Frequently Asked Questions

GENERAL FAQs

Are you open?

Yes, we are open 7 days a week during our peak seasons, including all holidays except Christmas. We generally close for 4-6 weeks after December 20th and reopen the beginning of February.

Are you located in Saskatoon?

No! We are named after the Saskatoon Berry (grown indigenously in Alberta), not the city. We are located in the heart of Foothills County, Alberta, 20 minutes south of Calgary.

Do you sell gift cards?

Yes, we sell gift cards both online and in-store. The gift cards are available in all denominations and can be used in both the restaurant and general store. And the best part, they never expire.

Do you host Weddings or Special Events?

Yes, we do! We are currently revamping our wedding packages. But you can stay up to date over on our Weddings Page and Special Events Page.

Do you ship to U.S. or Mexico?

At this time, we only ship to certain provinces within Canada.

Are dogs allowed at the farm?

Unfortunately, we don’t allow outside dogs at the farm at this time to ensure the safety of our animals, as well as yours.

RESTAURANT FAQs

When is the restaurant open?

9am to 4pm Daily!

Do you take reservations at the restaurant?

No, the restaurant operates on a first come, first serve basis - but don’t worry! We are fast and promise your wait won’t be long and well worth it.

Why do you serve Mexican food in your restaurant?

Our Kitchen staff is primarily from areas in Mexico and they have beautiful, traditional Mexican Cuisine you can't can anywhere except for our Kitchen. Check out the menu!

BUFFALO ROOM FAQs

When is the Buffalo Room open?

We operate the same hours as the Main building, 9-5 everyday including weekends and holidays.

GARDEN CENTRE FAQs

When is the Garden Centre open?

9am to 5pm, 7 Day a week, seasonally, opening April 15th and closing October 31st. To learn more about when the season starts, head over to our Garden Centre page. Hours may vary due to the changing Covid-19 Regulations.

When does the season start?

Our growing season begins in February based on our greenhouse temperatures, but we are generally open for retail sales beginning in early May. It is largely weather dependent.

What type of plants do you sell?

We have a large selection of prairie hardy annuals, herbs, fruits, veggies, perennials, shrubs and trees. All hand seeded and selected to be successful in our growing zone

What are Saskatoon Seedlings?

Saskatoon seedlings are small, already established Saskatoon bushes, they are not actually seeds as the name might suggest (confusing, we know). We have yearlings (slightly larger bushes) up to 5 and 6-years-old, which are already large plants ready for you to take home.

How do I know which Saskatoon plant to buy?

The age of the plant you purchase will depend on the desired outcome of your purchase. Do you want berries right away? You’ll need to invest in an older, more established plant (yearlings, 5 to 6-years-old). If you are looking for large quantities for a hedge or picking patch, we recommend going with our 3-year-old seedlings. You could start seeing fruit as early as next season from these little guys.

When will my Saskatoon’s Start Bearing Fruit?

Saskatoon’s can normally produce anywhere from a handful of fruit to a reasonable size crop of fruit in the third year. Starting in your fourth year you may pick 5lbs. of fruit from each bush. You can expect a fully mature Saskatoon bush after about 6 years.

What is the best way to grow my Saskatoon’s?

We found the best way to grow Saskatoons is as a hedge. They could be a row in the garden, a hedge along the lane, or a shelterbelt around a field. They could also be planted and grown as an individual specimen.

We have harsh winters, will my Saskatoon plant survive?

Saskatoons are “very” hardy. They are hardy to Zone 1 and we have customers in the NWT and in the Yukon, as well as Vancouver Island. I don't think we have to be concerned at all about the durability of Saskatoons in our harsh winters.

Will frost destroy my Saskatoon plants?

Many people believe that frost takes the flowers on the Saskatoon resulting in no fruit that year. Contrary to popular belief, frost damage is not a major problem in our orchards. This is a misconception because the insect damage occurs at the same time that the bush is flowering. Eight times out of ten, it is the insect damage that causes the fruit loss. Spraying the bushes when they are flowering with a registered insecticide will guarantee a good crop of berries every year, although this is not an essential practice.

