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The Patent Garden

US Plant Patent PP12418

Honey Fire

Nectarine tree named: ‘Honey Fire’

PUBLIC DOMAIN

Patent expired May 2, 2021. This plant is in the public domain — anyone may propagate and sell it.

Twenty years from the filing date would end on April 24, 2021. This patent earned 8 days of term adjustment for delay at the Patent Office, which is why it runs longer.

Figure 4 of US plant patent PP12418, the photograph of Honey Fire printed in the patent.
Figure 4 from US Plant Patent PP12418, reproduced as printed. Photographs in a plant patent are taken by the applicant. Reproduction of the patent document is permitted; the image is shown whole and uncropped for that reason.

The record

Patent number
PP12418
Filed
April 24, 2001
Granted
February 26, 2002
Expires
May 2, 2021
Inventor
ZAIGER CHRIS FLOYD; ZAIGER GARY NEIL; GARDNER LEITH MARIE; ZAIGER GRANT GENE

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of nectarine tree ( Prunus persica var. nucipersica ). The features of the tree and its fruit are characterized with the tree budded on ‘Nemaguard’ Rootstock (non-patented), grown on Handford sandy loam soil with Storie Index rating 95, in USDA Hardiness Zone 9, near Modesto, Calif., with standard commercial fruit growing practices such as, pruning, thinning, spraying, irrigation, and fertilization. Its novelty consist of the following unique combination of desirable features that are outstanding in a new variety: 1. Heavy and regular production of fruit. 2. Fruit with a sweet, mild, sub-acid flavor. 3. Fruit with a high degree of attractive red skin color. 4. Relatively uniform size fruit throughout the tree. 5. Fruit holding firm on the tree 7 to 8 days after maturity (shipping ripe). 6. A tree with a relatively low winter chilling requirement of approximately 400 to 450 hours below 45° F. 7. Fruit ripening in the early maturity season.

Show the legal claimThe single numbered claim as granted — the legal text that defines what this patent covers.

We claim: 1. A new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, substantially as illustrated and described, which is of large size, upright growth and a productive and regular bearer of large, yellow flesh, clingstone fruit with very good flavor and eating quality; the fruit is further characterized by having firm flesh with a sweet, sub-acid flavor, having good storage and shipping quality and in comparison to the ‘Honey Kist’ Nectarine (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,333), the new variety has a lower winter chilling requirement of approximately 350 hours and produces fruit that is approximately 8 days earlier in maturity.

Read the full patent: US Plant Patent PP12418 in full — the complete specification, every figure, and the file history.