Different Types of PYO (U-Pick) Farms and Crops

In the lush countryside of the United Kingdom, a charming tradition thrives – pick-your-own (PYO) farming. From the sweet juiciness of freshly picked strawberries to the vibrant hues of blooming sunflowers, PYO farms offer visitors an immersive experience in the beauty and bounty of rural life. For farmers, these ventures not only diversify their revenue streams but also foster community engagement and agritourism. Join us as we delve into the world of PYO farming in the UK, exploring a diverse array of crops, best practices for setup, and the seasonal rhythms that guide these agrarian adventures. Whether you're a seasoned farmer looking to expand your offerings or a budding entrepreneur with a patch of land, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and inspiration to cultivate your own harvest of memories. Need help setting up your own PYO farm? Contact Agritisement UK now!

There are a huge variety of crops that can be planted for PYO operations. Have a look below for ideas on what could be your next business venture!

1. Pick Your Own Fruit:

- Strawberries: Set up rows of strawberry plants in raised beds or fields. Provide containers or baskets for visitors to collect strawberries as they pick. Typically runs from late spring to early summer, with peak season in June.

- Raspberries: Plant raspberry bushes in rows with support structures. Offer visitors containers to gather raspberries, ensuring easy access to ripe fruit. Harvest season varies depending on the variety, with the main season from mid-summer to early autumn.

- Blueberries: Plant blueberry bushes in acidic soil and provide netting to protect berries from birds. Offer visitors containers or bags for picking. Blueberry season typically runs from late spring to early autumn, with peak harvest in July and August.

- Blackberries: Cultivate blackberry bushes along trellises or in hedgerows. Provide baskets or containers for visitors to collect ripe berries. Blackberry season typically begins in late summer and continues into early autumn.

- Cherries: Plant cherry trees in orchards, ensuring adequate spacing for sunlight and airflow. Provide ladders or picking poles for reaching higher branches. Cherry season varies depending on the variety and region, typically running from late spring to early summer.

- Gooseberries: Grow gooseberry bushes in rows or hedgerows, pruning for optimal fruit production. Offer visitors containers for picking ripe gooseberries. Gooseberry season usually starts in early summer and continues into mid-summer.

- Apples: Plant apple trees in orchards, selecting a variety of early, mid-season, and late-season cultivars for extended harvest. Provide picking poles or ladders for reaching high branches. Apple season typically begins in late summer and extends into autumn.

- Pears: Cultivate pear trees in orchards, ensuring proper spacing and pruning for fruit production. Offer visitors picking poles or ladders for reaching ripe pears. Pear season usually begins in late summer and continues into early autumn.

- Plums: Grow plum trees in orchards, providing support for branches laden with ripe fruit. Offer containers or bags for visitors to gather plums. Plum season typically starts in late summer and extends into early autumn.

2. Pick Your Own Vegetables:

- Peas: Plant pea vines along trellises or in rows, providing support for climbing. Offer baskets or containers for visitors to pick fresh peas. Pea season usually begins in late spring and continues into early summer.

- Beans (e.g., green beans, broad beans): Cultivate bean plants in rows or raised beds, ensuring proper spacing for airflow and sunlight. Offer containers for visitors to pick beans as they harvest. Bean season typically starts in early summer and extends into autumn.

- Sweetcorn: Plant sweetcorn in blocks or rows, ensuring adequate spacing for pollination. Offer containers or bags for visitors to collect ears of corn. Sweetcorn season usually begins in late summer and continues into early autumn.

- Pumpkins: Cultivate pumpkin plants in fields or patches, allowing vines to spread and produce large fruits. Offer visitors a variety of pumpkins to choose from, providing wheelbarrows or carts for transporting larger specimens. Pumpkin season typically starts in late summer and extends into autumn, with peak harvest in October for Halloween.

- Courgettes (Zucchini): Grow courgette plants in rows or raised beds, ensuring proper spacing for airflow and sunlight. Offer baskets or containers for visitors to pick fresh courgettes. Courgette season typically begins in early summer and continues into autumn.

- Squash: Cultivate squash plants in fields or raised beds, providing support for sprawling vines. Offer visitors a variety of squash varieties to choose from, including butternut, acorn, and spaghetti squash. Squash season usually starts in late summer and extends into autumn.

- Tomatoes: Plant tomato plants in rows or raised beds, providing support structures for vines. Offer baskets or containers for visitors to pick ripe tomatoes. Tomato season typically begins in mid-summer and continues into early autumn.

- Peppers (e.g., bell peppers, chilli peppers): Grow pepper plants in rows or raised beds, ensuring proper spacing and support for fruit-laden branches. Offer baskets or containers for visitors to pick peppers. Pepper season usually starts in mid-summer and continues into early autumn.

- Aubergines (Eggplants): Cultivate aubergine plants in rows or raised beds, providing support for upright growth. Offer baskets or containers for visitors to pick fresh aubergines. Aubergine season typically begins in mid-summer and continues into early autumn.

