Fill Up Your Baskets at 8 Long Island Pick-Your-Own Orchards

Sweetening the change from summer to autumn is the glorious tradition of marching into a local orchard, reaching up and picking delicious, juicy orbs of fruit. That’s right, apple picking season’s back!

Many pick-your-own apple orchards on Long Island also offer tons of fall activities, such as corn mazes, hayrides, playgrounds and more. Not to mention the homemade pies, fresh apple cider, donuts and an endless list of other delicious fresh-made goodies.

Here’s what’s in store at Long Island’s eight apple orchards.:

1. Hank’s Pumpkintown
Don’t let the name fool you. Hank’s also has an orchard with 14 varieties of apples open from September 8 through late October. They also have a corn maze, a corn train, a duck race and a farm stand.
Location: 240 Montauk Highway, Watermill
Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays

2. Harbes Family Farm and Orchard
Harbes’ orchard opened to pickers on September 1, with more than 27 different varieties of apples to choose from. The fun includes a long corn maze, vineyard wines, homemade caramel and candy apples, cider donuts and a spooky nighttime maze.
Location: 5698 Sound Avenue, Riverhead
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every weekend in September and October; Corn Maze is open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

3. Lewin Farms
This “pick your own” orchard usually opens from late August through October, but dates are approximate, so they encourage pickers to call to confirm. Their farm stand also sells pumpkin, corn, berries and other crops. Lewin Farms also has a corn maze of approximately five acres that is open to all age groups.
Location: 812 Sound Avenue, Calverton
Hours: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., every day but Tuesday; call to confirm

4. Milk Pail Farm and Orchard
This farm starts their apple picking season on September 1 and runs through late October. Pumpkins are also available to pick at the Milk Pail Farm. Their website includes a detailed breakdown of the varieties of apples that are available at which times during the short apple-picking season.
Location: 1346 Montauk Highway, Watermill
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Fridays through Sundays

5. Seven Ponds Orchard
Seven Ponds Orchard offers apples, berries and vegetables to pick from. Sunflowers and pumpkins are also available when in season. A farmers market, playground, hayride and corn maze add to the fun.
Location: 65 Seven Ponds Road, Watermill
Hours: 9 a.m.to 6 p.m. daily through Thanksgiving

6. Wickham’s Fruit Farm
Wickham’s orchard opens for apples in September and runs through October, with pumpkin picking starting in October. Also available for picking are strawberries, cherries, blueberries, blackberries and peaches. They also boast cider from Long Island’s oldest cider press.
Location: 28700 Main Road, Cutchogue
Hours: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday

7. Windy Acres Farm
Besides apples, this family-run farm also offers pumpkins in the fall. Other local fruits and vegetables, as well as flowers, are available for purchase. A playground and tractor ride for children are available as well.
Location: 3810 Middle Country Road, Calverton
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays

8. Woodside Orchards
Twenty-eight different types of apples are available on semi-dwarf trees, easy for children to pick. Also ready to pick are pumpkins, and there is a corn maze for a fun activity. Woodside is also the only local orchard that makes hard cider and has a tasting room on site.
Location: 729 Main Road, Aquebogue and 116 Manor Lane, Jamesport
Hours: The Aquebogue location is open for picking from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. The Jamesport location is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

[A version of this story was originally published by Long Island Press. You can read the original version here.]

Related Stories

• Get Your Fill of Apples at 5 Pick-Your-Own New York Orchards
• 5 Amazing Upstate Leaf Peeping Spots for New Yorkers
• Travel Tips for the Hudson River Valley Visitor in 1896

Email tips@brownstoner.com with further comments, questions or tips. Follow Brownstoner on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.