The Best Peach Picking Orchards In Connecticut

Pick your own farms have been a tradition in Connecticut for decades and many local farms have served their communities for hundreds of years. Fruit picking has been a personal favorite summer and autumn past time for me and my family. August is peach picking season in New England and in celebration of one of my favorite seasons, I have curated a list of the best peach picking orchards in Connecticut. I did my best to select a few from various parts of the state so that you may find the best location close to you. There are many more that did not make the list, not because they’re any less peachy, but because I have not have the pleasure of visiting them all. I look forward to growing this list and would love to hear your recommendations in the comments below.

 

How to pick the perfect peach:

Peaches earlier in the season (early August) are nick-named “cling-stone” because the flesh of the peach clings tight to the pit (or known as stone).  Peaches later in the season from mid-August to early September are called free-stone, as they are softer and do not cling to the pit. Peaches are high in Vitamin C and A, but many are not aware that they are also great sources of iron and potassium. Ripe peaches on the tree are actually very firm and soften after being picked, however, you do not want to pick a peach that is rock hard because they’re not ready for picking just yet. When picking peaces, you will want to select a peach that is a vibrant golden or red color and also one that smells fragrant. If you pick one too soon, simply leave it out in room temperature to ripen.

 

My Favorite Peach Orchards in Connecticut:

 

Lyman Orchards

Perhaps one of the oldest orchards on this list established in 1741, Lyman Orchards (also pictured here in this blog post) is a personal favorite of mine because of the variety of crops, the abundance of produce, the lovely scenic views, and the Apple Barrel store on their premises.

You can find their site by clicking here.

Rogers Orchards

The Rogers family planted their orchards in 1809 and was one of the first orchards to plant peaches in Connecticut! They have over ten varieties of peaches and over 7,000 peach trees were planted.

You can find their site by clicking here. 

 

March Farms

Perhaps one of the youngest family run farms on our list, March Farms was founded in 1915. At the start, the farm supported various crops and livestock, but turned into a vegetable and fruit based farm in 1988. With eleven greenhouses and beautiful views in Litchfield County, March Farms is a local favorite.

You can find their site by clicking here. 

 

Bishop’s Orchards

With a long family history since 1871, Bishop’s Orchards is one of the best pick-your-own orchards along the Connecticut shoreline. They also have a wonderful farm market at the orchard that you will want to explore once your picking adventures are complete.

You can find their site by clicking here.

 

Ellsworth Hill Orchard & Berry Farm

Located in Sharon, Connecticut, the Ellsworth Hill Orchard and Berry Farm offers beautiful views and delicious peaces.

You can find their site by clicking here.

 

Did I miss an important orchard that should be on the list? Tell me about your favorite orchard in the comments and share this post on Pinterest or Facebook.