- Cucumbers: Grow cucumber plants in rows or raised beds, providing trellises or supports for climbing vines. Offer baskets or containers for visitors to pick cucumbers. Cucumber season usually starts in mid-summer and continues into early autumn.

- Asparagus: Plant asparagus crowns in designated rows or raised beds, ensuring well-drained soil and ample sunlight. Offer knives or shears for visitors to harvest fresh asparagus spears. Asparagus season typically starts in spring and continues for a few weeks, with daily harvesting to promote new growth.

3. Pick Your Own Herbs:

- Basil: Grow basil plants in rows or raised beds, ensuring well-drained soil and adequate sunlight. Offer containers or bags for visitors to pick fresh basil leaves. Basil season typically begins in late spring and continues into early autumn.

- Mint: Cultivate mint plants in containers or designated areas, as mint can be invasive in garden beds. Offer scissors or snippers for visitors to harvest mint leaves. Mint season usually starts in late spring and continues into early autumn.

- Parsley: Grow parsley plants in rows or raised beds, ensuring consistent moisture and regular harvesting to encourage growth. Offer containers or bags for visitors to pick fresh parsley leaves. Parsley season typically begins in late spring and continues into early autumn.

- Thyme: Plant thyme in garden beds or containers, providing well-drained soil and full sun. Offer scissors or snippers for visitors to harvest thyme sprigs. Thyme season usually starts in late spring and continues into early autumn.

- Rosemary: Cultivate rosemary plants in garden beds or containers, ensuring well-drained soil and good air circulation. Offer scissors or snippers for visitors to harvest rosemary sprigs. Rosemary season typically starts in late spring and continues into early autumn.

- Sage: Grow sage plants in garden beds or containers, providing well-drained soil and full sun. Offer scissors or snippers for visitors to harvest sage leaves. Sage season usually starts in late spring and continues into early autumn.

- Chives: Plant chive plants in garden beds or containers, ensuring well-drained soil and regular harvesting to promote new growth. Offer scissors or snippers for visitors to harvest chive leaves. Chive season typically starts in late spring and continues into early autumn.

- Coriander (Cilantro): Cultivate coriander plants in garden beds or containers, providing well-drained soil and partial shade in hot weather. Offer scissors or snippers for visitors to harvest coriander leaves. Coriander season usually starts in late spring and continues into early autumn.

4. Pick Your Own Flowers:

- Sunflowers: Plant sunflower seeds in rows or designated areas, ensuring well-drained soil and full sun. Offer scissors or snippers for visitors to harvest sunflower blooms. Sunflower season typically starts in mid-summer and continues into early autumn.

- Tulips: Cultivate tulip bulbs in garden beds or containers, providing well-drained soil and full sun. Offer scissors or snippers for visitors to harvest tulip flowers. Tulip season usually starts in spring and continues into early summer.

- Daffodils: Plant daffodil bulbs in garden beds or designated areas, ensuring well-drained soil and full sun. Offer scissors or snippers for visitors to harvest daffodil blooms. Daffodil season typically starts in late winter or early spring.

- Dahlias: Cultivate dahlia tubers in garden beds or containers, providing well-drained soil and full sun. Offer scissors or snippers for visitors to harvest dahlia flowers. Dahlia season usually starts in mid-summer and continues into early autumn.

- Lavender: Grow lavender plants in garden beds or designated areas, ensuring well-drained soil and full sun. Offer scissors or snippers for visitors to harvest lavender stems. Lavender season typically starts in mid-summer and continues into early autumn.

- Roses: Cultivate rose bushes in garden beds or containers, ensuring well-drained soil and adequate sunlight. Offer scissors or snippers for visitors to harvest rose blooms. Rose season varies depending on the variety, with many flowering throughout the summer months.

- Wildflowers: Scatter wildflower seeds in designated areas or along field margins, providing well-drained soil and full sun. Offer scissors or snippers for visitors to harvest wildflower blooms. Wildflower season typically starts in spring and continues into early autumn.

5. Pick Your Own Christmas Trees:

- Nordmann Fir: Cultivate Nordmann fir trees in designated areas, ensuring proper spacing and regular pruning for shape. Offer saws or pruning shears for visitors to harvest Christmas trees. Christmas tree season typically starts in late autumn and continues into early winter.

- Norway Spruce: Plant Norway spruce trees in designated areas, providing well-drained soil and full sun. Offer saws or pruning shears for visitors to harvest Christmas trees. Christmas tree season typically starts in late autumn and continues into early winter.

- Scots Pine: Grow Scots pine trees in designated areas, ensuring proper spacing and regular pruning for shape. Offer saws or pruning shears for visitors to harvest Christmas trees. Christmas tree season typically starts in late autumn and continues into early winter.

6. Pick Your Own Berries (Other than Strawberries):

- Tayberries: Cultivate tayberry bushes in rows or hedgerows, providing support for sprawling vines. Offer containers or baskets for visitors to pick ripe tayberries. Tayberry season typically starts in mid-summer and continues into early autumn.

