasses, and prepicked produce, restrooms
  29732 Orchard Road, Red Wing, MN 55066. Phone: 651-385-0574. Email: flowervalleyrochards@yahoo.com. Open: Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm. Directions: Take Highway 61 south of Red Wing to County 21, turn right on 21, travel 1 mile to Orchard Road, follow signs for 1 mile to Orchard. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . Open mid August through October Ornamental gourds and ornamental grasses.

Olmsted County

• Tweite's Family Farm - pumpkins, summer squash, winter squash, U-pick and already picked, farm market, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties are available, picnic area, picnic area you may bring your own food, trike track, mini-golf, group reservations, events at your location (call for info)
  1821 Frontier Road Sw, Byron, MN 55920. Phone: 507-365-8035. Email: info@tweite.com. Open: Saturday and Sunday, from 10 am to 5:30 pm, September 19 to October 25; MEA October 14 pm to 16, from 10 am to 5:30 pm. Directions: If you are coming from the East, we are located 12 minutes West of Rochester off of US highway 14 ; Turn South on 19th Avenue. If you are coming from the West, we are located 30 minutes East of Owatonna on US highway 14 \(just 3 miles East of Kasson\) ; Turn South on 19th Avenue. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard.
  Tweite's Family Farm Facebook page. . If you are coming from the East, we are located 12 minutes West of Rochester off of US highway 14 ; Turn South on 19th Avenue. If you are coming from the West, we are located 30 minutes East of Owatonna on US highway 14 (just 3 miles East of Kasson) ; Turn South on 19th Avenue.

 

Choosing a winter squash

Winter squash comes in many sizes, shapes and colors.  Choosing a winter squash that meets your needs and the taste you will like can be tough without a guide!  This page provides you that information, plus nutritional analysis and links to our freezing and canning pages!

Unlike its summer squash, which is best when harvested very young and used right away, winter squash is harvested at a mature age, which makes the outer skin hard and inedible. The skin, however, is protective and increases its storage life. Winter squash can be stored for 3 months or longer if kept in a cool dark place, like a basement or garage.  I've had winter squash last a full year when stored like this!

The yellow and orange flesh of the winter squash is more nutritious and richer in vitamins, especially beta carotene, than summer squash. Winter squash is always served cooked and, because of its tough skin, only the inside flesh is eaten. The flesh, is sweet and great to make pie (pumpkins are a winter squash)

Size:

Choose a size based on your cooking needs. There's no difference in flavor based on size of the same variety of a squash.

Appearance:

For a quality squash, choose one that has a smooth, dry rind and is free of cracks or soft spots. Skin that is easily nicked or scraped with a fingernail means that the squash did not reach maturity. Look for rind that has a dull appearance. A shiny rind indicates that is has been picked too early or has a wax coating, which masks the skin. Choose squash that has a deep color and is heavy for its size. It is also best to choose squash with a firm, rounded, dry stem. Squash with no stem permits bacteria to enter.

Cut pieces can be found in the grocery market. Choose pieces that have a good interior color and finely-grained flesh that is not fibrous. Ideal flesh should be barely moist, but not too dry or too watery.

Storing Winter Squash

Winter squash has a long shelf life and can be stored for up to 3 months or longer in a cool, dry place between 55° and 60°F. A higher temperature will shorten storage time, but it will not alter the flavor. Storage temperatures below 50°F (as in a refrigerator) will cause squash to spoil more rapidly. If the squash needs to be refrigerated, it can be stored for 1 to 2 weeks. Cut pieces of squash should be tightly wrapped and refrigerated. Cooked, pureed squash can be frozen for use later as a side dish or to thicken, color, or flavor soups, sauces, or stews.

Varieties of Winter Squash

Here are a few of the most popular winter squash varieties; see this page for a complete master list of winter squash varieties.

	Acorn This acorn-shaped squash is one of the most widely available among the small winter squash. It measures about 6 inches around and weighs 1 to 2 pounds. Baking is an excellent way to bring out the sweet, nutty flavors of this tender fleshed squash.
	Banana This squash comes in three varieties: blue, orange, and pink. Among the three varieties, the pink banana is the most common in the United States. It is grown commercially in Florida. This large, thick-skinned cylindrical squash averages 20 inches long and weighs around 12 pounds. It is so large that it is usually sold in chunks instead of whole. Its creamy textured orange flesh offers a fruity and buttery delight to your palate. Although both baking and steaming are great ways to prepare this tasty squash, steaming produces a slightly sweeter, yet mild flavor.
	Buttercup This stocky squash is 6 to 8 inches in diameter, averaging 2 to 4 pounds. Its popularity stems from its sweet and creamy orange flesh. Its shortcoming is that it tends to be a bit dry. Baking or steaming can solve this problem; the dry flesh becomes smooth and tastes similar to a mixture of honey, roasted chestnuts, and sweet potato. Even more than baking, steaming softens the flesh and creates a thick puree (Great for pies)
	Butternut This elongated bell-shaped squash measures about a foot long and weighs an average of 2 to 4 pounds. Its popularity is due to its meaty, yet moderately sweet golden orange flesh. Because of its thin skin, this squash can easily be skinned with a vegetable peeler, which makes it easy to cut and prepare. Baking enhances its sweet, moist, and nutty flavors. Butternut squash is usually available from August through March. There are actually many variations of butternut.  It can be used to make great "pumpkin" pies.
	My favorite winter squash is one called "Argos Gold", sometimes also simply called "Mexican Butternut" - it is much longer than the usual "Waltham" butternut, often almost 2 feet long and has a much sweeter taste and smoother texture.  I've finally found one supplier, see this page. I found another winter / butternut-type squash at Gurney's that looks promising .
	Hubbard This tear-shaped squash comes in several varieties: green (true), golden, blue, and baby blue. It ranges from dark green to orange and weighs from 5 to 50 pounds. Because of its size, Hubbard's popularity has decreased over the years. However, pre-cut portions of green and orange Hubbard can be found in markets. Green Hubbard's are thick, sweet, and dry. Golden Hubbard's; a smaller squash than the green or blue; are fairly sweet, but have a bitter aftertaste.The Blue or gray varietiey make wonder pumpkin pies!
	Spaghetti This oval-shaped yellow squash is also called the vegetable spaghetti. It averages 9 inches in length and may weigh 2 to 3 pounds. When cooked, the crisp, tender fhesh falls a apart into spaghetti-like strands that have a mild lightly sweet and fresh taste. Keep in mind that the larger the vegetable, the thicker the strands and the more flavorful the taste. It really is good with spaghetti sauce on the cooked squash "noodles"
	Sweet Dumpling This solid round squash, formerly known as the vegetable gourd, is a perfect serving for one person. It is about the size of an apple and weighs up to 1 pound. The skin is a warm cream color striped with ivy green, and it changes to butter color and orange during storage. The skin is relatively tender and can be eaten. The pale-yellow flesh is smooth, fine, and dry as a potato and produces a rich starchy, light to mild sweetness, with a slight corn flavor.

 

 

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