Where to Go Apple Picking in Maryland

As autumn approaches, Patch brings you a guide on how to enjoy apple picking around the region.

Apple-picking season is upon us, and it will last until the end of the crop, which is usually around early October. Here are some nearby orchards. Did we miss your favorite orchard? Let us know in the comments!

Blades Orchard in Federalsburg started as a peach and apple orchard. Maybe you've picked up some of the farm's peaches at the Riverdale Farmers Market. They've moved on to apples, now - fresh pressed apple cider, cider donuts and,  of course, pick-your-own apples.

You can pick your own Saturdays fro 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. (P.s., pumpkins will be ready soon, too).

Blades Orchard is at 4822 Preston Road in Federalsburg, Md.  Reach the farm at 410-754-8857.

Larriland Farm in Woodbine is a 280-acre farm that includes 16 acres of apple orchards. Meet at the red barn on the premises to get buckets for what you pick and you'll be on your way.

The owners of the family-run operation advises planning your apple-picking adventure before October, when the farm gets really crowded.

The time to come is based on which of the 17 types of apples they grow that you want to pick, Lynn Moore, president of Larriland, told Patch.

"Right now, we're running about two weeks early," she said of the crops, because of the mild winter. See the apples and harvest dates in Larriland's online brochure.

"We have an excellent crop this year," added Guy Moore, Lynn's brother and Larriland's vice president. "It's the best crop in quite a while."

Larriland Farm is at 2415 Woodbine Rd. in Woodbine, MD. Apple-picking is 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Call 410-442-2605 for picking conditions.

Baugher's Orchards in Westminster takes apple-pickers out to the orchard in wagons, led by a tractor, on its 200-acre property.

There are dwarf trees where pickers can get their fill, and step ladders if needed on-site. The crop is "the largest" and the orchard is "bustling," according to the website for Baugher's.

After picking, visit the farm's petting zoo with goats, peacocks, lambs, alpacas, a donkey and a llama or swing by the Baugher's restaurant and market on Main Street in Westminster.

Baugher's Orchards is at 1015 Baugher Rd. in Westminster, MD. Apple-picking is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in September and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays in October. Call Baugher's hotline before coming: 410-857-0111. 

Please call ahead to confirm hours, as they could change. Know of other great spots for apple picking in the area? Tell us in comments.