I’m looking for blueberry recommendations for growing in Ohio zone 6a. I will probably plant up to 6 varieties. Flavor is the most important factor for me with size being a close second. What do the blueberry growers here recommend and where would be the best outlets to purchase from? Thank you.
I’ve been doing a lot of reading and searching for this same answer. On my list of varieties to get is ka-bluey from gurneys, and sweetheart since I like the way it tasted at the nursery. Sweetheart is a double bloomer, so you may get a second harvest in the fall, I already have a perpetua blueberry that is a double bloomer so hopefully they will cross pollinate for better fruiting.
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Northern Highbush will be your best option. Blueray is a good choice.
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For taste you can’t beat pink lemonade. I am in 6b/7a and it grows and crops better than the other blueberries I have.
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I like and grow BlueJay. It is a larger berry with a good, sweet flavor. I’m in western PA with a similar climate. My plants came from Hartmann plant company online.
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Chandler, Patriot, and Blue Gold are all good and have really nice sized berries.
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I’ve been really impressed with Hannah’s Choice. Very sweet with strong peach overtones.
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Bluecrop & Elliott.
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I’m in Zone 7A and grow several different varieties of Northern highbush and Southern blueberries. IMO Misty is the tastiest that will thrive in my zone, seconded by Duke. Blue Joy, Blue Ray, Jersey Patriot, and Northland do well and taste OK. For calibration - to my taste wild lowbush blueberries are best while worst include giant, tasteless Elliot and small, sour Chippewa. Your tastes may differ. Should you not like your choice, you can always gift it to the birds. Note - if you want any fruit for yourself, get a bird net. Nourse has a good selection, as does Indiana Berry Farm (neither currently carry Misty but One Green World and Raintree do). I’ve gotten several of my plants at Lowe’s - big plants, no shipping costs. Happy berrying!
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Thank you all for the recommendations. I’ll look into each one and make my decision.
I’m in zone 5b/6a. Cara’s Choice and Kabluey are top shelf with a complex flavor. Chandler holds the record for largest berry. I find it gets better tasting with age Spartan is early and excellent. I like Legacy a lot too. Raz is supposed to taste like raspberries. Sometimes it does. I don’t care it has a nice flavor. This year being hot and dry. Every cultivar is very sweet. They all taste fantastic this year. I also grow Liberty, Toro, Pink Popcorn, Darrow, and Northland. I also grow many other berries and all are extra sweet this year.
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That plate is making me drool!
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Thanks. It took me awhile to get to this point. I’m there now! 
These also are not just any raspberry or blackberry, but the finest examples of the species. I’m also a huge fan of plums, nectarines, and figs. And grow many of each type.
For me it’s a constant evaluation of fruit to try and find what works in your area and offers something unique that has to be grown to be tasted. I have been refining it every year to meet my needs. It’s been a wonderful journey.
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I’m trying to find my favorites of all these berries too, but I’m just starting this year, and so far I’ve only tasted my fall gold and my first raspberry shortcake berry yesterday. What are the cultivars you’ve narrowed down to? So far I also have a Anne yellow (still growing out from a bare root cane) and young plants of cascade gold, royal purple, and Joan J. Only blackberries I have in my possession so far is Babycake (primocane just started to bloom) and polar berry. My starks black gems and Kiowa are still waiting to be delivered. Not too impressed with the flavor of perpetua blueberry so far, at least the fruits that were already developing when I got it this spring. it’s about to go into its second bloom now. I’m Still waiting on a pink lemonade plant too. Prob waiting for next season before I get a sweetheart, or place an order through gurneys for ka-bluey and echo blueberry.
In berries I look for a productive berry. And also the finest flavors. Both traits are seldom found in one berry. Ponca the new blackberry from the Arkansas program, said to be their best to date may be just that. Time will tell. For raspberries Himbo Top and Prelude are the most productive and both have earned a spot in my garden. The yellows you mention are good and so is Kiwi Gold. Josephine has huge excellent berries and is a keeper. I’m trialing many others still. So many out there. Caroline has excellent flavor. There is a few threads where I go over berries, as do others. Many I grow were brought up and discussed here. And is why I tried them. Do searches for each cultivar mentioned in this thread to get a wealth of experiences and opinions.
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I love blackberries, so I’m waiting for Ponca to become available too. I’ve been trying to take notes Of the names of different types and trying to find them. I’ve never liked raspberries until I tried fall gold, so it got me searching for more. Kiwi gold isn’t one I’ve found anywhere yet, I have honey queen on my wish list. I haven’t been a huge fan of any red raspberries I’ve tried, at least not eating fresh, but love it in a blend I use for wine/mead making. Productive would be important too for trying to make a batch of wine, as I have limited space for them to grow. But I want is nice fresh eating berries too. I have not heard much of himbo top or Josephine yet, I’ll look into them.
Sorry for the hijack 
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Are you more to the humid side? I am mid-MD, in the piedmont area. Not beach, not mountain, used to be cold winters, all. the heat and humidity in the summer. I was wondering about blueberries as well, some of the other recommendations for Ohio seem like they might not like the heat here.
Very humid to my sensibilities (I’m from coastal desert So. Cal.; an Asian might disagree ;-). I haven’t been to OH in the summer, but I think it might be humid as well. I could be wrong but I think anything at sea-level that is not on the coast or in a desert is likely to be humid. I know Iowa is worse than here. I’m at 38.302735, -77.233667, about 230 ft elevation, with influence from major rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. Your locale may be less muggy due to the elevation. Also check out Drew51 - he’s more experienced with berry-growing. He’s in 5b/6a Michigan. Good luck!
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Thanks! I have a better idea of how your berry varieties will fit here. I am trying to plant things that are good just a bit south, but rated for a colder winter just in case, so perfect.
No worries. The more information the better. I enjoy reading everyone’s post.