2024 Northern Indiana Pumpkin U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Pumpkin U-Pick Orchards in Northern Indiana in 2024, by county

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

Not all areas of a state have pumpkins 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

Tippecanoe County

• Exploration Acres - Sunflowers, pumpkin patch, restrooms, gift shop, concessions or refreshment stand, corn maze, pumpkin patch (pick in the field where they grow), pumpkins (in a market, stand or shop), birthday parties, weddings and wedding parties
  6042 Newcastle Road, Lafayette, IN 47905. Phone: (765) 296-2863. Email: mary@explorationacres.com. Directions: See their website for directions. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard . mid - September until late October Thu 6pm to 10pm Fri 6pm to 10pm Sat 10am to 10pm Sun 12pm to 07pm Admission: Adults 13 and older ($15), Children ages 6 to 12 ($11); Discounts available. Sunflower maze, u-pick U-pick pumpkin patch Hay Rides NW Indiana's largest corn maze (with scavenger hunt rewards/coupons) Playground and games (children only) Extra fee activities: corn cannon, gem mine, laser tag, fire pits Barn rentals for weddings/events Country store with food, Kona Ice truck, popcorn stand Occasional live music or trunk-n-treat pick your own crops, farm market, pumpkin patch, Farm venue, . (ADDED: July 05, 2024, Suggested by a visitor)A visitor writes on July 05, 2024: "Good for families with children and large groups. Can be overrun on weekends. Fire pits are fairly close to each other. Corn maze is huge and easy to get lost, families should stick together. Very popular with local teenagers. Feels more commercial than other fall farm fun. "
• Flint Creek Orchard - Strawberries, raspberries, apples, blackberries, pumpkins (harvested and laid out on the ground or lawn)
  5405 W 500 S, Westpoint, IN 47992. Phone: (765) 572-1135. Email: paulhoward117@hotmail.com. Directions: See their website for directions. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check . . Varies based on fruit/vegetable availability, generally mornings or evenings, check Facebook page or call for hours and produce in season. Not sure about organic, you can contact the farm. Really just pick-your-own operation. I have seen families hang out and have small picnics there. pick your own crops, farm market, . (ADDED: July 05, 2024, Suggested by a visitor)A visitor writes on July 05, 2024: "I love it, very friendly and generous owners, great selection and good quality. Very peaceful setting, near horse farms. I have been picking there for several years now. They have a lot of pumpkins, squashes that they grow but I can't remember if you can pick yourself. ,"
• Prairie View Farms Battle Ground - Uses natural growing practices, pumpkins, tomatoes,
  4604 Pretty Prairie Rd, Battle Ground, IN 47920. Phone: 765-567-2750. Email: okos@purdue.edu. Open: Sweet corn Monday to Saturday from 11 am to 6 pm July 1 to August 30 Pumpkins and vegetables call for open times. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. We use natural practices, but are not seeking organic certification
• Wea Creek Orchard - Apples, Peaches, Pumpkins, pumpkin patch in the field, pumpkins brought in from the field, weddings and wedding parties, tours of the operation, group tours
  5618 South County Road 200 East, Lafayette, IN 47909. Phone: 765-807-6142. Email: management@weacreekorchard.com. Open: Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm. Directions: See their website for directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard .
  Wea Creek Orchard Facebook page. Facebook page. (ADDED: September 13, 2013, suggested by a visitor)A visitor writes on September 13, 2013: "They are Supper accommodating and my kids LOVE to go there!! They encourage you to pick fruit right off the trees and eat it!! "

 

Pumpkin

Pumpkin Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Do you want it for a party, decoration or eating?

For a wedding or party:

See this page: Finding pumpkins for weddings

Decoration to paint or carve:

OK, Then you need only look for any pumpkin that is

• visually appealing, evenly a deep orange. The shape is just whatever appeals to you. If it grew on its side and has a flat spot, you can either make that the make or use it as part of your design!
• free from cuts, soft spots, bruises. The flesh should feel hard, and not give easily. Infections can invade easily and cause rot
• Make sure the stem is attached.

Store it carefully, especially if you pick it from the vine yourself. Cure a fresh-picked pumpkin by keeping it in a dry place. Don't handle or disturb it. Curing toughens the rind, making it less prone to rot. Pumpkins will keep for months in a cool (50 F to 65F dry, low humidity environment; such as a cool, dry basement.

Tip: If you like roasted or baked pumpkin seeds, you can save the seeds from any pumpkin!

To make a pumpkin pie!

Then you need a small, sweet type of pumpkin that has been developed for eating. They are smaller, typically about 8" to 10" diameter. The meat is much less stringy and smoother than a decorative pumpkin variety. Pumpkin is rich in vitamin A and potassium. One-half cup of cooked pumpkin provides more than the recommended daily allowance of vitamin A. One cup of cooked pumpkin contains only 81 calories. It's low in fat and sodium! Usually you can get these at the grocery store, and some of the pumpkin patches and farm stands have them. Be sure to tell them that you intend to use it for a pumpkin pie. Again, look for firm, no soft spots, or signs of any rot. See this page for easy, illustrated directions to make a pumpkin pie from a fresh pumpkin!

Varieties of Pumpkins

• Sugar - Excellent for baking
• Jack O'Lantern - most common for carving
• White Lumina - unusual, medium-sized white pumpkin
• Mini - Great for decoration
• Gourds - Many varieties, used for decorations

For a very complete, detailed list of many varieties of pumpkins and where to get the seeds, see this page!

Want to Grow Your Own Pumpkins?

Then see this page!

Pumpkin recipes

• How to prepare cooked pumpkin from a fresh pumpkin (for use in all the recipes)
• Illustrated instructions to make a pumpkin pie from a fresh pumpkin - the best pumpkin pie you will ever taste! (metric version for the UK, Europe, Australia, Japan, etc.)
• How to home-can pumpkin (in a cooked, cubed form) and why you shouldn't home-can the pureed forms.
• Traditional Pumpkin Pie
• Chocolate pumpkin pie
• Pumpkin Spice Muffins
• Pumpkin muffins
• Pumpkin Bread
• Pumpkin Butter!
• Pumpkin cheesecake - INCREDIBLE!!! You have to try this one!
• Pumpkin Cookies
• Pumpkin soup - even if you normally aren't a soup lover; you will love this one.
• Butternut-Chestnut Panchetta-Bacon Soup - Pumpkin or Butternut squash combines with chestnuts and bacon, ham or panchetta in this great soup
• Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
• No Sugar Pumpkin Pie
• Apple Cider Doughnut Recipe (with maple glaze or sugar glaze)

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