Plum U-Pick Orchards in Southern East Anglia in 2024, by county
Below are the PYO orchards and farms for plums that we know of in this area. Not all areas have plums orchards or farms that are open to the public. If you know of any others, please tell us using the add a farm form!
Remember to always check with the farm's own website or Facebook page before you go - or call or email them if they don't have a website or Facebook page. Conditions at the farms and crops can change literally overnight, so if you want to avoid a wasted trip out there - check with the farm directly before you go! If I cannot reach them, I DON'T GO!
PLEASE report closed farms, broken links and incorrect info using the "Report Corrections" form below.
Bedfordshire
Essex
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Craner Produce Soft Fruit Farm
- plums, damsons Blackberries, strawberries, tayberries, loganberries, Black currants, Red
currants, Gooseberries, runner beans
Merryleas, Common Road, Broadley Common, Waltham Abbey, Essex EN9 2DF. Phone: 01992 892862. Email: email: sales@cranerproduce.co.uk. Open: They sometimes open late in the season (June). In June, they have Strawberries, Raspberries and Broad beans, plus more in the shop. They grow PYO strawberries, raspberries, black currants, red currants, blackberries, plums, damsons apples and gooseberries, but only in season. Today all our strawberries are grown on the “table top system” but this year we have reduced the amount we will produce, as the time has come for us to take life somewhat more easily. Our gooseberries are superb and all are grown on a multi-cordon system so they can be picked from a comfortable standing position - we do not know of another farm where this is on offer, but no doubt someone will tell us! Each year we produce more than we can get picked , so please come and help us, you may be surprised not to get too scratched in the process. Please remember they may start the last weekend in May. We try to make the fruit-picking experience a happy and enjoyable one with easy access to all our different fruits and plenty of green space all around. Regular visitors will notice that there is more green space this summer. (UPDATED: 02 April 2016, JBS) (UPDATED: July 9, 2015, JBS) (UPDATED: June 25, 2009)
A visitor writes: "Extremely friendly owners, very tidy picking areas, suitable for children, tea room available in afternoon, best to phone to see what is selling, information updated daily." - Graces Fruit Farm - PYO: Apples,
plums, blackberries, blackcurrants, strawberries, raspberries, loganberries,
Tayberries, asparagus, broad beans, runner beans
Causeway End, Thaxted Road, Wimbish, Saffron, Walden. Tel.01371 830387. Open: Call for hours and availability. Directions: On B184 Saffron Walden/Thaxted rd 4 miles S of Saffron Walden on R. Clearly signposted. PYO large range soft fruits, apples plums plus summer vegetables. Farm shop with range of produce. Tea room, childrens play area, picnic area. Facilities: Ample parking, children's play area, nearby pub, picnic area, tea room, plants and shrubs, easy access for disabled, toilets, caravan club. PYO Asparagus in April/May (call to check when ready). (UPDATED: 02 April 2016, JBS) -
Lathcoats Farm - blackberries, boysenberries, cherries, currants
(red and black), gooseberries, plums, raspberries (red), strawberries,
Beehive Lane Galleywood, Chelmsford, CM2 8LX. Phone: 01245 353021. Email:
info@eapples.co.uk. Open: Monday
to Thursday & Saturday 9 to 5, Friday 9 to 6, Sunday 10 to 4 BUT please make
sure you are at the shop well before closing time.
Directions: A12 Galleywood exit. Take B1007 towards Galleywood
for one mile, at traffic lights straight over. After 200 meters, Turn right just
past Helix Garage, into Beehive La, B1009. Farm is less than 1 mile on L.
Click
here for their page with a link to a map and directions. The season usually starts about mid June and goes on until the
end of July. Payment: Cash, Cheque. Farm shop open throughout the year with
top quality food from local and regional producers. The Farm Shop is open all year round. Our
specialty is English apples - we grow 40 varieties in our orchards. The
apple season begins in August. Other pyo crops:
June - Strawberries, Gooseberries & Raspberries;
July - Strawberries, Raspberries, Cherries, Currants, Blackberries & Gooseberries
August - Blackberries & Plums
September - Plums.
