For such a small province, Utrecht has a lot of pick-your-own farms: almost fifty on our list. Mostly flowers and herbs, a lot of pumpkins in autumn, and a fair number of self-harvest vegetable gardens. Several are in or right next to the city of Utrecht and easy to reach by bike.
U-pick farms in Utrecht: five worth a closer look
Boerderij de Oude Ruif in Stoutenburg, near Amersfoort, is a fifth-generation family farm. The harvest garden is new. There are redcurrants, raspberries, blackberries and blackcurrants, and also less common things: Japanese wineberry, tayberry, honeyberry, jostaberry. The honeyberries ripen first, in late May. The apple, pear and plum trees are still young, so don’t count on those yet. The first season ran until the end of September. You can pay by card.
Koningshof is on the Koningsweg, on the east side of the city. The picking garden is open Saturdays only, 10:00 to 15:30. Dahlias, amaranth, cosmos, sunflowers, from late June to October. You pay at the market stall, where they also sell vegetables from their own greenhouse. There is a toilet. With 28 reviews it is the best known of this bunch.
Moestuin Vollenhoven is on the estate in De Bilt. An old garden; the first greenhouses date from 1800. Open Wednesday and Friday from 15:00 to 18:00. Flower picking works with a punch card and goes on all year, from daffodils to Christmas greenery. There does seem to be a waiting list, so ask first. Four pigs do the digging.
Pluktuin Erebloem in Nieuwegein is a neighbourhood garden on a strip of green by the noise barrier, between Dotterbloem 19 and 21. Volunteers from the area look after it. Flowers, berry bushes and trained fruit trees, daily from 8:00 to 20:00. Free street parking. Nice if you live nearby. It is not something to sit in the car for an hour for.
Pluktuin Glitter Gladiool is on the Gageldijk, in a field next to the Steck garden centre. Despite the name it is not only gladioli: there are about 50 kinds, starting with tulips and daffodils in April. It works with harvest shares for 10 or 20 weeks. Without a subscription you can only come when there is a surplus. You won’t know that in advance.
Koningshof and Vollenhoven have limited days. Saturday for one, Wednesday and Friday for the other. So you can’t combine them in one day.