Strawberry season (or ‘Erdbeerzeit’, as the locals call it) is one of the most anticipated parts of summer in Hamburg. Look around and you’ll see strawberry-shaped kiosks pop up in spring ready to sell the delicious little fruits as soon as they’re ready to harvest. But if you’d rather get out of the city for a bit and pick your own strawberries, there are plenty of options to be a farmer for a day scattered around the outskirts of Hamburg. This family-friendly activity is an especially popular way for city kids to learn about nature and nutrition.
Note: strawberry harvests usually begin in mid-June, but each farm is different and exact harvest times can change from year to year. Be sure to check each farm’s website to make sure they’re open to the public, especially before the end of June.
Erdbeerhof Fennert (Hamberge)
This family business near the must-see historic city of Lübeck doesn’t just offer fresh strawberries in the farm shop, but also vegetables, fruit, sausage, jams and juices all year round.
Erdbeerhof Glantz (Dellingsdorf)
Between the towns of Ahrensburg and Bargteheide you pick strawberries to your heart’s desire before relaxing with even more strawberries - in the form of homemade ice cream, on cakes and pies, or even in warm dishes and salads. An inside tip from the farm: the fields are particularly idyllic and relaxed during the work week.
Gut Wulksfelde (Tangstedt)
On this organic farm in Tangstedt you can pick strawberries, cut your own field flowers, buy fresh bread, eggs, milk and vegetables and also choose from over 100 types of sausage and 250 cheeses. The petting zoo gives little ones the chance to befriend tame goats, sheep, donkeys, rabbits, chickens and guinea pigs.
Hof Soltau (Barsbüttel)
In northeast Hamburg, Hof Soltau offers a variety of tempting produce. Starting in May, you can of course find strawberries, but also fresh asparagus and blueberries. The farm’s strawberries are usually ready to be picked by visitors starting in early June.
Obsthof Busch (Tostedt)
Visitors can buy fresh fruit in the farm shop and pick their own strawberries at the Busch family farm in Tostedt. The largest strawberry farm in southern Hamburg, they offer various varieties for self-harvesting in the fields on the B75 in Tostedt-Todtglüsingen.
Weingut Ingenhof (Bad Malente)
Three varieties of strawberry grow in the fields of the Ingenhof farm and vineyard in Malkwitz. If you don't have any containers for the precious fruits, you can borrow buckets on site and fill them with all the strawberries - and raspberries - you can carry. From May, delicious fruit cakes and freshly baked waffles can also be enjoyed in the onsite Feldcafé. You can even combine your visit with a trip to one of the many beautiful lakes of the greater Plön region.
