The Best Blueberry Varieties for Zone Six

Early to Early-MidSeason

• For early to early-midseason blueberries, Duke, Spartan, Patriot and Bluejay are good Northern highbush varieties for USDA zone 6. Duke is a vigorous, late-blooming, early-ripening variety. Its berry is medium sized, light blue with a mild, sweet flavor. The Spartan has larger, very flavorful berries but is highly susceptible to anthracnose. Patriot is a slow-growing, upright variety that produces large berries with a good color and flavor if fully ripe. It tolerates of heavy soil and resists root rot. For a winter-hardy, vigorous choice, Bluejay has long-stemmed, medium-sized berries and is resistant to mummy berry and shoestring virus.

Midseason

• Tasty midseason Northern highbushes for USDA zone 6 include Bluecrop, Toro and Bluegold. Bluecrop and Toro are vigorous, upright bushes producing a medium-to-large berry with a good flavor. Bluecrop resists the shoestring and red ringspot viruses and is moderately resistant to mummy berry and powdery mildew but very susceptible to anthracnose. Toro is not very self-fertile and needs another variety for the best fruit. Bluegold is a cold-hardy variety with a bushy, low-growing growth habit. Its medium-to-large-sized berries have a good flavor, color and firmness.

Midlate Season

• Sierra, Nelson and Brigitta are vigorous, upright bushes that do well in USDA zone 6. Nelson is a Northern highbush that produces berries similar to Spartan and tolerates cold temperatures. Sierra is a hybrid of four different species. It has a large berry with good color and excellent flavor. Brigitta is a Northern highbush with large, sweet, light-blue berries and is resistant to anthracnose and mummy berry. Ozarkblue is a Southern highbush blueberry that tolerates late spring frosts because it flowers late. It has a firm, large berry similar to Bluecrop's.

Late Season

• Darrow, Jersey and Elliot are all vigorous, upright late-season varieties that grow in USDA zone 6. Darrow has large, firm berries that are tart unless completely ripe. Jersey berries are slightly smaller with a good color but only a fair, very sweet flavor. Elliot is one of the last varieties to ripen. It is very hardy with a medium, light-blue berry. Like Darrow, its flavor is tart unless fully ripened. Jersey and Elliot both resist anthracnose.