How Long Before My Big Boy Tomatoes Ripen?

Season and Planting

• Plant Big Boy tomatoes early in the season, just after the last frost, to give them time to grow to maturity. Don't grow these tomatoes outdoors if you have short summers, as they require long growing seasons. Start seeds indoors eight weeks before last frost for a jump on the season.

Site and Soil

• Big Boy tomatoes grow and ripen best with full sunshine for eight hours a day, quick drainage and nutritious soil. Mix 3 inches of organic compost into the top 6 inches of soil at planting, and give the seedlings starter, 6-24-24 or 8-32-16 fertilizer. Give each seedling 24 inches in the row, and leave 4 foot between rows for these large plants.

Maturity Dates

• Big Boy tomatoes have a 78- to 85-day maturity date, depending on growing region and weather. Maturity dates measure the length of time between germination and first fruiting, so this is a good estimate of the growing season. Plants in warm areas, with good soil and nutrition mature slightly quicker than those in cold areas.

Harvest

• The University of Missouri Extension notes that tomatoes taste best when they ripen on the vine. Leave the Big Boy tomatoes on the plant for several days after they mature, for continued growth and ripening. Squeeze the tomatoes gently each day to test for ripeness; tomatoes that press in easily are ripe and ready for harvest. Pick all tomatoes before temperatures fall to 65 to 70 degrees F in fall.