2024 Richmond area of Southeastern Virginia Blackberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Blackberry U-Pick Orchards in Richmond area of Southeastern Virginia in 2024, by county

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

Not all areas of a state have blackberries 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.

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

Chesterfield County

• Chesterfield Berry Farm - blackberries, pumpkins, strawberries, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, face painting, Bouncy castle or moon bounce, pony rides, farm animals, school tours, events at your location (call for info)
  20501 Skinquarter Road, Moseley, VA 23120. Phone: 804-739-9056. Email: chesterfieldberry@gmail.com. Open: Strawberry season starts typically at the end of April on Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm; see their website for updates. Directions: We are located on Hull Street Road360, 6 12 miles west of Woodlake. Also, from 288 take the 360 west exit and we are 8 miles on the right hand side. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover. . Alternate Phone: 804-739-3831 We are located on Hull Street Road/360, 6 1/2 miles west of Woodlake. Also, from 288 take the 360 west exit and we are 8 miles on the right hand sideMarket opens mid March; Strawberry festival is May; Blackberry picking is July; Fall Harvest starts mid September
  Comments from a visitor on June 10, 2012: "This farm is very expensive. Just to get into the farm, it costs $5/person. Can't even pick berries without paying this admission fee."
  Comments from a visitor on April 30, 2009: "My family with young children has really enjoyed this farms pick your own pumpkins and strawberries. I have been to many farms and think this was a top notch experience. Go on festival days if you enjoy activities for children."

Goochland County

• Maidens Thornless Blackberries - blackberries
  2638 River Road West, Maidens, VA 23102. Phone: (804) 556-4164. Open: 7 am to sunset, Monday to Saturday; 1 pm to sunset, Sunday. Directions: Located in Franklin, Virginia. Click here for a map and directions. Call before comingRoute 6, 1/2 mile east of intersection of Route 522 south and Route 6; or Route 6, 1 mile east of Goochland Courthouse; or Route 6, 17 miles west of Parham Road; or Route 6, 12 miles north of intersection of Route 60 and Route 522; or Route 6, 5 miles south of I-64 at Oilville interchange. Bring your own containers. We are a small family run farm . We started our "u-pick" strawberry patch 9 years ago and had such a great turn out that we have been doing it ever since.
• Newcastle Bee and Berry Farm - blackberries, strawberries, pumpkins, Honey from hives on the farm
  4900 Broadstreet Road, Louisa, VA 22802. Phone: 804-385-7213. Email: newcastlebeeandberryfarm@gmail.com. Open: Tuesdays 8 AM to 12 PM, 6PM to 8PM, Thursdays 8 AM to 12 PM, 6 PM to 8 PM, Saturdays 8 AM to 12 PM, 6 PM to 8 PM, Sundays 11 AM to 2 PM, follow on facebook for closings and picked out notifications. Directions: On route 250, Hadensville exit \(same exit as Goochland Drive in Movie Theater\). . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. Call first if traveling a distance to confirm hours and conditions. Strawberries in May, Blackberries in July and hopefully raspberries in AugustOn route 250, Hadensville exit (same exit as Goochland Drive in Movie Theater) (UPDATED: May 05, 2019)

