There are so many reasons that PYO Farms have been hugely popular this year. A focus on looking for local, the search for organic and sustainable grown products, a day out with the Rug Rugs over the Summer months....the list goes on!
The search is over.....The Lifestyle Guide have listed 10 Beautifully British places to pick your plums and cultivate your cucumbers!
Where? Esher, Surrey
Calendar: Dates to pick!
What’s Available?
Fruit: apples, blackberries, blackcurrants, cherries, gooseberries, plums, raspberries, redcurrants, strawberries
Veg: beetroot, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflowers, courgettes, cucumbers, french beans, marrows, onions, pumpkins, spinach, squash, sweetcorn
Flowers: sunflowers
The large range of fruits and vegetables are available for pick your own from June to October! Simply apply for a pass online and head on over with your friends or family. To make the day out extra special, have a browse of their Garden Centre or nip into their farm shop which is stocked full of local produce. Feeling hungry? Garsons Restaurant serves a very classic breakfast or lunch for you to enjoy!
Where? Edinburgh, Scotland
Calendar: Dates to Pick!
What’s available?
Fruit: apples, blackberries, black currants, cherries, gooseberries, strawberries, raspberries, redcurrants
Veg: broad beans, french beans, peas, pumpkins, runner beans
Flowers: sunflowers
Check out this modern farm experience which has been family run since 1988. Plan a day of family fun by visiting the sheep, pygmy goats and shetland ponies! Take a walk round the nature detective trails, or sit down on the tractor and trailer rides. Finish the day with a well earned meal at the cafe, with picnic boxes for the kids and an afternoon tea or platter for the adults!
Where? Petersfield, Hampshire
Calendar: Dates to Pick!
What’s available?
Fruit: strawberries, gooseberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants, tayberries, sunberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, plums, damsons, rhubarb
Veg: asparagus, broad beans, calabrese, carrots, mange tout, peas, spinach, courgette, marrow, runner beans, sweetcorn, squash, pumpkins.
Other: various herbs and flowers
With 100 acres of land, you won’t run out of things to see at Durleighmarsh Farm! The Farm Shop on site is fully stocked of freshly picked produce. Check the website for a detailed crop calendar for what is available at the time of your visit, there’s a huge range of crops available.
Where? Addlestone, Surrey
Calendar: Dates to Pick!
What’s available?
Fruit: strawberries, gooseberries, blackcurrants, rhubarb, redcurrants, blackberries, raspberries.
Veg: broad beans, asparagus, beetroot, french beans, courgettes, pumpkins, peas, spinach, carrots, runner beans, marrows, sweetcorn, squashes
Other: christmas trees, honey, sunflowers
Open from April to September, this farm has over 20 different crops of fruit and veg. Outside of the picking season, in October you can attend the pumpkin patch event or the Christmas Tree Cabin from late November! Their passion is to be a fun place to educate children on where their food comes from.
Where? Gate Helmsley, Yorkshire
Calendar: Dates to Pick!
What’s available?
Fruit: blueberries, gooseberries, plums, raspberries, redcurrants, whitecurrants, blackcurrants, rhubarb, strawberries
Veg: asparagus, beetroot, broad beans, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, courgettes, cucumber, french beans, kale, leeks, lettuce, new potatoes, onions, parsnips, peas, potatoes, pumpkins, runner beans, spinach, spring onion, sprouts, squash, sweetcorn, tomatoes.
Other: herbs and sunflowers
The Balloon Tree have said that after growing soft fruit for over 20 years, they have managed to get it down to a fine art. The most convenient part of the pick your own is strawberries on table tops! On your visit you will also find a beautifully landscaped cafe garden, that you definitely shouldn’t miss!
Where? Croft, Warrington
Calendar: Dates to Pick!
What’s available?
Fruit: strawberries, gooseberries, redcurrants, blackcurrants, raspberries, tayberries, blackberries.
Veg: broad beans, garden peas, mangetout peas, sugar snap peas, onions, sweetcorn, yellow maize
Book your slot in advance, because they go quick! Fun for all the family from picking Strawberries from the tabletops to pulling out onions from the ground you won’t be short on choice of crops. It doesn’t stop there, you can also have a browse of the plant centre, farm shop and cafe and throughout August you can get lost in the maize maze!
Where? Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Calendar: Dates to Pick!
What’s available?
Fruit: strawberries, raspberries, blackberries
Veg: asparagus, courgettes, marrows, sweetcorn, squash, gourdes, pumpkins.
Other: Christmas trees
Not only does this farm have acres of crops to pick, but very cute animals too! You can visit the pigs, ostriches, chickens, ducks, sheep, donkeys, llamas, ponies and goats - who are said to be very friendly and love visitors. Check out their websites to see what events they run throughout the year, from summer fairs to open air cinemas there’s lots of fun to be had.
Where? Worthing, West Sussex
Calendar: Dates to Pick!
What’s available?
Fruit: strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants, plums, victoria plums, rhubarb
Veg: sweetcorn, cabbage, broccoli, peas, mangetout peas, sugar snap peas, broad beans, french beans, runner beans, carrots (orange, yellow, purple), beetroot (purple/yellow), onions (white/red), marrows, courgettes, blue pumpkin, orange pumpkin, butternut squash, mini squash.
Famous throughout the South of England, people travel hundreds of miles for the delicious fruit. They take pride in everything grown and sold is 100% natural and contains more nutrients than commercially grown produce. On the website you will find a live updated list of crops current available.
Where? Hayle, Cornwall
Calendar: Dates to Pick!
What’s available?
Fruit: gooseberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants, blackberries, red gooseberries, loganberries, white-currants, plums, cherries, apples, tayberries, tummelberries.
Veg: shelling peas, sugar snap peas, runner beans, pumpkins, mangetout, sweetcorn, broad beans
Set amidst 28 acres of beautiful countryside there are informational signs dotted across so you can learn whilst you wander. Farm entrance is free! Only pay for what you pick, with no need to book ahead of time. If the weather lets you down, chuck on some wellies as you’ll be sheltered from the rain with the weather poly-tunnels or the rows of trees to protect you from the coastal breeze.
Where? Enfield, Greater London
Calendar: Dates to Pick!
What’s available?
Fruit: strawberries, gooseberries, raspberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants, blackberries.
Veg: broad beans, spinach, swiss chard, courgettes, french beans, onions, beetroot, marrows, sweetcorn, tomatoes, squashes
Located in Enfield (Zone 5) this is probably the closest pick your own farm to the capital! Winning 5 pick your own awards since 2009 it ensures a fabulous day out. Currently taking pre-booked slots only, check out their website for a beautifully colour coordinated map of the farm and the crop calendar to see what is available.
