What variety of raspberry (black & red) are your favorites??

What variety of raspberry (black & red) is your favorite?? I'm looking for the sweetest and hardiest variety for my zone - 5b.
I'm craving raspberries in milk and sugar!! Yum!

I mail-ordered 5 vars from Nourse Farms last spring: Caroline, Himbo Top, Joan J, Nova, and Polana. They were delivered as bare-root sticks and grew to over 5' tall and produced delicious berries in just a few months. All have come back after a winter with a week of -15F and no protection (and deer foraging). Nova appears to be the hardiest of the bunch. All vars were delicious, but i think our favs were Joan J and Nova. I recommend e-mailing Nourse Farms - they had great recommendations for us.

For black raspberries I like Bristol. For reds Caroline, Nova, and Prelude.

I do not like Heritage. Even though you did not ask about the yellows, I like Fall Gold as well. I second the vote for Bristol.

Hmm.... 2 votes for Bristol, Caroline, and Nova. :) ....Are they sweet or tangy?

Bristol is sweet. Fall Gold is sweeter.

Caroline is large and flavorful....just a bit of tang.
Bristol is scrumptous if the plants are vigorous and the berries large and juicy.

Ooooh yes!! :-)
Can I grow Bristol and Fall Gold together on the same fence rail? Are either one everbearing? Do I need to be concerned with cross pollinating? I have thornless blackberries too. Do I need to keep them away from them?

.....I will start calling tomorrow to see if any of our nurseries have Bristol and Fall Gold. :)

Fall Gold is ever-bearing with a crop in June and another in August/Sept here. Bristol is not ever-bearing. I do not know of any of the blacks that are. The recommendation for Fall Gold is to mow them down at the end of the season, so that you would only get the fall harvest which is supposed to be bigger as a result. The one time I tried that, the weeds came on so strong that I nearly lost my patch. Now I do not mow them, and enjoy both the spring and fall harvest.

I would not be concerned about cross-pollination, but I believe there is some concern with the blacks and viruses. I'll leave that issue for someone more knowledgeable.

Thanks so much krowten!! As I type, I'm calling around to our local nurseries. I've found Caroline and Fall Gold!! The nursery that has Fall Gold is holding the last two plants they have for me!! I will put them on the same fence unless someone here tells me otherwise.

Thanks for all your help!! :) ......I'm off to the nursery!!
Glenda

Don't give up on the blacks just because of the virus issue. I think they are the best tasting.