Tift's Sweet
AppleTift's Sweet
Origin/History
Origin New England (Downing). Elliott describes it simply as American.
Tree
Downing describes the tree as vigorous and upright spreading. Elliott describes it as a moderate grower. The two sources conflict on vigor: Downing characterizes growth as vigorous while Elliott says moderate. Elliott notes the tree as productive; Downing characterizes it as a regular but not profuse bearer, and considers it unprofitable.
Fruit
Size: Medium.
Form: Oblate (Downing); roundish flattened (Elliott). Both sources agree on a flattened form, with Downing using the more specific pomological term oblate.
Stem: Slender (Elliott). Not described in Downing.
Cavity: Varying (Elliott). Not described in Downing.
Calyx: Closed (Elliott). Not described in Downing.
Basin: Deep; segments long (Elliott). Not described in Downing.
Skin: Green, netted with russet, sometimes with a dull brown cheek (Downing). Greenish yellow with a slight network of russet (Elliott). The two sources agree on the ground color being in the green-yellow range and on russet netting; Downing alone mentions an occasional dull brown cheek.
Flesh/Flavor: Yellowish, exceedingly sweet and rich (Downing). Yellow, firm, sweet, rich; very best for baking (Elliott).
Core/Seeds: Core small (Elliott). Not described in Downing.
Season
September to October (Downing); September to November (Elliott).
Uses
Very best for baking (Elliott).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Tift's Sweet.
Origin, New England. Tree vigorous, upright spreading.
Fruit medium, oblate, green, netted with russet, sometimes with a dull brown cheek. Flesh yellowish, exceedingly sweet and rich. A regular, but not profuse bearer. Unprofitable. September, October.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Tift's Sweet. American. Tree, moderate grower; productive. Fruit, medium, roundish flattened, greenish yellow with slight net-work of russet ; stem, slender; cavity, varying ; calyx, closed ; basin, deep ; segments, long ; core, small ; flesh, yellow, firm, sweet, rich, very best for baking. September, November.