There are over 7,500 varieties of apples grown throughout the world. 2,500 varieties are grown in the United States. That’s a lot to choose from. It would take you a little over 20 years to sample a different apple every day. Lucky for you the apple farmers in New Hampshire have chosen the best 50 apples to grow and sell in local markets, and many open their orchards for the New England pick-your-own apples experience. You can sample all 50 apples in less than a year, and discover what the New England farmers already know. These are good apples!
There are apples best for fresh eating, best for pie baking, best for salads, and best for applesauce. But they’re all good. The local farmers have taken out the guesswork (filtering out the apple riffraff) to bring you the sweetest, most flavorful, and juiciest apples the world has ever known. And the apples will be ripe for the picking after you find your perfect home in the Lake Winnipesaukee region of New Hampshire.
Apple season runs from August through October in New Hampshire. Different apples are ready to harvest at different times. Please check with the local farms before heading out, as the pick-your-own-apples-season is now winding down. Check the calendar, contact the farms, and plan accordingly to enjoy some of the best places for apple picking around Lake Winnipesaukee during next year’s harvest.
Gilford: Stone Brook Hill Farm There are over 1,600 apple trees in this New Hampshire apple orchard. Apple pickers ride to the trees in style aboard a cart pulled by a tractor. This is a smaller apple orchard, providing a quiet setting for friends and families looking for a relaxed apple picking experience. Varieties include Cortland, Macoun & Ginger Gold.
Belmont: Smith Orchard has over 2,000 semi-dwarf apple trees and 50 antique apple trees. The 93 year old antique apple trees were planted in 1929 and produce exceptional fruit. These 50 trees are what remain from the 800 trees planted in 1929. In addition to these time tested beauties the farm harvests fruit from the semi-dwarf apple trees bearing fruits of nine varieties including Jonagold, McCoun, Ginger Gold, Honey Crisp & Gala. The Ginger Gold apples are sweet and mildly tart apples that will not brown too quickly after cutting, making them a very good salad apple.
Loudon: Meadow Ledge Farm grows 52 varieties of apples. There are 33 varieties available on the pick your own schedule from August 1st to October 20th. Mid and late October apples include Idared, Jonagold, Mutsu, Smoke House, Wolf River, and Baldwin. Please know that dogs are not allowed in the orchard (service dogs should be wearing service vests for identification).
Farmington: Butternut Farm is a family friendly pick-your-own fruit farm. Currently, there are pumpkins in the patch to be picked, and apples on the ground to harvest. The apple tree picks are all picked out as of October 27th, 2022. Call the farm’s PYO information line for daily details throughout the upcoming season (the number is listed on their website). There will be plenty of strawberries, blueberries, cherries, peaches, and apples to pick during next year’s harvest. But the raspberries go quickly, so call the PYO info line (or make friends with the farm staff and get the inside scoop).
Alexandria: Cardigan Mountain Orchard is closed for the season, the trees have been picked. But the Cardigan Mountain Country Store is open Wednesday-Saturday until December 24th, 2022 (and will reopen at the end of May 2023). They are currently taking holiday pie orders for both apple and pumpkin pies. There is also jam, apple butter, donuts, and cider at the store. The goods at the country store should bring a smile to your face and warm your belly.
The orchard will be ready for picking once again next year beginning from Labor Day to the end of October (until the trees have been picked). Plan ahead to pick your favorite apple when they are ready to harvest. The farm has almost 1,000 trees producing apples from 15 varieties including Paul Red, Heirloom Mac, Heirloom Gravenstein, Macoun, Northern Spy, Empire, and Baldwin. Gravenstein apples are thought to have been brought to America by Russian fur traders in the 19th century. They are crisp and tart with a touch of honey, and are prized for making applesauce, cider, and dried apples. Gravensteins were the apples used to produce applesauce and dried apples for American troops during WWII.
Sanbornton: Surowiec Farm will be closing on December 18th for the 2022 season, but the apple picking season is already coming to a close. During apple season the farm offers several varieties to pick your own including Ginger Gold, Macintosh, and Cortland. The farm stand will be open Wednesday-Monday (closed Tuesday) until the Sunday before Christmas Day (but call ahead, as this can change). Christmas trees will be available the day after Thanksgiving, but they go quickly. Plan ahead.
The team at Maxfield Real Estate looks forward to helping you find your perfect Lake Winnipesaukee home. You can pick your apples and eat them too (when they’re in season) in this magical and delicious part of the country. Your New England dream is close at hand. Contact us today!
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