New Kent County

• Couch's Corner Berries - blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, restrooms, group tours
  8201 Poindexter Road, New Kent, VA 23124. Phone: 804 932-3169. Email: ninefingers37@verizon.net. Open: Friday - Wednesday Closed Thursdays Sun-up to Sun-down; 7AM to 7PM. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. . Friday - Wednesday (Closed Thursdays) Sun-up to Sun-down; 7AM to 7PMPick your own asparagus, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, raspberries and strawberries. Also available honey, beeswax candles and jams. Best to call first to verify availabilityA visitor writes on July 03, 2014: "I went today with my children and we had a wonderful time. We picked a bucket of blueberries and a pint of raspberries. The farmer And his son were very nice, offering us water because it was hot and driving us to the best berry picking sections on their golf cart. We also bought yummy honey and farm made jelly. We will go back again." A visitor writes on July 02, 2014: "Today we stopped at in New Kent, Virginia. We picked five pints of amazing, delicious raspberries! The prices are very reasonable, the berries healthy and plentiful, and Mr. Couch was very helpful, even giving us bottles of water when it got hot. He stated that he has quite a bit of honey, and described his beekeeping experience as well. We will be back! Couchs Corner is just a mile or two from the Providence Forge rest area off I-64 and very easy to find. "
• Holly Fork Farm Produce & Pumpkin Patch - blackberries, strawberries, pumpkins, raspberries (red), Honey from hives on the farm, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties are available, restrooms, picnic area, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours, events at your location (call for info)
  4901 Holly Fork Road, Barhamsville, VA 23011. Phone: 804 366 6349. Email: hollyforkfarm@gmail.com. Open: Tuesday thru Sunday open on Columbus day Monday closed all other Mondays. Directions: You can take 64 east to the West PointToano exit to get to us. We are about 5 minutes from the interstate, 45-50 minutes from Richmond, an hour from Virginia Beach and about 35 minutes from Newport News and Hampton Roads. Feel free to call if you need assistance. \(there is no detour to our farmIGNORE the signs on the way in or call if you need assistance getting here\) ALSO if you GPS instructs you to the route using Six Mt. Zion Rd DO NOT TAKE IT. it is CLOSED and GPS does not recognize it - truncated. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  Holly Fork Farm Produce & Pumpkin Patch Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: 757 566 0729They sometimes get picked out so always check their website or call before you go You can take 64 east to the West Point/Toano exit to get to us. We are about 5 minutes from the interstate, 45-50 minutes from Richmond, an hour from Virginia Beach and about 35 minutes from Newport News and Hampton Roads. Feel free to call if you need assistance. (there is no detour to our farm/IGNORE the signs on the way in or call if you need assistance getting here) ALSO if you GPS instructs you to the route using Six Mt. Zion Rd DO NOT TAKE IT. it is CLOSED and GPS does not recognize it (not sure why)!!! Pick an alternate route or give us a call ! Our farm is seasonal and is not open year round; We harvest mid to late June until November 1st; Call or visit our web site for specific hours of operationWe do out best to grow fresh veggies for you in the summer & provide a family friendly, relaxed pumpkin patch in the fall. We open the patch each year October 1st. We welcome groups of all types. We are handicapp and pet friendly too (leashes please). We offer a huge variety of pumpkins, gourds, corn stalk bundles, straw bales, mums, homemade jams, honey, homemade cakes, large game area, hay rides, pumpkin launching, pot bellied pigs, chickens, picnic area, & fun! It is worth the drive out to the country to come & see us

 

Blackberry

Blackberry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Blackberries typically peak during June in the South of the U.S., and in July in the north and in Canada. Crops are ready at various times of the month depending on which part of the state you are located. In order to produce good local Blackberries, producers depend on ideal spring and early summer weather conditions. See this page for a list of blackberry festivals around the U.S.

Before you leave to go to the farm:

1. Always call before you go to the farm - And when they are in season, a large turnout can pick a field clean before noon, so CALL first!
2. Leave early.  On weekends, then fields may be picked clean by NOON!
    
3. Most growers furnish picking containers designed for Blackberries, but they may charge you for them; be sure to call before you go to see if you need to bring containers.
   If you use your own containers, remember that heaping Blackberries more than 5 inches deep will bruise the lower berries. Plastic dishpans, metal oven pans with 3 inch tall sides and large pots make good containers. I like the Glad storage containers like the one at right.
4. Bring something to drink and a few snacks; you'd be surprised how you can work up a thirst and appetite! And don't forget hats and sunscreen for the sun. Bugs usually aren't a problem, but some deet might be good to bring along if it has been rainy.

