September gets all the apple attention, but October is when a lot of Connecticut orchards are still loaded with fruit and a little less crowded on weekdays. If you missed the early rush, you have not missed the season.
This list covers eight farms, from the shoreline to the Litchfield Hills, where pick-your-own apples carry well into fall. Grab a bag, check the hours, and plan a trip before the trees go bare.
1. Bishop’s Orchards Farm Market & Winery, Guilford, CT
Shoreline drivers on Route 1 have been pulling into Bishop’s for generations, and the Guilford farm still delivers the full fall routine. One side holds the farm market.
The other side is where the picking happens.
Apples and pumpkins are both on the menu in autumn, and picking was still going strong in mid-October last season. Plan on an entrance fee for walking into the orchard with your crew.
Back inside, the market stocks local produce and house-made ice cream, which makes a solid reward after hauling a full bag. Hours run 8 AM to 7 PM Monday through Saturday and 9 AM to 6 PM on Sunday.
Weekend afternoons get busy. If you can swing a weekday morning, I would save this one for that, since parking in the free lot gets easier and the rows thin out.
2. Silverman’s Farm, Easton, CT
Chai-der. Yes, that is a real thing at Silverman’s, a spiced spin on cider that sits next to the classic version and a case of donuts in the farm shop.
The Easton farm is family-run and covers more than just apples. Animal feedings are a big draw, and the shop carries homemade products to take home.
Still, the orchard is the main event. The rows are well kept and easy to wander, with a range of varieties to sample as you go, and picking was still happening in the second half of October last year.
Gates open 9 AM to 5 PM every day, with free parking. Saturday and Sunday afternoons are the crunch times, while early-week mornings stay calm.
3. Holmberg Orchards, Gales Ferry, CT
Southeastern Connecticut folks heading for a full fall day tend to point the car toward Route 12 in Gales Ferry. Holmberg packs a lot into one stop.
Apple picking comes with tractor rides and a corn maze, plus sweet cider and cider donuts at the market. The variety of apples is wide, and the pricing is fair for the quality.
The produce market is a draw on its own if someone in your group would rather shop than climb ladders.
Open 9 AM to 6 PM daily, with a free lot. Friday afternoons fill up along with the weekend, so a Thursday morning visit is a smart move.
4. Beardsley’s Cider Mill & Orchard, Shelton, CT
Short on time? Beardsley’s is the orchard for a quick, efficient pick.
Arrive soon after the 10 AM opening and you can fill a bag and grab cider donuts in under half an hour.
The free lot sits right by the trees, so there is no long trek with tired kids. The orchard holds a nice variety of tree types, and picking was still in swing in mid-October last fall.
The shop treats are a highlight, though expect prices on the premium side compared with the grocery store. Friendly staff help keep things moving.
Hours are 10 AM to 5:30 PM daily.
5. Belltown Hill Orchards, South Glastonbury, CT
Glastonbury is classic Connecticut orchard country, and Belltown Hill on Matson Hill Road shows why. The ride out to the trees is part of it, since a tractor carries pickers into the orchard.
Once there, the pick-your-own setup is streamlined and the variety is wide. The farm grows more than apples too, with tart cherries earlier in the season.
Back at the stand, apple fritters and cider make the trip home tougher on your willpower. Picking ran into late October last year.
Open daily 9 AM to 5 PM, with both free and paid parking available.
6. Easy Pickin’s Orchard, Enfield, CT
Here is a date idea that beats dinner and a movie. At Easy Pickin’s in Enfield, you can pick apples and vegetables in the same visit.
The family-owned farm grows a variety of pick-your-own fruit, from summer blueberries to fall apples, along with fresh vegetables. October picking was in full swing last season.
Pay close attention to the schedule, because it is unusual. Weekday hours are short, with mornings 9 AM to noon on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and evening slots from 4 to 6:30 PM on Tuesday and Thursday.
Weekends run 9 AM to 5 PM. A quick visit is the norm here.
7. Hidden Gem Orchard, Southbury, CT
Thirty-three. That is how many heirloom and common apple varieties grow at this Southbury orchard, alongside seedless grapes.
The farm focuses on fruit and keeps the experience simple. Hay wagon rides carry visitors to and from the trees in the rolling hills.
Pick-your-own runs from mid-September through the end of October, so this is a reliable late-month pick. The farm stand sells pre-picked apples, donuts, and pies Fridays through Sundays from early September into December.
Note the schedule: closed Tuesday and Wednesday, open 9 AM to 5 PM the other days. Free parking and a restroom are on site.
8. Averill Farm, Washington Depot, CT
For a quieter picking day, head to the Litchfield Hills. Averill Farm sits up on a hillside with acres of fruit trees and a calm, scenic setting.
Both apples and pears are available to pick, and the season stretched into late October last year. Before leaving, grab a jar of apple butter from the stand.
The farm keeps going after the harvest, too. After Thanksgiving, it switches to cut-your-own Christmas trees Friday through Sunday.
Hours are 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM daily, with free on-site parking. The stand is at 250 Calhoun Street.
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