Seckel is one of the more reliably self-fruitful pear varieties but may possibly be helped by cross-polination. It blooms early and is actually one of the few European types that can be compatible with Asians. The one pear that it doesn't work with is Bartlett, or so says the literature. In my climate most other varieties are compatible. Pears are weird in that many varieties will bear seedless fruit without cross pollination if springs are warm but will drop the fruit if trees are stressed by cool spring weather. Southern growers often tell of reliably cropping many pear varieties without cross pollination. When pears bear fruit parthenocarpically (if that's the word, it means without seeds) the size of fruit seems to be fine. I'd plant a variety that is either ealier or later bearing to spread the harvest- Bosc is pretty reliable here and bears a few weeks later, but there's lots of other varieties you might find more interesting. If you can find it I recommend Harrow Sweet, but I don't know where you live. You should post that info.

BTW I did do a little searching here but much of the discussion was on disease problems and grafting. If there are some good threads please direct me to them.

george, i have a black variety already it's violette de bordeux i purchased it in 1996 and i really like it for flavor and productivity.It grows a fig at almost every leaf.I am looking for a true Celeste,I purchased one from miller nursery in 1993 and got crap results from it.I still have it staying loyal to it trying to nurse it every year, but this year it's going in the garbage.Until I met you guys i truly thought it was a celeste but it isn't. So george i've noticed paradise has it. Do you think it's the real celeste?also thanks for reserving those fig cuttings for me I would love to try them.We'll set a date to meet early spring. P.S.Marc the violette de bordeux would be a great choice for you. I will show you how to cover it next fall if you wish. anthony

Here's a link to randy41's photo (thanks to Firefox's BBCodeXtra add-on, which does the magic stuff for me): Gorgeous! If it tastes good, save the seeds. If it's an open pollinated variety (OP, as opposed to a hybrid), you can have the same tomatoes next year. Seed-saving instructions (various methods): http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/tomato/msg0516104221142.html http://wintersown.org/wseo1/YourChoiceTomatoSASE/Learn%20to%20Save%20Tomato%20Seeds%20300.pdf http://tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/A_Beginner%E2%80%99s_Guide_To_Saving_Tomato_Seeds_Using_Fermentation Starting tomatoes from seed: http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/tomato/2005015135020413.html