the greater metropolitan Des Moines area of Iowa Pumpkin U-Pick Orchards in !

Find a local pick your own farm here!

Pumpkin U-Pick Orchards in the greater metropolitan Des Moines area of Iowa 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

Greene County

Deal's Orchard - apples, cherries, onions, pumpkins, Cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises), gift shop, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties are available, restrooms, jumping pillow, trike track, farm animals, school tours
1102 244th Street, Jefferson, IA 50129. Phone: 515-386-8279. Email: dealsorchard@gmail.com. Open: See our website for current hours Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Directions: Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, WIC Vouchers. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, WIC Vouchers.
Deal's Orchard Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: 515-370-8279 We have over 25 varieties of Iowa apples as well as tomatoes, sweet corn, pumpkins, holiday gift baskets, and plenty of other seasonal fruits and vegetables. In 1999 we planted our first crop of Scotch Pine trees and now have a wide selection of Christmas trees on our Tree Farm. In the fall, we invite you to come and enjoy our family fun zone, Apple Acres, as well as a corn maze, a pumpkin patch, and free weekend hayrack rides. Bring the family out to and make some memories finding the perfect Christmas tree or picking some ripe apples. If you'd prefer we do the work for you, visit the Apple Barn to buy something we carefully picked just for you

Madison County

The Pumpkin Ranch - pumpkins, summer squash, winter squash, Honey from hives on the farm, gift shop, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties are available, picnic area, inflatables or bounce houses, pony rides, school tours
2425 Hiatt Apple Trail, Winterset, IA 50273. Phone: 515-490-9281. Email: info@thepumpkinranch.com. Open: Call or check website for seasonal hours. Directions: Go to website for complete directions. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
The Pumpkin Ranch Facebook page.

Polk County

Pumpkinville at Mitchellville - pumpkins, squash, gourds, pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, corn maze, and prepicked produce, restrooms, picnic area, tractor-pulled hay rides, petting zoo
618 Center Ave S, Mitchellville, IA 50169. Phone: 515-967-0972. Email: Pumpkinville@mchsi.com. Open: Daily 10:00 TO Dusk Corn maze open August-October 10 am to 9 pm We are open for business from May 1 through October 31. Directions: Take exit 149 off of I-80 south to Center Ave Take Center Ave south out of town to 618 Center Ave S . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only.
Pumpkinville at Mitchellville Facebook page. Crops are usually available in August, September, October. We sell vegetables daily from spring through fall The ONLY pyo crops offered are pumpkins, squash, gourds. (UPDATED: June 10, 2020)
Upstream Gardens & Orchard - apples, asparagus, beans, beets, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cherries, corn (sweet), cucumbers, currants (red and black), other berries, pears, peaches, peppers, plums, pumpkins, raspberries (red), raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (Autumn, red), raspberries (yellow), raspberries (Spring, yellow), raspberries (Autumn, yellow), raspberries (black), raspberries (Spring, black), raspberries (Autumn, black), rhubarb, summer squash, winter squash, strawberries, tomatoes, walnuts, Honey from hives on the farm
5987 Ne 88th St, Altoona, IA 50009. Phone: 515-957-1303. Email: upstreamgardens@gmail.com. Open: See the main page on our website for hours as they may change on a weekly basis. Directions: From I-80 exit 143, go south to NE 9th Street $where the median stops$ and turn left. Go 2 miles and turn left again. Farm is on the right side of the road .7 miles from the turn. From Altoona, take 8th Street SW east out of town to NE 88th Street $East edge of the golf course$ Turn left and go North.1.7 miles. Farm is on right side of the road. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
Upstream Gardens & Orchard Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: 515-556-4197 From I-80 exit 143, go south to NE 9th Street (where the median stops) and turn left. Go 2 miles and turn left again. Farm is on the right side of the road .7 miles from the turn. From Altoona, take 8th Street SW east out of town to NE 88th Street (East edge of the golf course) Turn left and go North.1.7 miles. Farm is on right side of the road (UPDATED: April 29, 2022, JBS) (UPDATED: April 18, 2016)

Story County

Center Grove Orchard - apples, pumpkins, U-pick and already picked, gift shop, concessions or refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, face painting, Jumping pillow, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours
32835 610th Ave, Cambridge, IA 50046. Phone: 515-383-4354. Email: fun@centergroveorchard.com. Open: September through Christmas, on Monday to Saturday from 9am to 7pm and Sunday from 11am to 6pm. Directions: Just north of Ankeny and south of Ames, 5 miles east of I-35 on Highway 210 $Exit 102, Cambridge$. Then, north 18 mile on 610th Avenue. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover.
Center Grove Orchard Facebook page. Just north of Ankeny and south of Ames, 5 miles east of I-35 on Highway 210 (Exit 102, Cambridge). Then, north 1/8 mile on 610th Avenue Come be part of the lively atmosphere of our beautiful Central Iowa farm! We're sure you will gather as many happy memories as apples. Enjoy daily hayrides, corn pool, corn maze and hay maze, farm animals, pedal tractors, weekend festivals with live entertainment, and so much more. Don't forget our jumping pillow, rubber duck races, Three Little Pigs houses, and apple sling shot. We have the best (and only) Potty Barn anywhere in the Des Moines and Ames area! Of course, you can pick your own apples and find your perfect pumpkin.
The Berry Patch - Integrated pest management, Apples, asparagus, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, currants (red and black), gooseberries, pumpkins, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, and prepicked produce, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, horse-drawn hay rides, tractor-pulled hay rides
62785 280 Street, Nevada, IA 50201. Phone: 877-382-5138. Email: info@berrypatchfarm.com. Open: Click here for picking updates. Directions: from Des Moines, north on I35 to exit 102,turn east on 210. Go east 5 miles to S14, go north 6 miles to 280 st. Go east 34 miles to Berry Patch Farm. From Ames: East on US 30 8 miles to S14. South 4 miles to 280 Street East 34 miles to Berry Patch Farm Directions and Mapquest on our web site. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard.
The Berry Patch Facebook page. et, Nevada, IA 50201 from Des Moines, north on I35 to exit 102,turn east on 210. Go east 5 miles to S14, go north 6 miles to 280 st. Go east 3/4 miles to Berry Patch Farm. From Ames: East on US 30 8 miles to S14. South 4 miles to 280 Street East 3/4 miles to Berry Patch Farm Directions and Mapquest on our web site Crops are usually available in June, July, August, September, October. please check website for current hoursHeritage Red Raspberries and Fall Gold Raspberries, Apples; Honeycrisp, Earlygold, Gala, Mollies Delicious, Mac Intosh, Priscilla , Liberty, Red Cortland, Jonathon, Lura Red

Tama County

Hinegardner Orchard - apples, strawberries, Pumpkin Patch, pumpkins, squash, cider, honey, caramel apples, pies.
1348 295th Street, Montour, IA 50173. Phone: 641-492-6353. Open: Call for hours and availability; in 2022, Annual Apple Picks Pick Your Own Sept. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions.
Hinegardner Orchard Facebook page. Call for hours and availability; in 2022, Annual Apple Picks (Pick Your Own) Sept. 18th and 19th & Sept. 25th and 26th 7 AM to 6 PMclick here for a map. Apple Orchard, Strawberry Farmfacebook page

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)

2024 the greater metropolitan Des Moines area of Iowa Pumpkin U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Find a pick-your-own farm near you! Then learn to can and freeze! Since 2002! We update continuously; Beware the copycat websites!