Parentage: Ben More x Ben Lomond
Cropping season: A late flowering cultivar that therefore escapes many spring frosts during the flowering period. Its flowering date is generally similar to Ben Lomond, but its harvest date is later, similar to cv. Baldwin.
Productivity: More productive than Baldwin and has out yielded Ben Lomond in many trials.
Growth Habit: Growth is fairly vigorous with bushes similar in habit and size to Ben Lomond. Growth in some regions (e.g. W. Midlands) can be dense. Bushes of Ben Alder are easily machine harvested.
Fruit Quality: Berries are small, and ripe fruit will only hang on the bush for a limited time similar to Ben Lomond. Fruit quality is excellent with high colour stability and the variety is recommended for juice production and processing outlets.
Disease and Pest Resistance: Moderately resistant to American gooseberry mildew but susceptible to gall mite, reversion virus and leaf-curling midge.