2024 North-Central Kansas, Riley, Geary, Saline Counties Pumpkin U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Pumpkin U-Pick Orchards in North-Central Kansas, Riley, Geary, Saline Counties 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

Ellsworth County

• Cain City Orchard - apples, pumpkins, U-pick and already picked
  2446 3rd Rd, Bushton, KS 67427. Phone: 620*562*3498. Email: caincity@yahoo.com. Open: UPDATE: September 08, 2018: The owner tells me they are closed until next season 2019, when their hours should be: Monday to Friday, from 2 pm to 6 pm Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm Call for evening picking. Directions: 4 12 miles east of Claflin, Ks on Highway 4 then 12 mile north on 3rd Road. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. 30Cain City Orchard UPDATE: September 08, 2018: The owner tells me they are closed until next season (2019), when their hours should be: Monday to Friday, from 2 pm to 6 pm Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm Call for evening picking 4 1/2 miles east of Claflin, Ks on Highway 4 then 1/2 mile north on 3rd RoadAsparagus season is April 15 to June 5, Apples typically begin middle of August(UPDATED: September 08, 2018)

Mitchell County

• Hoffer Produce - beets, carrots, corn (sweet), cucumbers, eggplant, melons, onions, pears, peppers, pumpkins, summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes, other vegetables,
  802 N Carlin, Beloit, KS 67420. Phone: 785-738-5078. Email: josephhoffer@hotmail.com. Open: 8am to 8pm Call for directions or questions. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. Crops are usually available in June, July, August, September, October

Republic County

• The Depot Market - PYO apples, pumpkins, mini-pumpkins, gourds, and squash, hay maze, Christmas trees, apple cider pressing
  1101 30 Road (HWY 36), Courtland, KS 66939. Phone: 785-374-4255. Click here for a map and directions. . Retail and wholesale pumpkins

Riley County

• Britt's Garden Acres - blackberries, eggplant, pumpkins, strawberries, Honey from hives on the farm, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties are available, restrooms, picnic area, Bounce house, petting zoo, birthday parties, school tours
  1000 S Scenic Dr, Manhattan, KS 66503. Phone: 785-539-1901. Email: brittsfarm@gmail.com. Open: March, April and November: Monday - Saturday 10am to 5:30pm; May - September: Monday - Saturday 9am to 7pm, Sunday 12pm to 6pm; October: Monday - Saturday 9am to 7pm, Sunday 10am to 6pm. Directions: The farm is approximately five miles west of Manhattan and two miles east of the Manhattan Regional Airport off Fort Riley Blvd. and Kimball Avenue. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx, SFMNP Vouchers.
  Britt's Garden Acres Facebook page. Crops are usually available in March through November; Strawberries May be picked in late May and early June, Blackberries in July and while the Pumpkin Patch is open in September and OctoberProduce we raise includes strawberries, watermelon, cantaloupe, blackberries, tomatoes, sweet corn, green beans, leafy greens, squash, and a variety of other crops. Come out to the farm to receive the freshest produce available. All at competitive prices from a family owned farm.
• Lazy T Ranch Adventures - Uses natural growing practices, flowers, pumpkins, Honey from hives on the farm, Fresh eggs, gift shop, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties, restrooms, picnic area, face painting, inflatables or bounce houses, jumping pillow, trike track, pedal kart track, mining for gems, mini-golf, pony rides, petting zoo, farm animals, birthday parties, weddings and wedding parties, school tours, group reservations
  2103 Zeandale Rd, Manhattan, KS 66502. Phone: (785) 844-0274. Email: chris@lazytranchadventures.com. Open: We are open as posted on our website for festivals and special events; We are open all days By Appointment; We welcome you to schedule your event, stay or tour. Directions: Located 2 miles east of Highway 177 on Highway 18 \(Zeandale Rd\) on the south side, enter under the Lazy T Ranch sign. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Venmo, PayPal, ApplePay, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  Lazy T Ranch Adventures Facebook page. Located 2 miles east of Highway 177 on Highway 18 (Zeandale Rd) on the south side, enter under the Lazy T Ranch signWe use natural practices, but are not seeking organic certificationKettle Corn, Fresh homemade fudge. (UPDATED: October 12, 2021)

Saline County

• Smoky Hill Bison Co. Maze and Pumpkin Patch - pumpkins, winter squash, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, farm animals, birthday parties, weddings and wedding parties, school tours, events at your location (call for info)
  2660 E Hobbs Creek Road, Assaria, KS 67416. Phone: 800-790-2665. Email: smoky@bisonfarm.com. Open: Gift shop open year round. Directions: South of Salina off of Interstate 135, use exit 78 or 82 and follow the Smoky Hill Bison signs to the Visitors Center. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx. Fax: 785-667-2747 click here for picking updates. Crops are usually available in September, October Maze hours from September 29 to October 31 are Monday to Thursday 10 am to 6 pm, Friday 10 am to 9 pm, Saturday 10 am to 10 pm, Sunday 11 am to 6 pm. Pumpkin Patch open daily mid-Sept through mid-November. Maze opens to the public September 29th thru Halloween, open to booked groups August thru mid-NovemberMoonlight Maze on Friday and Saturday nights. Haunted Trail open on Saturday nights. Official Kansas Giant Pumpkin Contest on Oct. 6th.
• Sunny Side Pumpkin Patch - cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, corn maze, straw or hay bale maze, child-sized haybale maze, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, horse-drawn hay rides, wagon rides
  11500 S Hopkins Road, Assaria, KS 67416. Phone: . Email: grantsfarm@sunnysidepatch.com. Open: Saturday: 11 AM to 6 PM Sunday: 1 PM to 6 PM Night maze Friday and Saturday 6 - 9 PM Open every weekend in October Payment: Cash, Check. Directions: South of Salina on I 135 to Exit 82 \(Assaria\). Go two miles South on Hwy 81 to Lapsley. Turn left and go 2 miles East to Hopkins. Turn right and go one and three quarter miles south to our patch. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.

 

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