Every Apple, Every Month
There's a moment that happens to just about everybody who picks their own apples for the first time. You twist one off the branch, polish it on your sleeve, and take a bite right there in the row. It's still warm from the sun. And you realize you've never actually tasted an apple before, not really.
The Short Answer
Apple season runs August 30 through November 2, or until the trees are picked clean. September has the widest lineup, including Honeycrisp and Jonathan, our two most popular apples. October brings the late-season keepers, and Granny Smith holds out into November.
Want to know what's ripe the day you're coming? Call 515.383.4354 and press option 3.
Our Orchard Started With a Family and a Few Apple Trees
In the spring of 1986, Larry and Pat Black and their four kids planted our very first apple trees together. The idea came partly from Pat's father, Dick Breeden, who founded Wauconda Orchards in the Chicagoland area. We opened to the public in 1994, back in the days of getting up from Sunday dinner to go out and sell a few bags of apples.
Today there are 6,000 apple trees across more than 20 acres, growing more than 34 varieties. From sweet to tart, there's a flavor for everyone to discover. You can read the whole story on our history page.
Iowa Apple Varieties, Month by Month
Apples don't all show up at once, which is half the fun and the reason an August visit tastes different from an October one.
The First Bite of Fall
Zestar!, sweet-tart with a hint of brown sugar, plus Jonamac and the exceptionally sweet, honey-like Sweet Maia.
Our Biggest Month for Variety
Honeycrisp, crisp, juicy, and honeyed. Jonathan, firm and spicy and perfect for pie. Plus Gala, McIntosh, Cortland, Empire, and some you may never have tried, like Snapdragon, Rubyrush, Crimson Crisp, and Snow Sweet.
Late-Season Favorites
Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Jonagold, Fuji, Braeburn, Pink Lady, Mutsu, Ludacrisp, and Evercrisp, with its Honeycrisp flavor and Fuji tang.
Granny Smith Holds Out
Crisp and very tart, the last apple standing and a baker's favorite for cakes, pies, and applesauce.
Mother Nature keeps her own calendar, so these are the months we expect each variety in the orchard. Check our live apple picking status for the full variety list.
How Apple Picking Works Here
Grab your You-Pick bag at the You-Pick entrance or the South Train Station, wander the rows, and fill it to the brim.
Honeycrisp, Evercrisp, and Ludacrisp are our premier apples. They're harder to grow, take more work, and everybody wants them, so they cost more.
Admission is required for ages 3 and up to enter the apple orchard, and it includes all the Farmyard fun plus unlimited rides on the CGO Express Train. Online admission is $14.95 on weekdays and $19.95 on weekends. Grab yours ahead of time on our tickets page.
A Few Things That Help
- Lift and twist. Don't pull straight down. The apple comes off clean and the spur stays on the tree for next year's crop.
- Start on the outside. Pick from the outside of the tree first. Those apples catch the most sun.
- Dress for wandering. Wear comfy shoes, and bring a wagon or stroller for the little ones. The orchards, pumpkin patch, and activities spread across 25 acres.
- Rain or shine. A few attractions may close for safety when it's wet, but the farm as a whole stays open.
Not Picking? We've Got You Covered
Some folks come for the bag, some come for the bakery, and there's no wrong answer. Our Country Store has fresh apples sold by bag size, and you can shop it without paying admission. Our bakery is right there waiting too.
We also sell seconds, the apples with a bruise or a blemish, at a discount. They bake and sauce just as beautifully as the pretty ones, and they're a steal if you're making a pie.
When to Go Apple Picking in Iowa
Apple season runs August 30 through November 2, or until the trees are picked clean. The farm is closed Tuesdays.
September has the widest lineup, with the most varieties on our calendar. October brings crisp mornings, golden leaves, and the big late-season keepers. And if you're a Granny Smith fan, hang on for November.
If your schedule allows, a weekday visit gives you a little more room to wander the rows. Thursdays after 2 PM, gate admission is buy one, get one free. For every fall event date in one place, see our week-by-week fall guide.
Make a Day of It
The orchard is one stop out of 40-plus. The hayride runs out to the trees, the pumpkin patch, and the corn maze, so you can pick apples in the morning, wander four acres of corn, and let the kids loose on the jumping pillows before lunch.
For everything about the orchard in one place, start with our apple picking guide.
Getting Here
We're at 32835 610th Avenue in Cambridge, five miles east of I-35 at Exit 102. That's about 35 minutes from Des Moines, 20 from Ames, and 25 from Ankeny.
Our directions page has the drive from your town.
Apple Picking Questions
When is apple season in Iowa?
Ours runs August 30 through November 2, or until the trees are picked clean, with different varieties ripening in August, September, October, and November.
How many apple varieties do you grow?
More than 34 across our 20-acre orchard, from sweet Honeycrisp and Sweet Maia to tart Granny Smith and Crimson Crisp.
How much does apple picking cost?
Admission is required for ages 3 and up, $14.95 online on weekdays and $19.95 on weekends. Apples are separate: You-Pick bags run from $9.95 for a quarter peck to $64.95 for a full bushel, and our premier apples cost more. You buy a bag and fill it, so there's no weighing at the end.
When can I pick Honeycrisp?
We expect Honeycrisp in the orchard in September. Call 515.383.4354 (press option 3) to check before you come.
How long do fresh-picked apples keep?
Keep them in your fridge's crisper drawer with a small cup of water tucked in beside them. That little bit of moisture keeps them fresh for 4 to 6 weeks.
Do you sell apples if we'd rather not pick?
We do. The Country Store carries fresh apples sold by bag size, no admission needed, and we sell discounted seconds for baking.