Tips on How to Pick Blackberries

1. There are two types of blackberries to know about: thorny and thornless! Obviously, the thornless are easier to pick, but some people claim the thorny varieties are sweeter. With the thorny plants, you want to reach into the plant in the gaps, so you don't need to touch anything but the berry you're after, avoiding the thorns.
2. A ripe blackberry is deep black with a plump, full feel. It will pull free from the plant with only a slight tug.  If the berry is red or purple, it's not ripe yet.
3. Repeat these operations using both hands until each holds 3 or 4 berries. Unlike strawberries, blackberries are usually pretty tough, I dump mine into the bucket. Repeat the picking process with both hands.
4. Don't overfill your containers or try to pack the berries down.

General Picking Tips

Whether you pick Blackberries from your garden or at a Pick-Your-Own farm, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1. Pick only the berries that are fully black. Reach in between the stems to grab for hidden berries ready for harvest. Bend down and look up into the plant and you will find loads of berries that other people missed!
2. Avoid placing the picked berries in the sunlight any longer than necessary. It is better to put them in the shade of a tree or shed than in the car trunk or on the car seat. Cool them as soon as possible after picking. Blackberries may be kept fresh in the refrigerator for up to a week, depending upon the initial quality of the berry. After a few days in storage, however, the fruit loses its bright color and fresh flavor and tends to shrivel.

When you get home

1. DON'T wash the berries until you are ready to use them or freeze them.  Washing makes them more prone to spoiling.
2. Pour them out into shallow pans and remove any mushed, soft or rotting berries
3. Put a couple of days supply into the fridge, wash  off the others, drain them and freeze them up! (Unless you're going to make jam right away) Blackberries are less perishable than blueberries or strawberries, but refrigerate them as soon as possible after picking. Temperatures between 34 F and 38 F are best, but, be careful not to freeze the blackberries (while they are in the fridge)!
4. Even under ideal conditions blackberries will only keep for a week in a refrigerator, so for best flavor and texture, use them as soon as possible after purchase

Blackberry Recipes, Freezing and Jam directions

1. How to make Blackberry jam - It is VERY easy - especially with our free Blackberry jam directions - very easy!
2. How to make Blackberry jelly
3. How to freeze berries
4. Blackberry syrup, make and can it! 
5. Seedless blackberry pie!
6. Blackberry Festivals: Where, When and More to Find an Blackberry Festival Near You this year:

Blackberry Facts and Tips

• Black Raspberries, also known as "black caps" are a very healthy food; packed with anthocyanins!
• The USDA says 1 cup of blackberries has about 62 calories.
• 1 cup of blackberries, not packed down weighs about 140 grams.
• Select plump, firm, fully blackberries. Unripe berries will not ripen once picked.
• Ohio State University's Article Regarding Their Prevention of Cancer
• Oregon Berry Black Raspberry Brochure
• Blackberry tea was said to be a cure for dysentery during the Civil War. During outbreaks of dysentery, temporary truces were declared to allow both Union and Confederate soldiers to "go blackberrying" to forage for blackberries to ward off the disease.
• Blackberries were enjoyed by the ancient Greeks, who believed them to be a cure for diseases of the mouth and throat, as well as a preventative against many ailments, including gout.
• The blackberry leaf was also used as an early hair dye, having been recommended by Culpeper, the English herbalist, to be boiled in a lye solution in order to "maketh the hair black".
• Guide to blackberry varieties
• Researchers have known for quite some time that berries contain antioxidants which help to fight cancer causing free radicals.  A study at the University of Ohio has found that blackberries are the most potent cancer fighting berries of them all, by nearly 40 percent!
• U-pick Blackberry farms typically sell berries by the pound. A quart equals 1 and 1/2 pounds of fresh berries.
• Do the math and be careful not to over-purchase as Blackberries quickly mold when left at room temperature, and only last a couple of days in the refrigerator.
• You can easily freeze berries that you cannot use right away - just wash, cut the hulls off and pop them into a ziplock bag, removing as much air as possible.  Those vacuum food sealers REALLY do a good job of this! The berries will keep for many months frozen without air.
• Want to go to a blackberry festival? See this page for a list!

 

 

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