Coastal CA runs a pretty wide range of climatic conditions. I was raised near Malibu and my sister lives near the beach north of Eureka- the difference is huge. Also just a bit up in elevation from the beach can be pretty dramatic, climate wise.

If you were able to get full sugar in Comice on a relatively very cool year I guess you can grow whatever you want. Further up coast where my sister is I'm quite sure she couldn't ripen Comice. Her Seckel is not very healthy with frequent light cases of fire blight. Conference is listed as being more FB susceptible than Seckel which is somewhat resistant.

I don't have the experience in your location (where ever it is) growing pears. I never tried growing them in S. CA when I lived there. Knowing you can grow Comice still makes me confident that you can choose your pear based on preference of taste.

Seckel can be eaten as a crisp or luscious pear but isn't quite as luscious as Comice although it can get higher sugar. It is easier than other pears in terms of picking because you can harvest the fruit green ripe to ripe without a decline in quality.

Conference is an unusual variety I've never even seen for sale- but I'm on the east coast. I wouldn't have answered your post if someone closer to you had picked up on it.

Thanks for the reply Harvestman.
My area is Monterey County, and about a mile from the bay. I get alot of wind, though where Comice is planted is along the fence (espaliered). The new pear will be out in the middle of the yard with not much protection from wind.
Maybe Conference might be best as I don't want to deal with FB.
Janet

Read what I wrote carefully- I believe Conference to be more FB susceptible than Seckel judging from the Seedsavers Exchange description. Monterey is a far cry from Eureka but the fence and form may be why you can grow Comice so well there. What is the fence made of?

One reason Seckel is so popular in the northeast is its ability to get up good sugar when other pears remain bland.

Sorry for never answering your "what kind of fence" question.
It's redwood.
Janet

I don't know anything about Conference, and I don't know your growing season, but I highly recommend Seckel if you can grow it in your area.

Hi,

Conference is the one of the most commercially produced pears in europe. It is a very nice eating pear, which I prefer to eat before it gets too ripe. It is a good pear, which my family grows in Southern Italy, and we have trees in Denmark, so it is seems pretty adaptable IMO.

If you like comice, try and find concord, which is a cross between conference and comice (developed by malling research center in England). I think it is an exquisite pear, of which I have several trees.

Sam