Blueberry Picking Near Montgomery: What You Need to Know
South Alabama's sandy, acidic soil is well suited to rabbiteye blueberries, and the farms clustered around Baldwin and Covington counties, a couple hours south of Montgomery, anchor the state's commercial blueberry industry. Several of these family operations open rows to pick-your-own visitors each early summer.
Southeastern Blueberry Farms
The Southeast is genuine blueberry country, with Georgia and North Carolina both ranking among the nation's leading producers thanks to rabbiteye and highbush varieties suited to the region's sandy, acidic soils and long growing season. South Carolina, Alabama, and Mississippi each contribute their own established industries, and Florida's southern highbush varieties, bred specifically for the state's mild winters, produce some of the earliest blueberries in the entire country, often ready by April. The harvest here stretches from spring into midsummer, one of the longest blueberry windows in the nation.
Best Time to Go Blueberry Picking Near Montgomery
Late May through July, with rabbiteye varieties in Baldwin and Covington counties typically peaking in June.
Tips for Your Montgomery Blueberry Picking Trip
Call ahead before driving to Baldwin or Covington counties, since rabbiteye blueberries ripen quickly in Alabama's early summer heat and the picking window can shift fast. Go in the cooler morning hours both for comfort and because berries hold up better off the bush before the day heats up.