A Saturday in October is our annual Apple Day and Farmers' Market when you will be able to sample 30 varieties of apple grown at Lathcoates and enjoy many other attractions. They have 45 hectares of apples, 40 varieties grown, also 3 hectares strawberries and other soft fruit, plus cherries, plums, asparagus. You can rent a range of different apple varieties and get to keep all the apples at harvest time. . (UPDATED: 02 April 2016, JBS) (UPDATED: June 27, 2014, from their website) (UPDATED: September 04, 2009) - Little Baddow Hall Fruit Farms Ltd
- plums and Christmas trees.
Church Road, Little Baddow, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 4BE. Phone: 01245 222827. There's not much online about them. They have a campsite, and that appears to be their primary business. One person reports they only have plums for picking on site nowadays in August. Best to call ahead and ask. (UPDATED: 02 April 2016, JBS) -
Park Fruit Farm
- apples, blackberries, plums, damsons pears, raspberries
Pork Lane, Great Holland, Nr Frinton-on-sea, Essex. CO13 0ES. Phone: 01255 674621. Open: All Year; From August to Christmas we are open 7 days a week, 9.00am-5.00pm Mon to Sat, 10.00am-4.00pm Sunday; From New Year to July we are open 6 days a week, Mon to Sat, 9.00am-5.00pm; We are closed between Christmas Day and New Year's Day; Bank Holidays 10.00am-4.00pm (9.00am-5.00pm on August Bank Holiday). We grow 39 varieties of apples, 10 varieties of plums and damsons 4 varieties of pears, 3 varieties of raspberries and 1 variety of blackberry. We are a small family run farm which is now into the third generation. We are very well known locally since we have a busy farm shop, where we sell the majority of all the fruit grown on the farm and many other farm products. We press our own apple juice which is available straight from the press, it is pure and untreated, unlike any other apple juice you will find in the shops. When you visit the farm, you may try the different apple juices that has recently been pressed. You are also welcome to see the pressing. The Plum Orchards are generally open from mid/late July through to October, for Pick Your Own and the cane fruit orchard is open from mid June through to November. It is always best to phone before coming to check on the availability of the crops and when picking always go to the far end of the rows first as usually the fruit is more plentiful and of better quality. (UPDATED: 02 April 2016, JBS) (ADDED: June 27, 2014, JBS) -
Spencers Farm Shop, Cox's, Wickham Fruit Farm - Strawberries, Raspberries,
Gooseberries, Red & Blackcurrants, Blackberries, Loganberries,
Cherries, plums, 18 Varieties of Apples Asparagus, Runner Beans, Courgettes,
Pumpkins.
Wickham St Pauls, Halstead, CO9 2PX. Phone: 01787 269476. Fax: 01787 269476. Email: office@spencersfarmshop.com. Open: See their website for hours. Directions:Directions and map. Strawberries, Raspberries, Gooseberries, Red & Blackcurrants, Blackberries, Loganberries, Tayberries, Cherries, plums, 18 Varieties of Apples Asparagus, Runner Beans, Courgettes, Pumpkins.Since first growing "Pick Your Own" fruit in 1973, our range of PYO fruit and vegetables has grown considerably. We are particularly proud of our "Table Top Strawberries" grown at waist height for ease of picking! If you would like to pick your own, simply call in at the shop (opening times here), but feel free to phone us on (UK) 01787 269 476, or email us if you have any queries. . Click here for a link to our Facebook page.
