Picking your own fruit is practically an Ontario summer tradition. Strawberries? Of course. Apples? Been there. Blueberries? Pass us a basket.
But what about digging your own potatoes, picking peas straight from the vine or filling a basket with tomatoes, peppers and beans?
Pick-your-own vegetable farms offer a different way to experience Ontario agriculture — one that gets you out into the fields, a little dirt under your fingernails and a whole lot closer to where your food comes from.
Whether you’re stocking the fridge, planning an ambitious weekend of preserving or just looking for an excuse to spend an afternoon on a farm, here are some of our favourite places to pick your own vegetables in Ontario.
Before you go: Crops and picking conditions can change quickly throughout the growing season. Always check directly with the farm for current availability, hours and picking conditions before hitting the road.
This summer, add one of these pick-your-own veggie adventures to your next weekend jaunt.
Andrews Farm Market & Winery, Milton
andrewsscenicacres.com
Want to kick off pick-your-own season before summer has even officially arrived? Start with asparagus.
Andrews Farm Market & Winery in Milton begins its pick-your-own season with asparagus in the spring before rolling into a long list of fruits and vegetables as Ontario’s growing season progresses.
There’s plenty to do once you’re finished in the fields, too. Explore the farm, see what’s available at the farm market and stop by Andrews Winery while you’re there.
With different crops ripening throughout the season, this is one of those farms worth visiting more than once.
Good to know: Admission is required to access the pick-your-own fields, with the produce you harvest purchased separately. Check the farm’s current crop availability before visiting.
Barrie Hill Farms, Springwater
barriehillfarms.com
If you like your peas straight from the pod, Barrie Hill Farms has your name all over it.
Located just outside Barrie, this longtime family farm has been welcoming visitors into its fields for 50 years. Depending on when you visit, pick-your-own crops can include asparagus, peas, sweet corn and pumpkins alongside plenty of Ontario fruit, including strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and apples.
Pea season is particularly fun, with regular peas, sugar snap peas and snow peas making appearances when conditions cooperate.
Once your picking is done, stop by the farm market and café to see what else is coming out of the fields.
Good to know: Barrie Hill Farms posts regular crop updates during picking season, so check what’s available before heading out.
Thames River Melons, Innerkip
thamesrivermelons.com
If your idea of a successful farm visit involves coming home with enough vegetables to feed a small army, put Thames River Melons on your list.
Despite what the name might suggest, there is a LOT more than melon growing here.
The family farm near Innerkip grows an impressive variety of fruits and vegetables and offers one of the most extensive pick-your-own programs on this list. Depending on the time of year, you could find yourself harvesting everything from asparagus, peas and garlic to cucumbers, beans, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, zucchini and more.
In other words, bring your meal-planning A-game.
Different crops become available throughout the growing season, making Thames River Melons an especially fun stop for anyone who wants to experience an Ontario farm beyond the usual strawberry or apple picking trip.
Make a day of it: Check the farm’s crop calendar before visiting and plan your trip around what you most want to harvest. With so many different crops grown here, there’s almost always something new coming into season.
Josling Farms, Carlisle
joslingfarms.com
Sometimes the best farm experiences are the simplest ones: grab a basket and head into the field.
Josling Farms in Carlisle is a fourth-generation family operation that has been farming since 1965. The farm offers an extensive selection of seasonal pick-your-own vegetables, making it a great stop for anyone who wants to stock up on Ontario-grown produce straight from the source.
What’s ready to harvest changes as the growing season progresses, so every visit can look a little different.
This is proper hands-on farm shopping — and considerably more satisfying than pushing a cart through the produce aisle.
Good to know: Bring your own baskets, bags or containers for your harvest. The farm also recommends calling before visiting, particularly after heavy rain, as field conditions can temporarily affect pick-your-own operations.
Forsythe Family Farms, Greenbank
forsythefamilyfarms.com
Tomatoes warm from the sun just hit differently.
At Forsythe Family Farms in Greenbank, visitors can pick a variety of seasonal crops throughout the growing season, including peas, beans, tomatoes and pumpkins, along with strawberries and flowers.
This is an especially good option if your picking crew includes little farmers. Beyond the fields, Forsythe offers plenty of reasons for families to stick around, with farm animals, play areas, walking trails and seasonal wagon rides all part of the experience.
Pick your vegetables, meet a few farm animals and head home with the makings of dinner. Not a bad way to spend a day.
Good to know: Forsythe provides containers for pick-your-own crops. Check the farm’s current harvest information before visiting to see what’s ready.
What Vegetables Can You Pick Yourself in Ontario?
A surprising number!
Depending on the farm and time of year, Ontario pick-your-own crops can include:
- Asparagus
- Peas and sugar snap peas
- Beans
- Beets
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Cucumbers
- Garlic
- Herbs
- Lettuce and leafy greens
- Onions
- Peppers
- Potatoes
- Pumpkins
- Tomatoes
- Zucchini
And that’s before we even get into all the berries, tree fruit and other goodies available at many of these farms.
Ontario’s growing season stretches from spring asparagus right through to fall pumpkins, so there’s no single “best” time to go. It depends entirely on what you want to bring home.
Tips for Visiting a Pick-Your-Own Vegetable Farm
Check what’s in season. Unlike the grocery store, farms work on Mother Nature’s schedule. What was plentiful last week might be finished by the time you visit.
Check the farm’s updates before leaving home. Heavy rain, extreme heat or a particularly busy weekend can affect whether a field is open for picking.
Dress for a farm, not a photoshoot. Closed-toe shoes, sunscreen and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty are your friends. Fields can also be muddy even when the weather looks perfect.
Know the container rules. Some farms provide picking containers while others ask you to bring your own.
Bring a cooler. If you’re planning to make a few stops or have a long drive home, keeping your freshly picked produce cool will help it stay at its best.
Ask questions. Not sure how to tell when that pepper is ready? Wondering which tomato will make the best sauce? Ask the people who grew it. That connection to the people and places behind our food is half the fun.
