Patty,

I have five Seckel pears in the fridge and the largest is just under 2". Are you thinking of Comice? I've never seen a Seckel over 2" and if the ones you normally get are 1/8 the size of a Seckel... That would be about a quarter of an inch lol.

Here's a photo of my Sekel pear on my Sekel tree:

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Granted, I only have one pear, but it's still a very young tree, so I imagine future pears will be about this size. This pear is nearly ripe (didn't break off the stem and fall into my hand, however, when I lifted up the pear, maybe another week or two, but don't imagine it will get any bigger at this point.) This is about the size I'm familiar with, with the Sekel. Sometimes they're be a bit rounder, but mine look like they'll be more of a classic pear shape. Yes, Comice are rounder, too, but so is the Sekel, usually. These little "Sickler" pears were about 1/2 to 1/3 the size of my Sekel pear. That's how tiny they were. About the size of a Meiwa kumquat to give you a better size comparison. If I can get a few more, I'll snap a photo of them and post them. And, I'm going to see if I can actually contact the grower and get a clarification of the name of the pear. They could be Sekels, just maybe from a tree that had a very heavy crop and wasn't thinned, I suppose. I have just never seen a pear this tiny. I mean really tiny. About the size of a 50 cent piece. They did taste a lot like a Sekel for sure, just melt in your mouth sweet.

Patty S.

Okay, did a little perusing on the Internet. Looks like the Seckel (sorry for the typo previously) can be this tiny. So, I'm guessing they were indeed, SECKEL pears, and not "Sickler". I'm going to the Farmer's Market this Saturday, so I suspect I'll see some there, since it is "Seckel time" right now. I have had Seckels in gift baskets, so I'm betting that I had grade 1 super large ones, and not the more average size. And, maybe if I'm lucky, my future Seckels will be this large as well! We'll have to see. Checking this little pear every day to see if it's ready.

Patty S.

I have seen the tiny Seckels here at the farmers market. They were delicious.

Squirlz got the few my tree set this year.

Scott

That's why these must have been, Scott. Just an older tree or orchard that wasn't thinned, thus created really miniature pears. They were SO cute, oh my gosh. I am envisioning all kinds of crazy cute desserts with a bunch of these little pears. Too bad I'm trying to drop about 20 lbs, lol!! So far, the squirrels have not found this lone Seckel pear on my tree. It's still not quite ripe - the background color of the skin is still too green, but, it's been ungodly hot here in N. San Diego county (it's 90 today, I'm just melting), so stuff is ripening super fast. So, I'm watching it every day. It's my only pear this season, since my trees are still very young. Hopefully, I will get to eat this pear. I'm considering not splitting it with my hubby, since he snarfed down all the little Seckels I bought save one. I think this one will be just for me :-)

Patty S.

I have a tree full of these pears. I do not intend to use them either for eating (they are as hard as nails) or bottling. Am trying to give them away at the farmers market in February.
If anyone wants them they are freely given.
I am going to plant an eating pear tree this winter.

Seckel pears are a delicious eating pear and the reason they can be very small is that growers can't be bothered thinning them. They set very reliably and much too heavily, although unlike other types of fruit, they still get up the sugar even when left unthinned. Thinned they can obtain about half the size of an average Bartlett.

Those extra small ones were probably not only not thinned but not irrigated either.

They are probably the most difficult pear I grow to keep the squirrels from so you better put your trap right on the tree, Scott.

I once read that Seckel pears are the only American-origin pears that the French relish and praise.

Seems doubtful many French have tasted a range of American pears. Most Americans have only tasted French ones.

I have had some seckel pears from a farmers market and publix both were very vinous tasting which I can image many would like but I do not. I have a seckel pear tree in my yard that has not fruited yet. Based your experiences will I find my seckels to be vinous (winey tasting) like the other ones I have tried?

My Seckel pear tastes as sweet as sugar, no wine taste at all.

We have a Seckel pear tree in our city park that stand about 40+ feet and it has small 2 inch fruit. I think the misspelled the pear's name. Their are many of us that miss you on the citrus forum including myself

Hi Steve, been very busy at home, sorry for being MIA :-) Yes, the cultivar name is "Seckel". 2" fruits are small, but if the tree isn't thinned, that could be why. They are pretty small, but usually more like 3 1/2" to 4". Here is a link from a very reputable grower. It is a delicious pear, and does well in low-chill areas. It is supposed to be relatively resistant to FB, but it was the one tree in my 17 that had a hit several years ago. Nothing since, thankfully.