8 Connecticut Apple Orchards Locals Go Back to Every Fall

There’s still time to pick your own apples in Connecticut, though some orchards are winding down.

Hours and end dates differ from one orchard to the next, so a quick check before you go can save you a trip.

Here’s where Connecticut locals head each fall, and what each orchard offers.

1. Lyman Orchards

Lyman Orchards in Middlefield lets you pick from 30 varieties of apples, grown on 30,000 trees across 100 acres.

The varieties run from Honeycrisp and Macoun to Granny Smith and Pink Lady.

Apple season runs from mid-August to mid-November, with picking open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Lyman prices a peck bag at $26 and a half peck bag at $16.

Its Apple Barrel farm market lists year-round hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Your pick-your-own purchase comes with a coupon for 50% off a small soft serve cone at the AB Creamery.

2. Belltown Hill Orchards

You can pick from over 24 varieties of apples at Belltown Hill Orchards in South Glastonbury.

Its pick-your-own season ends in late October, according to the orchard.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for Saturdays and Sundays.

The last wagon leaves at 4 p.m. and picking closes at 4:15, so you’ll want to arrive well before then.

Pets stay home.

3. Hidden Gem Orchard

Until October 31, you can pick apples at Hidden Gem Orchard in Southbury, Thursday through Monday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The orchard, which dates to 2017, grows 39 varieties of heirloom and other unique apples, according to its website.

Hay wagon rides for pickers run on Saturdays and Sundays only, weather permitting.

The farm stand stays open until November 29.

You can end a weekend visit with apple cider donuts and hand pies, which Hidden Gem advertises for every weekend.

4. Rogers Orchards

Rogers Orchards in Southington opens its apple pick-your-own Friday through Sunday, plus holiday Mondays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Its page puts the season at the first weekend of September through the end of October.

You buy your bags before you pick, and staff will explain which varieties are ripe and where to find them.

The two farms you can pick at are Sunnymount Farm and Shuttle Meadow Farm in Southington.

Rogers’s variety calendar lists Pink Lady, Red Delicious, Cameo and Golden Delicious for early October.

Evercrisp follows by mid-October at both farms.

You don’t need a reservation.

The farm bakery’s apple cider donuts are made fresh daily, alongside 10-inch fruit pies.

5. Bishop’s Orchards

Apples are in season at Bishop’s Orchards in Guilford from late August to late October, according to the orchard.

Hours vary by season and day at pick-your-own, so you can call 203-458-PICK for the latest.

You can pay with credit, debit or cash, but Bishop’s doesn’t accept checks or EBT at pick-your-own.

The Fall Festival is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through November 1.

You’ll find the pick-your-own on New England Road, while the farm market and creamery sit on Boston Post Road.

6. Holmberg Orchards

Fall apple picking at Holmberg Orchards in Gales Ferry runs from after Labor Day through October 27, according to the orchard.

Hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Besides apples, there are pumpkins, gourds, squash, cut-your-own flowers, cider donuts and fresh sweet cider.

Tree fruit costs $12 for a quarter peck, $20 for a half peck and $35 for a peck.

You can text JOIN to 877-237-5979 for Holmberg’s updates on which fruits are ready for picking.

You’ll want to arrive at least 25 minutes before the 5 p.m. closing time.

7. Silverman’s Farm

Apple season at Silverman’s Farm in Easton begins on or around August 15 with Ginger Gold, according to the farm.

Its harvest chart lists 22 varieties through early November, including Fuji and Pink Lady.

Pick-your-own hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, when it’s available.

You must pre-purchase a bag before entering the orchard, and backpacks or other carriers aren’t allowed.

Kids under 16 need an adult.

Hold the branch with one hand and turn each apple upward until it releases.

8. Clark Farms at Bushy Hill

Weather permitting, Clark Farms at Bushy Hill in Granby listed September 5 as the start of its 2026 apple-picking season.

You check in at the apple window on the porch and take a bag and a ticket for the tractor.

The rule against walking to the picking fields is for safety and security.

Leave strollers, backpacks, personal bags and outside containers in your vehicle.

For current varieties, Clark points you to its Instagram and Facebook pages or to a recorded message at (860) 653-4022.

The farm's apple season usually runs until late October or early November.

Picking Late-Season Apples

Apple growers plant early, mid and late varieties so the picking season lasts, an assistant extension educator at UConn told UConn Today in September 2024.

Late varieties, ready toward October, include Fuji, Golden Delicious and Red Delicious.