Characteristics
Cultivar: Wisconsin 55
Family: Solanaceae
Size: Height: 2 ft. to 4 ft.
Width: 0 ft. to 0 ft.
Tolerances: heat & humidity
Bloomtime Range: Early Spring to Late Summer
USDA Hardiness Zone: start seeds indoors hardiness zone 7 and under
Light Range: Sun to Full Sun
pH Range: 5.5 to 7
Soil Range: Some Sand to Some Clay
Water Range: Normal to Moist
Plant Care
6-8 weeks before last frost:
Fill 4" pots with potting mix to within a 1/2-inch of the top and place a pair of seeds on top of the soil in each one near the center of the pot (having two is good insurance in case one doesn’t sprout. Pinch off the smaller, weaker of the two if they both sprout).
Cover them with a ¼-inch layer of soil mix and the compress the soil with your fingers. Good seed-to-soil contact is important for germination.
Sprinkle water on the seeds whenever the top of the soil mix appears dry. Don’t keep the soil soggy, however — the seeds may rot.
Fertilizing
How-to : Fertilization for Annuals and Perennials
Annuals and perennials may be fertilized using: 1.water-soluble, quick release fertilizers; 2. temperature controlled slow-release fertilizers; or 3. fertilizers such as fish emulsion. Water soluble fertilizers are generally used every two weeks during the growing season or per label instructions. Controlled, slow-release fertilizers are worked into the soil usually only once during the growing season or per label directions. For fertilizers such as fish emulsion, follow label directions as they may vary per product.
Light
Conditions : Full Sun
Full Sun is defined as exposure to more than 6 hours of continuous, direct sun per day.
Watering
Conditions : Moist and Well Drained
Moist and well drained means exactly what it sounds like. Soil is moist without being soggy because the texture of the soil allows excess moisture to drain away. Most plants like about 1 inch of water per week. Amending your soil with compost will help improve texture and water holding or draining capacity. A 3 inch layer of mulch will help to maintain soil moisture and studies have shown that mulched plants grow faster than non-mulched plants.
Conditions : Outdoor Watering
Plants are almost completely made up of water so it is important to supply them with adequate water to maintain good plant health. Not enough water and roots will wither and the plant will wilt and die. Too much water applied too frequently deprives roots of oxygen leading to plant diseases such as root and stem rots. The type of plant, plant age, light level, soil type and container size all will impact when a plant needs to be watered.
