Northern Gardeners Favorite Blueberry

[Nyboy]

Got great advise when I asked TEG northern members about peach trees, ordered Reliance peaches. now I am asking about blueberries. What is your favorite blueberrry for the north?

 

[Smart Red]

I have over 8 different varieties of blueberry, but Jersey Blue is my biggest producer. You do need more than one variety for good cross-pollination.

 

[journey11]

I have Northland, Patriot, Blue Ray and Blue Crop. I have lost the tags to all but Blue Crop, so I can't say which one is doing best. They've all been good. One of them had really huge berries, like as big as a nickel. Wish I knew which one...I'm no help!

 

[Nyboy]

@Smart Red I have always wondered about pollination . What if all the same variety was planted would they not pollinate each other ?

 

[thistlebloom]

Duke is another good one, as well as the ones Journey and Red mentioned.

 

[bobm]

I have Northland, Patriot, Blue Ray and Blue Crop. I have lost the tags to all but Blue Crop, so I can't say which one is doing best. They've all been good. One of them had really huge berries, like as big as a nickel. Wish I knew which one...I'm no help!

I too have all of the above plus the Duke and Chandler ( planted last spring ). The one with the HUGE berry is the Chandler... supposed to be as big as a quarter.

 

[Smart Red]

Memory is bad, but recall is better. I have the Jersey Blue, Blue Crop, Blue Ray, so Blue Crop could be the biggest berry if it's not Jersey Blue. I think my Patriots died in the drought. Bought 3 Chandler three years ago with only one alive and doing well -- not the plant's problem but mine -- and I purchased a Pink Lemonade two years ago. I'm not sure what the others are. I think I bought one Top Hat just so I could have the tiny sized berries seen in muffins. Most of my berries are the size of a thumbnail and make a delicious, but big blue messy burst of flavor when added to baked goodies.

If I remember correctly (and we know that's a problem) everything I read suggested planting more than one variety not just more than one plant so I figured blueberries need different varieties to pollinate well.

That will also allow for a longer season of berry picking. While mine all flower about the same time, some plants are empty when others are just ripening. I like the long term harvest that I get.