Apple picking season is here, and Central Indiana is rolling in places where Hoosiers can bag a bushel.

The big picture: While it hasn't always felt like fall lately, many local varieties are ready to harvest in mid- to late-September.

• According to Purdue Extension, Indiana's most popular varieties are Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Jonathan, Gala, Rome and Fuji.

Pro tip: If you want to preserve your apples, certain varieties have different recommended methods.

• Purdue Extension recommends varieties that are crisp, firm and not mealy textured for freezing. Think Golden Delicious, Rome Beauty, Jonathan, York Imperial and Granny Smith.
• For canning, reach for Jonathan, Golden Delicious, McIntosh, Braeburn, Crispin or York Imperial.

Zoom in: We've rounded up 10 orchards within two hours of Indy where you can pick your own apples.

Tuttle Orchards

A popular spot for fall fun in Indiana for nearly 100 years, Tuttle Orchards is a year-round attraction that also features a farm store with more than 2,000 products, a pumpkin patch and can't-miss glazed apple doughnuts.

Stop by: 5717 N. 300 W., Greenfield

• Open 9am to 7pm Monday-Saturday.
• Free admission. Apple picking bags cost $8, $16 or $25.

Stuckey Farm

This working orchard and cider mill has 37 different varieties of u-pick apples, multiple fall festivals and a mobile app to track what apples are ripe for picking.

Stop by: 19975 Hamilton Boone Road, Sheridan

• Open 10am to 7pm Thursday-Saturday and 1pm to 7pm Sunday.
• Admission is $12 on weekdays and $16 on weekends online. Gate prices are $14 and $18.50.
• Apple orchard access gets you a 1/4 peck of u-pick apples with paid admission.

Anderson Orchard

Home to an apple festival and craft fair with more than 90 vendors, Anderson Orchard has nearly 30 varieties of apples that you can pick yourself or buy in the apple barn. See all their varieties here.

Stop by: 369 E. Greencastle Road, Mooresville

• Open 8am to 8pm every day. U-pick ends at 7pm.
• Free admission. Contact for apple picking prices.

Seven more places for peak picking

While nearly every Hoosier can agree that an afternoon of picking apples is a good time, agreeing on the best apple isn't as easy.

💭 Justin's thought bubble: Whenever the best apple debate comes up, people start yelling "Honeycrisp" at the top of their lungs before I can even ask the question.

• And they're not wrong. Honeycrisps are delicious. But I personally prefer Gala and Fuji if they're ripe and available.

Zoom in: To end the debate once and for all, we're taking a poll of Axios readers' favorite apple varieties.

• Vote now and we'll reveal the winner later this week!
• And if you choose "other," respond to this email with your write-in!

Share this poll with an apple lover

🏀 Its winner-take-all in the Fever's WNBA semifinal series after Indiana and Las Vegas traded wins in Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Fever bounced back from a Friday night loss by beating the Aces 90-83 Sunday to tie up the series at 2-2.

• The winner of Game 5 tomorrow night in Las Vegas will go to the WNBA Finals to face the Phoenix Mercury. (ESPN)

🏈 The Indianapolis Colts' perfect record is no more. The Colts dropped to 3-1 Sunday after losing to the Los Angeles Rams 27-20 on the road in Week 4. (FOX59)

📈 The Indiana University and Notre Dame football teams are climbing the AP poll rankings after big weekend wins. The Hoosiers moved up three spots to No. 8 after beating Iowa, and Notre Dame moved up one spot to No. 21 thanks to their blowout of Arkansas. (WISH)

🗞️ Independent student newspaper The Exponent says it can no longer legally employ international students following Purdue University's decision to end a long-standing distribution and licensing agreement with the publication over the summer. (WFYI)

🛼 Indianapolis community leaders on the west side have voiced their disapproval of the state potentially granting the Skateland skating rink an alcohol permit. (IndyStar)

🤖 Another Indiana data center project is in the works. The Morgan County Plan Commission is holding a public hearing tonight to discuss rezoning 158 acres of land along Indiana 42 east of Monrovia for a data center. (WRTV)

Hoosier jack-o'-lantern enthusiasts rejoice. Indiana is a top state for pumpkin-growing.

By the numbers: Indiana produced 159.8 million pounds of pumpkins in 2024, according to USDA data.

• That's the second most in the U.S. but far behind Illinois, which led the nation with 485.1 million pounds.
• Pennsylvania (108.8 million), California (105.8 million) and Michigan (104.6 million) round out the Midwest-dominated top five.

Zoom in: According to the USDA, Indiana grows about 25,000 pounds of pumpkins per acre.

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Sometimes you want your apples fresh from the orchard.

Yes, but: Sometimes you want them smothered in sugar.

Zoom in: If you're looking for the latter, here are two quick recommendations in Westfield.

• The apple crisp from Nyla's is a skillet of spiced apples and vanilla ice cream that serves two year-round.
• The Cider Float from Urban Apples is a seasonal spin on the old-school float that tops an apple cider slushie with whipped cream, caramel drizzle and an entire apple cider doughnut.