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Sweet Alford
type: Cider
synonyms: Alfred, Sweet Alfred, Sweet Elford
summary: This British apple makes a vintage-quality, bittersweet cider. Beware however; this is a yellow skinned apple and the red skinned apple often passed off as a Sweet Alford is probably a LeBret.
identification: Small to medium, round-flattened to round-conic. The yellow skin has a waxy feel and shows a pale pink-orange blush on the sun-exposed face. Profusely marked with small, dark russet lenticels mixed here and there with red spots which are often raised. The calyx is small and partially open and set in a shallow basin, surrounded by a faint crown. The stem is long, often stout and set in a moderately deep cavity which is russetted with rays extending onto the shoulder.
characteristics: The flesh is white, somewhat crisp and quite sweet with a slight to distinct tannic feel, more or less tart depending on where it is grown and the particular growing conditions.
origins: Originated in the region of Devon (U.K.) during the 1700s.
cultivation: Moderately vigorous, upright spreading tree. Bears fruit on tips. Heavy annual crops.
cold storage: Needs to be used soon after harvest.
vulnerabilities: Somewhat prone to scab.
harvest: Starting early in the fifth period.
notes: A mix-up at a British nursery during the late 1900s resulted in another Devon cider variety called LeBret being sold under the name of Sweet Alford and that error has now perpetuated itself. Actually, there is only a passing resemblance between the two varieties. LeBret is easily distinguishable from Sweet Alford by its bright red colouring and darker stripes. Though sweet like the Alford, it does not match up in body and is not a vintage variety.
juice character: Vintage quality. Low pectin. 1.052, malic acid content is 0.22 per cent and 0.15 grams tannin per litre. Low pectin.
juice_classification: Mild Bitter sweet
pollination group: D
pollination peak: 15
ploidism: Diploid. Self sterile.
brix: 12
tannins: 0.15
harvest period: 5
hardiness: 5
sg: 1.05
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