Elliot Mayers, 4, looks at strawberries with his parents Elizabeth and Aaron at Sweet Berry Farms. At right is Samuel Mayers, 2. Deborah Cannon/AMERICAN-STATESMAN 2006
The berries are calling you. Get ready to pack the family in the car, head a little outside of Austin and go berry picking. Strawberries are in season now, you’ll have to wait to mid-to-late May for the blackberries and blueberries and into June for peaches.
Strawberries
Sweet Berry Farms strawberries are in and ready for picking. Blackberries will be ready by mid-May. While at the farm you can go on a train ride, paint a pot, bounce in an inflatable, pet a goat and a horse and try ice cream, lemonade and other strawberry confections. Open daily 8:30-5:30, except Wednesday, and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Come early for the most berries. 1801 FM 1980, Marble Falls.
Marburgher Orchard has strawberries ready for picking right now. It will have blackberries and peaches in May and June. Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. It’s a good idea to call 830-997-9433 before you go to make sure there’s enough berries. 559 Kuhlmann Road, Fredericksburg.
Master School summer camp kids Davis Beauvais, 10, left, and Evan Henderson, 8, right, enjoy their blackberries at the Backyard Pickins at the Old Tyme Store in Webberville.
RALPH BARRERA / AMERICAN-STATESMAN 2014
Blackberries
You’ll have to wait until June 1 to pick blackberries, but you can find them at Back Yard Pickins at the Old Time Store: 2421 Post Oak Road, Webberville. 512-299-0882. Open: Monday through Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., June 1 to second week of July or until all berries have been picked out. Read our story about Back Yard Pickins for blackberry recipe ideas
Blueberries
Kingsbury Blueberry Farm has 100 bushes with four varieties of organically grown blueberries that you can pick June through part of July. Bring your own bucket, basket or container. 760 County Road 316, Caldwell. Call for an appointment: 979-567-9138 Open: 8:30 a.m. to noon daily, closed Sunday.
Peaches
The peaches won’t be ready to pick until late May, but Sweet Eats Farms has a petting zoo, pony rides, hay maze, bounce area, kids obstacle course, face painting, train, and more right now. Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the weekends. 14400 E. U.S. 29, Granger. 512-766-3276 Sweet Eats Farms also has a farm with blueberries in Bastrop, but that crop might not come in this year.
Vogel Orchard. The orchard will open in mid-May. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Monday, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sunday. 12862 U.S 290 E., Fredericksburg. 830-644-2404.
