Black Republican cherry trees will get a vote on flavor

Elections change everything, but sometimes things change before an election. At one time, almost all black voters identified as Republican, but today only 2 percent of voters who call themselves Republicans are black. This is odd, as the Republican party championed the abolition of slavery. And this brings us to the garden and some history.

In 1847, a Mr. Henderson Luelling came by wagon with his family on the infamous Oregon Trail with fruit trees to start his nursery in the Oregon Territory. His family believed in strict Quaker principals and were adamantly opposed to human slavery. They might even have helped runaway slaves through the underground railroad.

One of their cherry trees produced a dark crimson black cherry with firm flesh and rich black cherry flavor. Like a Cabernet wine, the taste is earthy and complex, with hints of almonds, roses and herbs.

To further the cause of abolition, Seth Luelling named this cherry “Black Republican.”

Black Republican (Prunus avium) cherries keep their dark color and rich flavor even in black cherry ice cream and yogurt. They ripen in July and are good keepers that can also be dried for winter use.

Sweet cherry trees need quick-draining soil with a pH between 6.2 and 6.8. Choose a site with full sun. Plant the tree eight feet away from other trees. Dig a hole large enough so that all of the root system fits in without bending the roots. Never prune the roots. Set your cherry tree so that the graft line, or bump on the main stem, is two or three inches above the soil surface. Tamp down the soil so that there are no air pockets. Water the newly planted tree thoroughly but avoid overwatering throughout the growing season.

For best yields you will need another variety of sweet cherry for pollination, such as Bing, Black Tartarian, Napoleon, Lapins, or Stella.

The fully grown tree will only be 12 to 16 feet tall, but you can easily keep it pruned much smaller. Your Black Republican cherry tree will begin to bear fruit in just one to three years after planting. Black Republican cherries are hardy in USDA zones 5-9. Trees are available from Trees of Antiquity (www.treesofantiquity.com, 20 Wellsona Road, Paso Robles, CA 93446, Phone: 805-467-9909).

Because Black Republican cherries are somewhat small, they were soon nudged out of the market by its much larger offspring, the Bing cherry.

This small tree blooms with beautiful fragrant white flowers in the spring and with its dark green serrated leaves makes a nice landscape tree even in smaller yards.

Order Black Republican cherry trees now to plant in the spring. You will be rewarded with tasty, juicy black cherries with the old-fashioned deep cherry flavor. You will also keep alive the great American tradition of creating new fruit trees. Whatever your political leanings, Black Republican is one sweet cherry that will get your vote for flavor.