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Apple Picking

(Coming in September)
Open:   September 3-30, 2010 (or until apples are picked)
Hours:   Mon-Sat 9AM-6PM; Closed Sunday. Please begin picking by 5:30pm.

Many families in central Indiana make it a yearly tradition to visit Tuttle Orchards for 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 2009 Price was 75 cents/lb.

Apple picking begins Labor Day weekend. The best picking is in September. Not all varieties are ready at the same time because we strive to pick the apples at their peak of ripeness and flavor.

Tip: Don't wait until October to come pick apples. Many times we are all picked out by October. There will be apples available in the farm store, but not on the trees. Every year is different. The apple crop is dependent on weather. There have been several years were we did not have any apples left on the u-pick apple trees after October 1st so come early in the season!

What varieties of apples can we pick?

This is a list of the varieties we grow and when they come in season:
Gala: ripen late August (generally picks for two weeks)
Early Blaze: ripen late August (generally picks for two weeks)
Jonathan: ripen first of September (generally picks for four weeks)
Cortland: ripen first of September (generally picks for three weeks)
Red Delicious: ripen mid September (generally picks for three weeks)
Golden Delicious: ripen last of September (generally picks for three weeks)
Ida Red: ripen last of September (generally picks for two weeks)

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 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 farm, 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. Need ideas on how to use the apples you picked...check out our recipes.

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.

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.

2010 Crop Predictions

It's currently February, and it's a little too early to tell what's going to happen for this year. Sometime after the apple trees bloom in April, we will have a better idea. As always, we're hoping for favorable weather. 2009 was our best apple crop in a long time, so we know the trees will be coming off a year of working very hard.

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