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Apple Picking

(Closed for the Season)
Open:   Closed for the Season
Hours:   Closed for Season

Current Varieties: Closed for Season

Many families in central Indiana make it a yearly tradition to visit Tuttle Orchards to pick your own apples in the fall. We have planted ten acres of dwarf variety apple trees (shorter trees for easy reaching) just for the public to pick. We provide you with bags, little red wagons, and instructions. You can pick as many or few as you need. Apples are sold by the pound. The 2011 Price is 85 cents/lb.

Apple picking for 2011 begins Friday, September 2, 2011. Not all varieties are ready at the same time because we strive to pick the apples at their peak of ripeness and flavor.

Tip: Most years, it's best not to wait until October to come pick apples. Many times we are all picked out by October. Every year is different. The apple crop is dependent on weather. There have been years where we did not have any apples left on the upick apple trees after October 1 so come early in the season! This year we should probably have apples until at least October 8th.

What varieties of apples can we pick?

This is a list of the varieties we grow for u-pick. Dates are approximate and may change due to weather:
Gala: ripe from late August until early September (for 2012: Date TBD)
Early Blaze: ripe from late August until early September (for 2012: Date TBD)
Jonathan: ripe mid-September until late September (for 2012: Date TBD)
Cortland: ripe early September until late September (for 2012: Date TBD)
Red Delicious: ripe mid-September until first of October (for 2012: Date TBD)
Golden Delicious: ripe late September until mid October (for 2012: Date TBD)
Ida Red: ripe late September until mid October (for 2012: Date TBD)

Don't see the variety you're looking for here? We grow over 22 varieties of apples at Tuttles. There is a large selection of other apple varieties available in our farm store.

Pets? Due to USDA regulations, no pets or animals are allowed into any of the orchards or growing areas (ie. u-pick orchards, corn maze, pumpkin patch, play area, etc.). You may bring your pet to the parking areas, however, it can be difficult to fully participate in the activities with a pet. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.

Apple Picking Tips

At Tuttle's we want you to be able to pick apple varieties when they are at the peak of their ripeness and flavor. Not all apple varieties ripen at the same time. When you arrive at the orchard, look for signs and Tuttle's staff to direct you to the rows we are currently picking. Please pick only in those rows. If you wish to pick another variety ask the Tuttle's staff when those will be ripe for picking.

The correct way to pick an apple:

Select the apple you want to pick. Look for blemishes before picking the apple. Once you've determined that you want to take that apple home, grasp the apple with the bottom of the apple in the palm of your hand. Gently turn the apple upside down, so your hand is now facing downward. The apple and stem should come easily from the tree. It's best to avoid yanking on or twisting the apples as this can often cause other apples to fall to the ground.

Things to keep in mind:

You must take home everything you pick so please consider how many apples you need before picking.

Please don't drop apples on the ground that you don't want. Once you put the apple on the ground, we can't use it for anything. It has to be wasted.

In the same spirit, pick only apples from the tree and not off the ground.

No pets are allowed into the orchard.

How many should I pick?

The baskets we use at Tuttles are a half bushel size. Filling the basket full will be about 18-25lbs of apples (depends on variety). Other helpful tips: 3 medium apples - 1 lb., 6-8 medium apples = 9" pie, 1 bushel apples = 16-18 qts. applesauce.

2012 Crop Predictions

To early to tell. Updated 1/30/2012.

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