55

Wi-sunflower · November 26, 2008

It only took 55 tries to get it right.

That's about as good as any idea.

I've been trying to figure out what the 55 in Wis 55 stands for for a long time. There are several ideas, a few of which have been discounted here already.

#1 - released IN 1955. Already posted here that that is wrong.

#2 - experimental # 55. Possible, but unlikely as I would think that by 1940 UW had done a lot more than 55 tomatoes.

#3 - Named for Hwy 55. Not as unlikely as it sounds. Hwy 55 runs up thru the center of the state and there is a large UW-extension experiment farm on or very near US 55 near Wis Rapids.

I once talked with people that knew some of the researchers that had been at that station way back, tho not as far back as the 40s. They said they would try to find out the history but never did get back to me about it.

The 1 thing against it being named for US 55 is the fact that Wis 55 is meant to grow best in deep rich black ground. The type of ground around Wis Rapids is called "the Central Sands" or "Golden Sands" area. Not exactly ideal growing for that tomato.

November 26, 2008	#16
Wi-sunflower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,591	It only took 55 tries to get it right. That's about as good as any idea. I've been trying to figure out what the 55 in Wis 55 stands for for a long time. There are several ideas, a few of which have been discounted here already. #1 - released IN 1955. Already posted here that that is wrong. #2 - experimental # 55. Possible, but unlikely as I would think that by 1940 UW had done a lot more than 55 tomatoes. #3 - Named for Hwy 55. Not as unlikely as it sounds. Hwy 55 runs up thru the center of the state and there is a large UW-extension experiment farm on or very near US 55 near Wis Rapids. I once talked with people that knew some of the researchers that had been at that station way back, tho not as far back as the 40s. They said they would try to find out the history but never did get back to me about it. The 1 thing against it being named for US 55 is the fact that Wis 55 is meant to grow best in deep rich black ground. The type of ground around Wis Rapids is called "the Central Sands" or "Golden Sands" area. Not exactly ideal growing for that tomato.