I'd look for 'Triple Crown', 'Chester' or 'Loch Ness'. All are very cold hardy and produce large, very sweet berries. Not sure where in your area they might be sold but you can find online sources - Raintree Nursery, Greenwood Nursery, White Flower Farms, possibly Stark Bros.

Possibly Loganberries, as from www.onegreenworld.com.

Stark Bros. is just up the river from St. Louis.

Triple Crown tends to die back partially here...a bit colder than St. Louie.

Thanks!

Doyle blackberry

My lone Doyle blackberry is only going through its second winter so I have not proved its winter hardiness nor its productivity. It has smaller berries, but is alleged to produce huge numbers of berries...though not as sweet.

tomdoyle@fruitsandberries.com

I ended up ordering 3 Prime Ark 45 plants. They sounded good to me because they bear the first year and are cut down in the fall after bearing. Know anything about them?
Vicki

kept-you might read over the instruction again! If you cut the green canes of bb's they won't bloom the following year:)

OK Rockguy your scaring me. Thought I was crazy and was dreaming I read something I didn't. Went back and found info on the diff between floricane plants( those that bear on second year canes and Primocane plants ( those that bear the first year.) Primocane was developed in Arkansas and it bears on first year canes, thus the name PRIME Ark 45 and can be mowed down after fall harvest.
Hope it's true. I'll let you know.
Vicki

I read on one site somewhere that said that blackberries draw strength from the old canes in early spring.

Please let us know how the prime ark 45 do for you.
I have had PRIME-JIM for 3 years, it grows well in zone 8a.
But the deer love it so the berries are few. The deer keep the canes trimmed back.

We're in zone 5 and have had Doyle's thornless for a few years. Two plants produced 4 lbs this year.

Our area in zone 5 is the equivalent about 5 hours north of St Louis if we were directly north of St Louis.

I haven't covered them in the winters either. Just chicken wire to protect against rabbits/squirrels.

Here is a link that might be useful: UrbanFoodGrower.com