Cultivar 342: Geddes

Geddes is a plum introduced by the University of Saskatchewan in 1960. It is listed as a native plum x Prunus salicina hybrid, and one source describes it more specifically as a P. nigra x P. salicina cross.[S1] [S3] It belongs to the prairie program of hardy plum introductions and appears to have been evaluated under field conditions without irrigation at Saskatoon.[S3]

Sources describe Geddes as a medium to fairly large yellow plum. The 1960 introduction note says the fruit reached about 1 1/2 inches across, was yellow with a slight blush, and ripened in late August.[S3] The prairie cultivar index lists it as medium in size, about 3.0 in listed diameter, yellow in skin color, intended for fresh use, and maturing in the medium late season.[S1] The same 1960 source calls the fruit good quality.[S3]

Its historical context is clearer than its full horticultural profile. Geddes was part of the University of Saskatchewan's named plum introductions from 1960, and the record ties it directly to Saskatoon testing conditions rather than to a nursery catalog description.[S3] A later prairie summary appears to place Geddes among the yellow orange plums and suggests it was low yielding, though that statement is less secure in the surviving scan.[S2]

Hardiness is not stated directly for Geddes in the cited records. The strongest evidence is its release through the University of Saskatchewan prairie breeding and testing context, with documented field performance at Saskatoon without irrigation.[S3] That supports it as a prairie oriented introduction, but the packet does not provide a direct zone rating or a clear winter survival statement for this cultivar.[S3]

Summary source basis

• S1: An index of fruit cultivars tested or developed on the Canadian prairies.
• S2: hortfacts_1976_3.pdf
• S3: University of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960

This summary currently draws chiefly from An index of fruit cultivars tested or developed on the Canadian prairies., with 2 additional supporting sources linked below.

Featured source descriptions

“Fruit diameter 3.0; maturity medium-late.”
— ^[2]

“Listed among low-yielding varieties.”
— ^[3]

Direct parent cultivars

• No direct linked parent cultivars promoted yet.

Parentage claim text

• Origin listed as P. nigra x P. salicina.
• Parentage listed as Native x P. salicina, mixed open pollinations.

Derived or downstream cultivar links

• No derived or downstream lineage links yet.

Source-story quotations

• P58-102 Geddes Native x P. salicina. Mixed open pollinations 1960 fruit up to 1 1/2" each way, under field conditions, without irrigation at Saskatoon; yellow with slight blush; good quality, season late August.University of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960, p6
• P58-102 Geddes Native x P. salicina. Mixed open pollinations 1960 fruit up to 1 1/2" each way, under field conditions, without irrigation at Saskatoon; yellow with slight blush; good quality, season late August.University of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960, p6
• P58-102 Geddes Native x P. salicina. Mixed open pollinations 1960 fruit up to 1 1/2" each way, under field conditions, without irrigation at Saskatoon; yellow with slight blush; good quality, season late August.University of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960, p6
• P58-102 Geddes Native x P. salicina. Mixed open pollinations 1960 fruit up to 1 1/2" each way, under field conditions, without irrigation at Saskatoon; yellow with slight blush; good quality, season late August.University of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960, p6

Taxonomy context: No family-tree context surfaced yet.

Related cultivars mentioned in source context