I bought some beef-master tomato plants from Walmart back in April and planted them in containers. They have grown great. The plants are about 5 foot tall with a lot of tomatoes. Some have been big for awhile now but aren't ripening at all. I live in the Piedmont of NC. We have had a cool rainy spring so far. It's starting to get warm now. Is there any hope that they will ripen? Thanks.

Ron, yes -- I'm sure there is still a good chance that your tomatoes will ripen! I know the pain of waiting for that to happen...

Beefmaster takes about 80 days from transplanting to start ripening fruit... so hang in there, and before you know it you'll be slicing them up!

(if it makes you feel better, there have been years when I didn't get a single ripe tomato until September... )

Sure will Ron.
You cant wait ???
Ok. Take four of biggest ones.
Set 2 of them in sunnyest window in house, and set 2 of them on top of frig. See which ones get ripe faster.
Choose 4 that are preferably, ones that have started to change to a lighter color of green. They ripen faster.
Whats your high and low temps like, now. Tomatoes need sun and heat to ripen.
Sorry 😭 You still have to wait. 😭.
But !!! Not !!! Till September 😬😡
😎😎😎

Tomatoes may change color after you take them off the plant but they don't develop that wonderful flavor that they have if you let them ripen on the plant. It takes sugar that they get from the leaves photosynthesizing to put the flavor into the fruit.

I would wait. I think the sunny weather, and long days of June will have your tomatoes turning red very soon. But yes, beefsteak type tomatoes do take a long time.

If the tomatoes were planted in April, they will ripen sometime in July.

Beefmaster usually sets big tomatoes. They do take lots of time. I would guess your green tomatoes are not mature yet and still growing. Wait and you will be rewarded as the Beefmasters do taste great!!

I've only been doing vegetable growing for 3 years. I just figured that I planted too early and the next step was rotting, if they don't ripen. I appreciate all the helpful posts.

I hope you have a great harvest, Ron -- nothing better than homegrown tomatoes!

Ron815 said: I live in the Piedmont of NC.

You may want to plug your zip code in to a climate zone map to narrow it down a bit. Saying that you are in the Piedmont of NC is a bit vague; could vary from 6a to 8a.

Ron815 said:I've only been doing vegetable growing for 3 years. I just figured that I planted too early and the next step was rotting, if they don't ripen. I appreciate all the helpful posts.

They are a late variety and sometimes it can feel like forever till those tomatoes start to get ripe!!

I thank all y'all for your advice and well wishes.
My jalapeño peppers are doing great though. They are about ready to pick.

geez !!!😕!!!
You would think that i told him to pick all his tomatoes green

Philipwonel
Did I say something wrong? I went over my posts and don't see anything.

No, Ron -- you didn't say anything wrong (and neither did anyone else, except maybe Philip)

Weedwhacker
Thank you. The last thing I need is drama.
By the way, I live near Statesville, NC, about 45 mi. north of Charlotte. I'm retired so I plant vegetables and feed birds. Hope everyone is having a good day.

Ron, you can add your location to your "profile," which will help everyone here get to know you a little better and particularly help with answering any gardening questions. Click on the icon at the top right of the screen and go to "change your public profile." Then the info you enter for your name, zone and location will show up at the top right on each of your posts.

Ronnie : I looked over both our posts, also.
Wheres the drama ???

I just, suggested, for ealier tomatoes, to pick, only four ! Big green ones, to bring inside to ripen.

So, i'm confused, of where the drama is.

@Weedwhacker
What did i say wrong ???

Yesterday the tomatoes started ripening. Y'all were sure right. Thanks for the encouragement.

Ron815 said:Yesterday the tomatoes started ripening. Y'all were sure right. Thanks for the encouragement.

See, it just takes lots of time!!!

Thats great Ron 😁😁😁
Oh ! One other thing. Someone tree mailed me. They said that i was rude or offensive to you.
If i was, I'm sorry.
😎😎😎