Harvest Schedule
| Crop | Typical Season |
|---|---|
| Kiwiberry | Mid September to Early October |
| Chestnut | Mid September to Mid October |
| Persimmon | Late September to Early November |
| Pawpaw | Mid September to Mid October |
Exact timing varies with the weather each year. Join our email list for updates as the season approaches.
Come Pick with Us
Fresh air, open skies, and fruit you won't find anywhere else.
There's nothing quite like picking your own food straight from the vine or tree. Zen Arbor Farm offers a relaxed, by appointment u-pick experience in Southeast Michigan. Small groups, relaxed atmosphere, and a picturesque setting that's worth the drive.
Register for U-Pick
- By appointment only: Please register in advance so we can manage availability for everyone.
- Rolling availability: Bookings open up to 3 days in advance because crop conditions can change quickly.
- One registration per vehicle: Register once for your group and arrive together.
- Rain or shine: We stay open in light rain. Dress for the weather!
- Confirmation email: You'll receive all the details you need for your visit, including directions, what to bring, and harvest tips.
Registration opens in September. Join our email list to be notified when u-pick slots become available.
How to Harvest Kiwiberries
Kiwiberry ripen like a banana - harvest them firm and let them finish on your counter. Within a few days they'll soften and sweeten into something completely different from what you picked. Resist the urge to eat one right off the vine; they won't be good yet.
Picking is easy. Steady the vine with one hand near the cluster, then pull berries off one at a time with the other. It keeps things tidy and protects the vines.
Keep them on the counter and they'll be ready in a few days (soft like a ripe peach, skin even getting a bit wrinkled is when they're the best). If you want to spread out your consumption, refrigerate them and move a handful to the counter a day or two before you're ready to eat them. They'll keep in the fridge for a couple of weeks.
How to Harvest Chestnuts
Chestnut harvest is a ground game. The nuts fall when they're ready, so there's no need for ladders or climbing, and no pulling branches or knocking burs out of the tree. Usually the bur stays up and the nuts drop clean. Sometimes a bur falls with the nuts still inside - just roll it under your boot and they'll pop right out.
Watch your step and dress accordingly. Chestnut burs are sharp. Closed-toe shoes are required, boots are ideal. Gloves and a hat are strongly recommended; burs can fall while you're working beneath the trees.
When you get home, chestnuts can sit on the counter for a day or two, but after that refrigerate them. They'll keep for a month or more in the fridge.
How to Harvest Persimmons
Persimmon is all about patience and knowing what ripe looks like. A persimmon that's ready is deep orange, soft like a ripe tomato, and practically falling off the tree on its own. If you see one on the ground that isn't damaged, pick it up - it's likely the ripest fruit out there.
If it's still on the tree but looks ready, give it a gentle feel and tug. If it's ready, it will come away with almost no resistance. If it holds firm, leave it. No ladders, no climbing, no shaking or hitting branches. If it's out of reach, it just needs more time and will drop when it's ready.
While a ripe persimmon is wonderfully sweet and delicious, an underripe persimmon can be intensely astringent - not a pleasant experience. When in doubt, go for the softer, deeper colored fruit and you'll be fine. Always try a small bite first! We'll be happy to help you spot the good ones when you visit.
If you bring home any that need a little more time, set them on the counter under a glass bowl or similar cover and they may finish ripening in a few days. Fully ripe persimmons can be refrigerated for up to a month.
How to Harvest Pawpaw
Pawpaw doesn't change color when it ripens. The skin stays green, so you have to go by feel. A ripe pawpaw will give gently when you squeeze it, like a ripe peach, and will come away from the tree with the lightest pull. If it feels firm like an apple or holds on with any resistance, leave it - it's not ready. Any that have already fallen to the ground are fair game and likely the ripest of all.
Unlike many fruits, pawpaw doesn't ripen well off the tree. If you pick one too early it may never reach its full potential at home, so take your time and only pick what's truly ready. No ladders, no climbing, no shaking or hitting branches. If it's out of reach, let it come down on its own.
Pawpaw doesn't keep particularly long (why you don't find them in stores!). Plan to eat what you pick within a couple of days, or refrigerate them for up to about two weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Don't Miss the Harvest
Our specialty harvests move quickly and timing depends on the weather.
Join our email list to be the first to know when U-Pick opens or fresh shiitakes are available.
We only email when there is a harvest to share.