lathyrus - Discover U-Pick farms in the Netherlands

The joy of picking lathyrus—whether alone or with loved ones—lies in the simple pleasure of wandering through vibrant rows of blossoms, selecting the most fragrant and colorful stems. The crisp air, the hum of bees, and the satisfaction of filling your basket with delicate petals make it a delightful outing. Once home, these blooms bring life to any space. Arrange them in mason jars for a rustic touch, weave them into floral garlands for a festive vibe, or float a few in a shallow bowl for an elegant centerpiece. Their sweet, nostalgic fragrance lingers in the room, a reminder of sunlit fields.

For a creative twist, try infusing lathyrus into a light, floral cocktail:

Lathyrus Spritz: Muddle a handful of petals with 1 oz elderflower liqueur, add ice, top with prosecco, and finish with a splash of soda. Garnish with a fresh bloom.

If you’ve picked the herb variety, steep the leaves in hot water for a soothing lathyrus tea—lightly floral with a hint of earthiness. Pair it with honey and a slice of lemon for warmth on a quiet evening.

And for those who’ve gathered the edible pods, here are two quick recipes:

Lathyrus & Pea Shoot Salad: Toss blanched pods with pea shoots, mint, crumbled feta, and a lemon-olive oil dressing.
Spring Lathyrus Stir-Fry: Sauté pods with garlic, ginger, and snap peas, finishing with a drizzle of sesame oil and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds.

Whether adorning your home or enhancing a meal, lathyrus brings a touch of nature’s charm straight from the field to your hands.

Pluktuin Stoutenburg

flowers

utrecht

Pluktuin Stoutenburg is a self-picking farm and tea house located in the Utrechts Landschap area. The tea house is open from May 1st, Thursday to Saturday, from 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM, offering coffee, tea, homemade cakes, and ice cream. They also offer high tea by appointment for groups of 4 or more, featuring homemade sandwiches, quiche, scones, and cakes. From mid-April to early May, visitors can pick tulips. After that, summer plants are planted, and from July onwards, visitors can pick their own summer bouquets. The farm grows a variety of flowers, including dahlias, ammi majus, lathyrus, marigolds, cornflowers, and zinnias. There is also a children’s picking garden with flowers in various colors. In the fall, they sell pumpkins.

Plukjebloemen

flowers

utrecht

This website promotes a self-picking garden (pluktuin) experience. It offers advice and workshops on how to create your own self-picking garden, even for beginners. The owner also provides garden design services to help customers create their own personalized gardens. Specifically, you can pick flowers to create bouquets and even edible flowers. The website also emphasizes the importance of biodiversity and supporting bees and butterflies in your garden. It mentions the Lathyrus odoratus (sweet pea) and dahlias as flowers that are part of the self picking experience.