Last year, after issues with birds pecking ripe tomatoes & other problems, I started picking them when I could start seeing a “blush” of color on them. I left the tomatoes on the countertop in a single layer and they ripened beautifully, with no loss in flavor. In the fall, with a freeze forecast overnight, I picked everything larger than a golf ball. Even the very green tomatoes eventually ripened - I had ripe tomatoes into early December.
As for squirrels .... this year I can foresee a problem. We thinned out the squirrel population about 4 years ago, but there are lots of young squirrels around now. I’ve even got one who hangs out on the front porch (no food ... just a good vantage point?). We have Red-shouldered Hawks that usually nest in the area & since my garden is out in the open, the hawks are a good deterrent. This year, they nested in another part of the neighborhood, so the squirrels are not as fearful of coming out in the open. I did have a hawk on the fence this morning so maybe they’ve figured out that our place is a squirrel-rich hunting environment! I wish the hawks ‘happy hunting’!
BTW, for squirrel bait, I use peanut butter on a cracker with black oil sunflower seeds covering the top - the PB holds the seeds nicely. This arrangement allows me to place the bait in the trap where I need it to be.
Peanut Butter is the Duct Tape of the Critter Trapping World, LOL! :)
I usually have between 75 and 100 mater plants in the ground.
If I get one bird peck it’s unusual. It’s said birds are after moisture.
As long as I keep my birdbath full birds never bother my maters.
My birdbath is about 15 steps from my garden.
BTW - I trapped a mama possum with 6 babies on her back in one of my larger traps once.
She just hissed as I opened the door and just walked away.
That was the most squirrel free growing season I’ve ever had.