1. Hanson’s Farm — Framingham

A fifth-generation farm, Hanson’s prides itself on growing 180 varieties of fruits and vegetables on 52 acres west of Boston that it sells at its farmstand. The farm also grows pick-your-own flowers that are available every summer from mid-June to the first frost of the fall. Hanson’s has strawberry picking and pumpkins, plus a haunted hayride in October that’s perfect for older kids ready for a spooky thrill.

2. Land’s Sake — Weston

Land’s Sake is a community farm that’s also a nonprofit dedicated to supporting environmental education programs, food donation programs, and land management. It offers a CSA, farmstand, and tons of ways to get involved through farm visits, school outreach, and even birthday parties. Land’s Sake is widely known in the area for being a premier flower farm near Boston for pick-your-own flowers. The farm grows about 100 varieties of flowers that are available to cut from late June through early October. We especially like the sunflower fields.

Pick pretty zinnias at Parlee Farms. Photo courtesy of Parlee Farms

3. Parlee Farms—Tyngsborough

I recently wrote about visiting Parlee Farms to check out its on-site petting zoo, Annie’s Animal Barn, which has 70 animals available for kids to interact with. In addition to lots of furry friends, Parlee has extensive u-pick operations that include strawberries, cherries, blueberries, peaches, apples, pumpkins, and even flowers. Every year from late July through late September, Parlee grows zinnias, sunflowers and gladiolas that are perfect for picking. The sunflower fields typically bloom September through October and are such a lovely, New England summer goodbye.

Chestnut Hill Farm. Photo courtesy of The Trustees

4. Chestnut Hill Farm — Southborough

West of Boston you’ll find the sprawling Chestnut Hill Farm, which is run by the Trustees of Reservations. This farm has a popular CSA (community supported agriculture) program and members are invited to pick weekly bouquets of flowers and crops as part of their subscription. Non-CSA members are also allowed to pick flowers at Chestnut Hill—bouquets are priced per bunch. When you're done picking, explore the farm's many walking trails and visit with the animals. 

5. Powisset Farm—Dover

Powisset Farm is another farm on our list run by the Trustees of Reservations. It’s most well known for its CSA program, which provides vegetables to members and allows them to come to the farm to participate in u-pick fruits, herbs and flowers. Powisset also has a farmstand and beautiful trails to explore, as well as pigs to peek at.

Pick at beautiful beautiful bouquet at Small Farm. 

6. Small Farm — Stow

This family-owned and operated farm has been growing vegetables west of Boston since 1988. While not certified-organic, Small Farm employs organic gardening practices to grow its produce, which it sells at its farmstand. Open daily from July through September, Small Farm invites families to pick vegetables, herbs, and flowers on its property. The flower farm opened mid-July this year.

7. Stevens-Coolidge Place — North Andover

Also run by the Trustees of Reservations, the Stevens-Coolidge Place will open its cutting garden again from mid-July to early October. The garden is open for picking on the weekends during the growing season and kids are more than welcome to join in on the fun. You’ll find organically grown wildflowers, sunflower fields, zinnias, dahlias and rudbeckia among other varieties in the garden. You must join the Flower CSA to pick.  

Photo courtesy of Turkey Hill Farm

8. Turkey Hill Farm — Haverhill

Located on a hilltop in Haverhill, Turkey Hill Farm has three main seasons. In July and August the farm is open for u-pick blueberries and raspberries. In November and December, you can come to Turkey Hill to cut your own Christmas tree. And in between, from mid-July to early September, Turkey Hill has fields of beautiful flowers for you to pick, including sunflower fields, which are open for the picking now.

9. Verrill Farm — Concord

There’s a lot going on at Verrill Farm in Concord. The family farm has been operating since 1922 and grows all kinds of vegetables during the warmer months. And from mid-July to late September You can also come to Verrill to pick your own sunflowers at this flower farm near Boston. Nearly 250,000 sunflowers bloom in this field come mid-August! Verrill also has a bustling bakery and deli and supplies lots of local restaurants with its farm-fresh produce. 

Bring home a bunch of tulips from Cider Hill Farm in the spring. Photo by Caitlin Dowling

10. Cider Hill Farm — Amesbury

Head north to visit this bustling family farm near Boston, which is perhaps most famous for its cider donuts—thus the name Cider Hill Farm! Throughout picking season you can visit this farm for u-pick apples, strawberries, raspberries blueberries, and peaches. In the springtime, Cider Hill opens up its flower farm for u-pick tulips and then again in the summer for a variety of seasonal blooms. Cider Hill also has a play area for kids, a food truck, and farm store, making it a worthy day trip.

Additional reporting by Caitlin Dowling.

An earlier version of this article first published in 2017.