Seckel pear
Seckel pear | |
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Genus | Pyrus |
Species | Pyrus communis |
Hybrid parentage | wild seedling |
Cultivar | Seckel |
Origin | Pennsylvania |
The Seckel pear (or sugar pear) is a small, very sweet cultivar of pear believed to have originated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Cultivar history
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Hedrick_%281921%29_-_Seckel.jpg/150px-Hedrick_%281921%29_-_Seckel.jpg)
The Seckel is said to be named after the Pennsylvania farmer who first introduced it in the late 18th century.[1] It was one of the varieties planted at Monticello by Thomas Jefferson, who said it "exceeded anything I have tasted since I left France, and equalled any pear I had seen there." His high regard for the Seckel was shared by the eminent horticulturalist A. J. Downing, who rated its flavor above even European pear varieties.[2]
Tree characteristics
The Seckel pear tree is relatively small, reaching a height of 15-20 feet and width of about 10 feet.[3] It has light grey bark and resembles an apple tree.[4] Its white flowers bloom in mid-Spring.[3] The tree is cold-hardy, frost-resistant, and resistant to fire blight.[4]
Fruit characteristics
The Seckel is a winter pear, harvested in the fall, which can be stored for about 5 months. The fruit is very sweet and crunchy, with a coarser grain than most European varieties.[5] Compared to most other pears, they are very small, less than 3" in length and width.[4]
References
- ^ McManus, Jeanne, "Seckel Pears", The Washington Post
- ^ "Seckel Pear"
- ^ a b Seckel Pear at Conservation Garden Park
- ^ a b c Pyrus Communis Seckel at NC State Extension
- ^ WSU Tree Fruit: Seckel ("Sugar Pear"), Washington State University
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![Pear](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/PearPhoto.jpg/45px-PearPhoto.jpg)
Category
Commons