(UPDATED: June 21, 2018, JBS)Availability Jan / Feb/Mar April May June July August Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Asparagus Strawberries Gooseberries Raspberries Redcurrants Blackcurrants Blackberries Loganberries Tayberries Cherries Apples Plums Runner Beans Sweetcorn Courgettes Pumpkins
Hertfordshire
-
Church Farm, Ardeley - .apples, damsons carrots, potatoes,
beetroot, onions, more, Farm experience, restrooms, gift shop, concession
stand (drinks, snacks and/or food), picnic area, pumpkin patch (pick in the
field where they grow), pumpkins (harvested and laid out on the ground or
lawn), pumpkins (in a market, stand or shop), pony rides, farm animals,
birthday parties, group tours
Ardeley, Stevenage, Stevenage , SG2 7AH. Phone: 01438 861 447. Email: info@churchfarmardeley.co.uk. Open: PYO every weekend in September 2020 from 10am-4pm; farm is open 364 days a year. 9am - 5pm. Directions: See their website for directions. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa/MasterCard . Commencing 12th September and running for every weekend of the month farm visitors who have purchased a Farm Day Pass can help us harvest. Help with the harvest, only pay for what you take away. Enjoy meeting and feeding the animals too! Pick apples & damsons in Vicars Orchards; collect windfalls to feed to our pigs whilst walking to Great Field to harvest field veg. Pull carrots, dig potatoes, lift onions, beetroot and more. Dig your own potatoes, harvest beetroot & pick apples from our orchard…ready to take from our fields to your table! Ecologically grown delicious fruit & veg with no SPRAYS! Children love getting hands on harvesting, plenty of fresh air and social distancing. Pick apples and damsons in Vicars Orchards; collect windfalls to feed to our pigs whilst walking to Great Field to harvest field veggies. Pull carrots, dig potatoes, lift onions, beetroot and more. Only pay for what you want to take away. A great activity for all ages. Church Farm Ardeley is a community interest, not-for-profit social enterprise, set up by its founders in order to innovate and create, replicable and sustainable small farm enterprises Throughout the year we offer a variety of activities and events to the public and there are also a range of meeting and events spaces, camping and glamping areas, that can be hired for parties and corporate events too. As not-for-profit community interest company, we invest any surplus back into improving the farm and Rural Care to ensure its sustainability for future generations to enjoy. Click here for our Facebook page. (ADDED: September 15, 2020, Suggested by a visitor)
A visitor writes on September 15, 2020: "An all round splendid day out in the farm, feeding the animals and then picking fruit and veggies in the fields. Had an amazing lunch in the Farm Cafe, amazing cakes and the best ham, egg and chips I have ever had. "
Plum, Damson and Gage Picking Tips, Recipes and Information
In the U.K., Plums Damsons and Gages typically peak during July for Sugar Plums; August for Blue, Yellow and Red Plums. In order to produce good local plums, producers depend on ideal spring and early summer weather conditions, and no late frosts. If you are looking for a plum festival, see this page.
Before you leave to go to the farm:
- Always call before you go to the farm - Plums are affected by weather (both rain and cooler temperature) more than most crops. And when they are in season, a large turnout can pick a field clean before noon, so CALL first!
- Leave early. On weekends, then fields may be picked clean by NOON!
-
Some growers furnish picking containers designed for plums, but they may
charge you for them; be sure to call before you go to see if you need to
bring
containers.
If you use your own containers, remember that heaping Plums more than 14 inches deep will bruise the fruit on the bottom. Plastic dishpans, metal oven pans with 3 inch tall sides and large pots make good containers. - Bring something to drink and a few snacks; you'd be surprised how you can work up a thirst and appetite! And don't forget hats and sunscreen for the sun. Bugs usually aren't a problem, but some deet might be good to bring along if it has been rainy.
- You might want to ask whether the plums are! There are two major types of plums: "Freestone" and. "Clingstone". Freestone plums have flesh that slips easily away from the pit. Clingstones are a REAL pain, because the fruit tenaciously clings to the stone or pit! Most plum varieties grown today are freestone and are usually available (depending upon your location) from June through September. Some nectarines are freestone and some are clingstone. Freestone nectarines are available in June and July. Most plum varieties are clingstone.
Tips on How to Pick Plums
A plum is softer than most fruit, so it is important to pick a plum gently, with little pressure. Using the sides of your fingers rather your fingertips helps to avoid bruising. Grab the plum firmly and pull it straight off the branch. DON'T drop the plum into the basket, but set it in gently!
Picking Tips:
How to tell if the plums are ripe!
