When we planted our three pear trees last year, I thought I did sufficient research on fireblight resistance before choosing them. But now I’m worried. I got Magness and Seckel on Quince because I thought both had good fireblight resistance and I thought I’d take the chance on the quince because I wanted a dwarf, early bearing tree. I’ve also got Harrow Sweet on OhxF87 which sounds now like the best bet of the three. I don’t know how I missed that Seckel really isn’t fireblight resistant except for the timing of its bloom but I did!! I liked the description of the taste though as I don’t really like very gritty pears. I know fireblight is going to be an issue around here because I had to prune out strikes on an established apple last spring, and the neighbor across the field has a large ornamental pear which could be a harbor. None of the pears got anything last year though but they were new.
Is it an option to graft on a fireblight resistant variety down lower and keep Seckel on top/side where I could maybe stop an infection if it occurs, or Should I topwork the tree entirely with a better fireblight-resistant variety? Quince not being resistant at all I don’t know how fast an infection could spread and I would hate to have Seckel be the open door to kill the whole tree.
I was really looking forward to tasting Seckel though. 
Would I have to topwork with a quince compatible variety or would the fact that Seckel serves as an interstem render that irrevelant?
I have heard various reports on how FB resistant Seckle really is. I would be inclined to give it a try I think. On quince it should not be near as vigorous and that helps IMO. I didn’t realize Seckle was Quince compatible. If you wanted to top work that is fine also and yes Seckle could serve as the bridge and you could plant whatever on top.
Drew
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I think Seckel is a fine pear, grit or no.
The timing of bloom in regards to fireblight resistance could be one of the main reasons a number of pears are “resistant”, so I’d take it as a plus. Plus, as wildscaper says above the slower growth will work in your favor, I believe.
I would bet that with diligence you will control fireblight.
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I got Seckel on Quince from a local nursery, Vintange Virginia Apples/Albermarle Ciderworks. I will definitely be on guard against fireblight. I’m just a little worried that if I graft another variety or two onto the Seckel tree (to expand my varieties without planting more trees), they all thrive, and then an infection might strike the Seckel and kill the whole tree since Quince is susceptible. I hope if I am on top of it and prune out any I see that wouldn’t happen?
I have found pear fireblight highly variable in my mid-atlantic orchard. The correlation of susceptible varieties and strikes is also not so clear. So, at least in the mid-atlantic I would say all but the most susceptible varieties are worth trying out. Do be prepared to quickly remove it, and doubling up varieties is a good thing to make it less difficult to change it over later.
Apple and quince (plants not stock) I found relatively more difficult than pears, for those I needed to clear out many varieties before things were under control.
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Spraying with copper in the spring will help. I bought what was called Seckel and it was not fireblight resistant in my area at all and was struck prior to bloom. The Seckel I’m growing now has no issues. I’m not sure which was the real Seckel.
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Of all my various pear cultivars, most of which were selected for moderate to higher FB resistance, my Seckel was the only one that suffered a FB strike the first year if leaved out. I severely cut it back, and have not seen any FB return anywhere, on any pears or apples (knocking on every wooden thing within reach). It is on OHxF333, not Quince, so, not sure if that might contribute to an increased susceptibility or not. In its favor, it has produced every year since the 2nd leaf, and the pears are delicious. Better than any other pear I have planted right now.
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One of the main reason to graft Seckel on quince stock, to obtain a small
tree and produce fruit sooner than other pear stock.
If you live in zone 6 area, I will think twice to put in more than one varieties of
pear on quince. the possiblity to loose the whole tree and it is not
sure when will that happen. ten years down the road? or in couple of growing
seasons?
Single variety on each stock may be still a good advice. pear on quince give early harvest and pear on OHxF series will give you a healthy & long living tree.
As for interstem, by using a vigorous scion whose union is unaffected by virus.,The virus still moves through the interstem but its effect on the second union between the interstem and the desired cultivar is much reduced.
Seckel is not a vigorous tree in my zone 4b area., I like to use this combination to make an espalier tree for container. move into a shelter area in winter. I find that quince is not cold hardy, and lack of grow under undesire condition.
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For what its worth, fireblight killed my Seckel to the ground after a heavy bloom. The D’anjou 2 feet away and my apples had little to no damage.
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