No matter what is preoccupying humans, the seasons keep turning and fruits keep growing. Just like any other year, September is apple-picking season, the traditional time of year to visit farms and orchards to take home nature’s bounty. Farms around the Hartford area are open for picking.
Farms each have different rate structures, rules and apple varieties. Some are open for apples, and some for other fruits, each with a different season window. Visit websites for specifics.
Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the surging, highly contagious delta variant, most farms ask that visitors adhere to social distancing and masking protocols. Visitors are asked to not come if they are not feeling well, and to use sanitizing stations before going into the orchards.
Here is a list of some Hartford-area farms. It is not all inclusive.
Lyman Orchards, 105 South St. in Middlefield: Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., last entry at 4:30 p.m. lymanorchards.com/pick-your-own.
Johnny Appleseed, 185 West Road (Route 83) in Ellington: Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. johnnyappleseedfarmct.com.
Irish Bend Orchard, 90 Pioneer Heights Road in Somers: Open Friday to Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. irishbendorchard.com.
Rogers Orchards in Southington, with locations at 336 Long Bottom Road (Home Farm) and 2876 Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike (Sunnymount): Open Friday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. rogersorchards.com.
Karabin Farms, 894 Andrews St. in Southington: Open Friday to Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. karabinfarms.com.
Belltown Hill Orchards, 483 Matson Hill Road in Glastonbury: Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. belltownhillorchards.com/PickYourOwnApple.
Lost Acres Orchard, 130 Lost Acres Road in North Granby. Weekends 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. lostacres.com.
Dondero Orchards, 529 Woodland St. in Glastonbury: Wednesday to Monday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. donderoorchards.com.
Hickory Hill Orchards, 351 South Meriden Road (Route 70) in Cheshire: Daily 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. hickoryhillorchards.com.
Blue Hills Orchard, 141 Blue Hills Road in Wallingford: Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. bluehillsorchard.com.
Rose’s Berry Farm, 295 Matson Hill Road in Glastonbury: Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. rosesberryfarm.com.
Easy Pickin’s Orchard, 46 Bailey Road in Enfield: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 9 a.m. to noon, Tuesday and Thursday 4 to 6:30 p.m., weekends 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. easypickinsorchard.com.
Scott’s Orchard and Nursery, 1838 New London Turnpike in Glastonbury: Daily 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. scottsorchardandnursery.com.
Susan Dunne can be reached at sdunne@courant.com.