- Attached to the tree: Plums are best picked when the fruit separates easily from the twigs. If it is hard to pull off the tree, it isn't ripe! Plums will not ripen further once removed from the tree (they only "soften")
- Color: Green is definitely unripe, but you can't use red color as an indicator of how ripe a plum is. Different plum varieties have differing colours, darker is usually better in any variety. Pick them when the ground color changes from green to yellow, orange, red or even blue or purple (or a combination).
- Softness: unless you like your plums very firm, pick your plums with just a little "give" when gently pressed. Plums at this stage are great for eating, freezing, and baking. Plums won't ripen very much after picking!
- Odor: It should smell sweet and ripe!
- Larger plums are riper.
- Sugar plums grow in clusters, so carefully select the plum you want out of the cluster.
- Place them gently in a shallow wide container, no more than 8-inches deep, to avoid crushing the fruit.
Marks on the Plums: Bugs (particularly squash bugs and stink bugs)
bite fruit during development and this results in some imperfections in the
plum. This is especially the case with organically raised fruit. These
look like dents in the plums if the plums were bitten by a bug when they
were young. This causes a spot that does not grow properly and makes a wrinkle
in the plum. There's nothing wrong with these plums. They may look funny, but
they will taste just as good as blemish-free plums, and it's better not to
have the pesticides!
When you get home
- Spread the fruit out on towels or newspapers and separate any mushy or damaged fruit to use immediately.
- Put a couple of days supply into the fridge, wash and cut the others and freeze them up!
- Even under ideal conditions plums will only keep for a week in a refrigerator, so for best flavor and texture, use them as soon as possible after purchase
Make preserves, can or freeze!
Easy directions, step by step, with photos
- plum jam
- plum jelly
- canned plums
- freeze plums
- canned plum pie filling to use in the winter
- plum pie recipe
- plum-blueberry pie
- plum salsa
- Plum chutney
- Spiced plums
- Plum butter
- Pickled plums
- Here are some great and easy plum desert recipes, like easy plum cobbler..
Plum dessert recipes
- Plum Cobbler
This recipe is easy and DELICIOUS!!! - Plum Torte
- Italian Prune Plums (Empress Plums)
How much do you need?
Raw measures:
- About 2 medium plums = 1/2 cup sliced plums.
- About 4 medium plums = 1 /2cup pureed plum.
- About 3 medium plums = 1 /2 pound of plums
Process yields (Raw amounts to processed amounts)
- 2 to 21/2 pounds of fresh plums yields 1 quart canned
- 1 lb of fresh plums typically yields 3 cups of peeled, sliced plums or 2 cups or puree.
- It takes about 10 plums to fill one quart jar of canned plums.
- An average of 171/2 pounds of fresh plums are needed per canner load of 7 quarts;
- An average of 11 pounds is needed per canner load of 9 pints.
- 1 bushel = 48 to 50 pounds, yields approximately 18 to 25 quart jars.
Plums-Average retail price per pound and per cup equivalent
Plum pit tips
It's best to remove plum pits before you cook the plums. Cherry, plum, and apricot pits also contain amygdalin; the latter two, in potentially harmful amounts. Fortunately, plum and apricot pits are sufficiently large and hard that few people intentionally swallow or chew them. (The unapproved anti-cancer drug Laetrile is a semisynthetic derivative of amygdalin; a cheaper version of laetrile produced in Mexico came from crushed apricot pits.) See this page for more information.
Nutritional Information
- plums are virtually fat free. A medium size plum contains less than one gram of fat.
- plums are naturally sodium free.
- plums have no cholesterol.
- plums are a low calorie snack. A medium size plum contains only 40 calories.
- plums contain vitamin A which helps us see in dim light.
- plums are considered a good source of fiber. The skin of a plum provides both roughage and fiber.
Temporary Storage Tips
- Ripe plums have a creamy or golden undertone and "plumy-sweet" fragrance.
- Plums should be refrigerated and used within a few days.
- Putting plums in a loosely closed paper bag at room temperature for a day or two can help soften firm fruit - but they won't become sweeter or ripen further - that stopped when they were removed from th etree.
- For best flavor, allow the fruit to ripen fully on the tree.
- Store at 33 F to 40 F and high humidity (a vegetable drawer in the fridge).
Click here for farmshops in this area