Biting into a ripe, juicy peach is a sure sign of summer here on Long Island and picking your own tree ripened peach just adds to the fun. How can you tell when peaches are ripe? Trust your senses.

Gently touch the peach: If the peach is firm, it is not ready to be picked. Wait until there is some “give” but don’t squeeze too hard as that may result in bruising. A ripe peach will separate from the tree easily. If it’s difficult to pick, leave it on the tree to ripen longer.

Look at the color and shape: When a peach is ready to be picked, it won’t have any green on the skin. The skin will have changed to yellow or white, or in some cases (depending on the variety) will have a very bright red-orange color. If there is still some green skin, it isn’t ready to be picked yet. Also, a peach will become more round as it ripens.

 Smell the peaches: If there is no smell, it’s not ready to be enjoyed. A ripe peach will give off a sweet aroma. Hint: Larger peaches and those at the tops of the trees ripen first.

Here are some local farms on the north shore that have pick-your-own peaches available in August. Remember to always to call first to check availability.

Hayden’s Peach Orchard, 561 Hulse Landing Road, Wading River, 631-886-1280

Hayden’s (formerly Davis Peach Farm) offers you-pick yellow, white and donut peaches. The farm is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, closed Mondays.

Lewin Farms, 812 Sound Avenue, Calverton, 631-929-4327, ext. 1

Lewin’s Farms offers pick your own peaches from August to September. The orchard is located  across the street from the farm stand. Follow signs down the dirt road on North side of Sound Avenue. 1/4 mile west of farm stand. The farm grows 10 varieties of peaches, including yellow peaches and the unique shaped donut peaches. The orchard open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Wickham’s Fruit Farm, 28700 Route 25, Cutchogue, 631-734-6441

Pick your own peaches in August and September at Wickham’s. Plums, apricots and nectarines are also in season. Open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, closed Sundays.

Windy Acres Orchards, 3810 Middle Country Road, Calverton, 631-727-4554

The farm currently has yellow and white peaches available in the orchard behind the farmstand. Pick your own hours are weekends from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Don’t feel like picking peaches? All four locations have a farmstand on the premises and sell peaches by the bushel. Or stop at Briermere Farms, 4414 Sound Ave., Riverhead, on your way home for a freshly baked peach pie!