Find a local pick your own farm here!

Sunflower U-Pick Orchards in Northwest Michigan in 2024, by county

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

Not all areas of a state have sunflowers 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

Grand Traverse County (including Old Mission Peninsula)

  • Old Mission Flowers - Minimizes chemical and pesticide use, flowers, tulips, sunflowers, U-pick and already picked
    16550 Center Road, Traverse City, MI 49686. Phone: (231) 499-5474. Email: vkdcoulter@gmail.com. Open: May - October, weather permitting, from dawn until dusk. Directions: Drive 14 miles out scenic Old Mission Peninsula on Center Road and turn right onto Ladd Road. You will see the garden and entrance on the left. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
    Old Mission Flowers Facebook page. Picking updates: Click here for picking updatesMay - Daffodils, Fancy Jonquils, Tulips, Lilacs; June - Alliums, Lupines, Poppies, Peonies, Salvia; July - Daisies, Lilies, Roses, Snapdragons, Yarrow; August - Sunflowers, Gladiolus, China Asters, Dahlias, Phlox, Statice; September - Cosmos, Rudbeck Saturday, Zinnias; October - Celosias, Cosmos, Roses, Sedum, Grasses, Sunflowers;. We minimize use of pesticides and other chemicals(ADDED: May 17, 2020)

 

Sunflowers

Sunflower Picking Tips, and Information

Sunflowers are a mid-to late summer crop. They need warm soil and full sun.  In most areas, expect sungflowers to be available starting in June, and sometimes continuing into August.  It really depends on when the farmer plants them, the variety and local weather conditions. Farms that offer U-pick or pick-your-own sunflowers are becoming more common.

  • Once picked, quickly get the stems into water
  • Get them out of the hot sun after picking to increase shelf life.  Cool shade is best.
  • Re-cut stems while underwater - once you get home. Making a fresh cut, while the cut end is submerged helps the stem to take up water and avoid a vapor lock.

 

Other Local Farm Products (Honey, Horses, Milk, Meat, Eggs, Etc.)
(NOT pick-your-own, unless they are also listed above)