17 places to pick strawberries and more around Atlanta

Washington Farms

8 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays. 5671 Hog Mountain Road, Watkinsville. 706-769-0627, www.washingtonfarms.net. Cash, check or credit.

Fleeman’s U-Pick Blueberries

7:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays (seasonal). 716 Harrison Mill Road, Winder. 770-867-3420, www.fleemansblueberries.com. Cash or check.

Red Land Nursery

8 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays (seasonal). 86 Red Land Bend Road, Temple. 678-850-8111, www.redlandnursery.net. Cash or check.

Taylor Blueberry Farm

8 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays. 195 Clem Lowell Road, Carrollton. 770-832-6857. Cash only. Fruit: Blueberries

Foxbrier Farm

Opens at 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday-Friday through the end of August. 12000 Hutcheson Ferry Road, Palmetto. 404-234-7023. Cash or check.

Nykoøbing 

8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays. 321 Old Loganville Road, Loganville. 770-466-4626. Cash only.

Smith Farm Products and Nursery

Confirm opening times before going. 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 1-3 p.m. Sundays. 729 Burnt Hickory Road, Cartersville. 770-843-8488. Cash only.

Roberts Family Blueberry Farm

9 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; 7:45 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday.

5517 Clarksbridge Road, Clermont. 678-316-3598, www.robertsfamilyblueberryfarm.com. Cash or check.

Mitcham Farm

 5 p.m.-10 p.m.; 12 p.m.-10 p.m. Saturday; 1 - 5 p.m. Sunday.

52 Ploof Road, Bremen. 770-355-7143. Cash only. http://www.mitchamfarm.com/

Waits Farm

Open all day, seven days. 3779 Old Braswell Road, Monroe. Cash or check.

Weaver Berryland Farm

10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays. 2252 Ga. 16 W., Jackson. 770-595-8303, www.weaversberrylandfarm.com. Cash only.

Carnahan’s Blueberries

Pick a gallon of unsprayed blueberries at this Ma & Pa blueberry farm for $10 a gallon. (seasonal) Containers provided. 8 a.m.-noon and 4-8 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. 116 Odith Road, Fayetteville. 770-460-7796. Cash only.

Berry Patch Farms

Bring containers. 8 a.m.-9 p.m. daily. (seasonal) 786 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock. 770-926-0561, www.berrypatchfarms.net. Cash or credit.

Fruit: Blueberries

The Country Place

Call for hours. Bring take-home containers. Appointments suggested. 3736 Ga. 323, Gillsville. 770-605-1121. Cash or check.

Credit: SherSor / iStock / Getty Images

Credit: SherSor / iStock / Getty Images

Cool Springs Blueberry Farm

Daylight until dark Mondays-Saturdays, 1 p.m. until dark Sundays. (seasonal) 5975 Smith Mill Road, Gainesville. 770-480-8085, www.coolblueberries.com. Cash or check.

DJ’s U-Pick Blueberry Farm

8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily.  (seasonal) 1839 Prospect Road, Lawrenceville. 678-442-7853, www.u-pickblueberries.webstarts.com. Cash or checks.

Whitley Farms

Check the farm's Facebook page for updates and events. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays. 917 Bob Smith Road, Sharpsburg. 770-253-5255. Cash or checks.

Advice for pickers

All of the farms on our list contributed tips for first-time pickers, which was:

• Prepare as you would for an outdoor activity. Bring a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and water. Wear close-toed shoes and socks. • Always call or check the farm’s website or Facebook page before making the drive. Many farms adjust their hours with the weather and crop readiness. • Ask questions before you go. Find out if there are restroom facilities, if they offer water, accepted payment methods and whether GPS systems will accurately locate the farm. • Bring cash. Some farms accept checks, and a very few now accept credit cards. • Bring take-home containers. Most farms have picking buckets and some also have take-home bags, but be on the safe side and bring your own. • For berry picking, bring a belt. You can strap the bucket to you so that you can pick with two hands. • Go early in the day. It will be cooler and you’ll have the pick of the harvest. • Consider packing a picnic lunch. Many farms have picnic tables or shady spots to spread a blanket. • Bring a camera. • Once on site, listen to the farm staff. They will direct you to the best picking locations and teach you how to pick without damaging plants or bruising the fruit. • Watch for poison ivy at some locations. • Check farm websites for recipes and ideas for using your bounty.