Will Saskatoon’s grow in my type of soil?

Saskatoon’s grow in a wide range of soils all across Canada in the wild, and do well in almost all soils. They do not tend to grow well in very wet peat soils, or high alkaline soils.

What type of fruit is available in U Pick season?

Saskatoon’s, Cherries, and Currants.

What variety of Saskatoon’s do you recommend? What variety will grow best in my area?

We offer three main varieties of Saskatoon’s: Northline, Smoky and Honeywood and find them to equally hardy in all areas. Our preference here on the farm is the Northline variety because of it's nice uniform habit of growth as well as it's superb fruit quality with a large berry size and wonderful Saskatoon flavour. Fruit production on the Northline variety is fantastic, even at an early age. We also offer the Thiessen variety.We also like to recommend planting a mix of all three main varieties. The different varieties seem to bloom and harvest at staggered times, so it gives you a chance to enjoy the spring flowers for a longer period of time and extends your u-pick time.

How big are your seedlings?

When we ship our seedlings they are normally in the 8 - 12 inch range. Our seedlings are one year old actively growing as a leafed out tree in its own pot with soil and a fully developed root system.

When can I expect my seedlings to arrive? How do you ship them?

The bulk of our seedlings are shipped out after the danger of frost on the prairies has past, usually starting about May 15th. Our shipping season lasts approximately three to four weeks. However, seedlings are available throughout the season and can be planted well into the fall. We normally ship all of our seedlings by Greyhound Courier. This enables pickup at their depots to even the remotest of areas. We find Greyhound to have the safest, quickest and most economical delivery.

Can I order my seedlings from the US?

No, unfortunately we can no longer ship to the U.S. due to customs regulations.

Have other questions?

Email us at plants@saskatoonfarm.com.

SEASONAL MARKET FAQs

When are your seasonal markets?

We have a Spring Market (normally in April), A Harvest Market (normally in October), a Christmas Market, and several Summer Pop-Up Markets. Stay up to date by following our Seasonal Market page.

FARMER’S MARKET FAQs

When does your Farmer’s Market begin and end?

Our Farmer’s Market begins in mid-April when we start harvesting our own veggies. The Market normally wraps up around the end of September. However (!) we offer a variety of root vegetables available all year long.

Where is your Farmer’s Market?

Our Farmers Market is located at our Red House, right in the heart of our Main Street.

What produce do you have?

We sell an amazing selection of over 50 vegetables grown right here at The Saskatoon Farm. Our produce is hand seeded, weeded, and picked to ensure you are getting the best quality produce around. Our produce is never refrigerated. Imagine food so fresh you may have to wipe the dirt off yourself!

U PICK FAQs

Is U Pick open?

U Pick is open from mid July to late August. If you are asking outside of that time frame, then no. If you are asking inside of that time frame, YES! We have Saskatoon Berries, 4 varieties of Sour Cherries, Black Currants, and a variety of apples available during our U-Pick. However, they are not all available at the same time. Stay in the know for what’s in season by following us on Facebook and Instagram.

When does U Pick Start?

U Pick is open from mid July to late August, weather dependent.

How much does U Pick Cost?

The grazing fee for U-Pick is $2 per person (kids 5 and under are free). A full bucket of fresh picked fruit is $16. We also offer pre-picked buckets for $22 each (subject to availability).

Is there parking?

Yes, we have easy access parking to our U-Pick Orchards, including disabled parking.

What time is U Pick open?

During U-Pick season (mid July to late August), our orchards are open 7 days a week from 9am to 5pm.

What type of fruit is available in U Pick season?

We have Saskatoons, Cherries, and Currants.

Do you supply buckets for U Pick?

Yes, we have your bucket needs covered! However, during the 2021 season, due to COVID-19 regulations, there may be a wait time between cleanings.

COVID-19

For all COVID-19 related questions, please click here, as that page is practicing social distancing.