- Loganberries: Grow loganberry vines along trellises or in rows, ensuring support for climbing. Offer containers or baskets for visitors to pick ripe loganberries. Loganberry season typically starts in mid-summer and continues into early autumn.

- Boysenberries: Cultivate boysenberry vines along trellises or in rows, ensuring support for climbing. Offer containers or baskets for visitors to pick ripe boysenberries. Boysenberry season typically starts in mid-summer and continues into early autumn.

- Cranberries: Grow cranberry bushes in boggy or marshy areas, ensuring proper irrigation and acidic soil conditions. Offer containers or bags for visitors to pick ripe cranberries. Cranberry season typically starts in late autumn and continues into early winter.

- Blackcurrants: Cultivate blackcurrant bushes in rows or hedgerows, ensuring proper pruning for optimal fruit production. Offer containers or baskets for visitors to pick ripe blackcurrants. Blackcurrant season typically starts in mid-summer and continues into early autumn.

- Redcurrants: Grow redcurrant bushes in rows or hedgerows, ensuring proper spacing and support for fruit-laden branches. Offer containers or baskets for visitors to pick ripe redcurrants. Redcurrant season typically starts in mid-summer and continues into early autumn.

- Whitecurrants: Cultivate whitecurrant bushes in rows or hedgerows, ensuring proper pruning for optimal fruit production. Offer containers or baskets for visitors to pick ripe whitecurrants. Whitecurrant season typically starts in mid-summer and continues into early autumn.

- Gooseberries: Grow gooseberry bushes in rows or hedgerows, ensuring proper pruning and support for fruit-laden branches. Offer containers or baskets for visitors to pick ripe gooseberries. Gooseberry season typically starts in early summer and continues into mid-summer.

7. Pick Your Own Nuts:

- Hazelnuts: Cultivate hazelnut bushes or trees in designated areas, providing well-drained soil and adequate sunlight. Offer containers or baskets for visitors to collect ripe hazelnuts. Hazelnut season typically starts in late summer and continues into early autumn.

- Walnuts: Grow walnut trees in orchards or designated areas, ensuring proper spacing and soil conditions. Offer containers or baskets for visitors to collect ripe walnuts. Walnut season typically starts in autumn when nuts fall from the trees.

- Chestnuts: Cultivate chestnut trees in orchards or designated areas, ensuring proper spacing and soil conditions. Offer containers or baskets for visitors to collect ripe chestnuts. Chestnut season typically starts in autumn when nuts fall from the trees.

8. Pick Your Own Salad Leaves:

- Lettuce: Cultivate lettuce plants in rows or raised beds, ensuring regular succession planting for continuous harvest. Offer scissors or snippers for visitors to harvest fresh lettuce leaves. Lettuce season typically starts in spring and continues into autumn.

- Spinach: Grow spinach plants in rows or raised beds, ensuring regular harvesting to encourage new growth. Offer scissors or snippers for visitors to harvest fresh spinach leaves. Spinach season typically starts in spring and continues into autumn.

- Rocket (Arugula): Plant rocket seeds in rows or raised beds, ensuring well-drained soil and regular harvesting to prevent bolting. Offer scissors or snippers for visitors to harvest fresh rocket leaves. Rocket season typically starts in spring and continues into autumn.

- Watercress: Cultivate watercress plants in designated water beds or containers, ensuring consistent moisture and cool temperatures. Offer scissors or snippers for visitors to harvest fresh watercress. Watercress season typically starts in spring and continues into autumn.

9. Pick Your Own Mushrooms:

- Chanterelles: Cultivate chanterelle mushrooms in designated forested areas or beds, ensuring proper soil conditions and shade. Offer baskets or containers for visitors to collect ripe chanterelles. Chanterelle season typically starts in late summer and continues into autumn.

- Morels: Grow morel mushrooms in designated forested areas or beds, ensuring proper soil conditions and moisture levels. Offer baskets or containers for visitors to collect ripe morels. Morel season typically starts in spring and continues into early summer.

- Field Mushrooms: Cultivate field mushrooms in designated areas with well-drained soil and organic matter. Offer baskets or containers for visitors to collect ripe field mushrooms. Field mushroom season varies depending on weather conditions, typically occurring in late spring and early autumn.

These "pick your own" opportunities offer farmers in the UK a diverse range of options to engage with customers, promote agritourism, and generate additional income. By providing well-managed picking areas, clear signage, and friendly staff assistance, farmers can create memorable experiences for visitors while showcasing the bounty of their land. Remember to check seasonal availability and local regulations when planning your PYO events to ensure a successful and profitable operation.

If you need help with setting up your PYO operation, contact Agritisement now.

Agritisement UK helped Dunham Pumpkins set up their PYO pumpkin patch. Agritisement UK delivered a brand new website, digital marketing campaign and online ticketing that lead to the success of the patch.