Mr. Mockingbird (I have other unmentionable names that I call him...) has been dining on my ripening tomatoes. Will a tomato harvested at first blush or soon thereafter ripen completely? If so, then perhaps I can just beat him to the punch!

I was not too bent out-of-shape about this since I consider my four store-bought hybrid tomatoes as "practice" for the open-pollinated/heirlooms I'm excited to grow from seed next year. But then I came unglued tonight when I found that he also damaged my largest perfect Purple Beauty pepper. This newbie didn't know they would also eat peppers

Will be making a big box store run tomorrow to buy mesh netting. Am also learning that the investment never ends!

I always pick at first blush or i would not have any rewards for my efforts.E very once in a while i miss one , it gets pecked and I leave it. Chalk it up as I am feeding mother nature.

Old Chef

I usually pick at first blush, but sometimes they ripen so quickly I can't keep up, esp. with cherries, which are another story.

I remove pecked red tomatoes so that they don't act as an attractant.

I always pick at color break or as soon after as I can, and ripen indoors. Critters are one issue but splitting from sudden rain is deadly. Once there’s an opening in the skin fruit flies set to work and end of story.

Picking at first blush for me depends on the year and critter pressure. Two years ago the squirrels raided the tomatoes for the first time ever. Bird pressure isn't usually a big problem. Every year is different and I'm already wondering what this year will be like. The squirrel population seems to be way down so far.

We have a record squirrel crop, but also had a record acorn crop. I now have oak tree weeds galore, including all over the garden. But, so far, zero squirrel issues with the tomatoes. I would like to believe the surviving squirrels from previous generations have taught their young’uns to steer clear of the tomatoes. The squirrels this season are very much afraid of me, unusually so. I think the word is out amongst the squirrels I’m a bad dude to tangle with. Anyhow, no squirrels have been harmed this year. Mockingbirds are nonexistent in my yard. There’s one little area not far from the garden those birds try to get established in, but some predator must have their number and the mockingbirds disappear rather quickly.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Neither birds nor squirrels mess with my garden but if they did there would be trouble.
Mesh netting should be a big help. Also hang out reflective bird tape, foil pans or anything else shiny or that might make noise in the wind.
It's sad when your harvest gets destroyed even by one varmint. The key is: stop them before they get comfy with you. Never attract anything in the first place if you don't want them to become a nuisance.
I'm a very firm believer in the wildlife staying wild...and far away.
I don't feed the birds, instead I pop after a couple the bothersome pest species with my BB gun to give them the heebie-jeebies.

Very lucky apparently because here there is very little critter pressure. However, I have tended to harvest tomatoes before fully ripe. Many, many years ago a comparison between picked fully ripe and picked at different stages of ripeness was conducted and it was determined that 3/4 ripe was optimum for my garden and our tastes. Picked almost ripe lasted longer on the shelf and there was no discernible taste difference. We have lots of birds, squirrels and raccoons but none of them like tomatoes, and since we have a nine foot deer fence they only eat my wife's flowers.

Thank you for all the great feedback! You have helped me to calm down haha!

Paulf wrote: ↑Tue May 28, 2024 10:20 am We have lots of birds, squirrels and raccoons but none of them like tomatoes, and since we have a nine foot deer fence they only eat my wife's flowers.

The birds, squirrels and raccoons eat your wife's flowers? Sounds like she might like some mesh netting for the birds and a gun for the coon.
I'm teasing, I'm assuming the flowers are planted outside the deer fence. Maybe plant them inside the fence and/or get a gun after those deer or get a guard dog. Heavy duty mesh netting put over the flowers at night might help the vermin learn that the flowers are off limits?
I absolutely loved the video I saw of a cat chasing stupid deer out of a person's yard. It was hilarious. If I had a cat like that it would be treated like a king.

I have a faint memory that Sungold should not be picked at first blush. I stopped growing it a long time ago due to its tiny size and it was prone to splitting.

With several raised beds my wife's vegetables are safe from critters, but the deer love having desert at the flowers growing in the ground. All the other critters must have enough to eat without bothering the flowers. An acre of yard with flowers and shrubs everywhere protecting them is nearly impossible. Raccoons get live trapped and squirrels have lots to eat away from the garden. The deer don't eat enough to really be much of a bother. Since the bobcats(we see every so often and hear at night) and mountain lions(so we hear form others but have not seen) have moved into our area even the rabbit population has been kept at bay. We do miss the wild turkeys though.

Paulf wrote: ↑Tue May 28, 2024 1:30 pm With several raised beds my wife's vegetables are safe from critters, but the deer love having desert at the flowers growing in the ground. All the other critters must have enough to eat without bothering the flowers. An acre of yard with flowers and shrubs everywhere protecting them is nearly impossible. Raccoons get live trapped and squirrels have lots to eat away from the garden. The deer don't eat enough to really be much of a bother. Since the bobcats(we see every so often and hear at night) and mountain lions(so we hear form others but have not seen) have moved into our area even the rabbit population has been kept at bay. We do miss the wild turkeys though.

As a kid growing up in central Nebraska,I don't remember hearing about mountain lions or bobcats. My brother reports a lot of them have moved in over the past decade or so. Sounds like they've made their way down to your part of the state.

zeuspaul wrote: ↑Tue May 28, 2024 1:47 am I remove pecked red tomatoes so that they don't act as an attractant.

I put old red xmas tree bulbs down as decoys.
try pecking on that.

Paulf wrote: ↑Tue May 28, 2024 10:20 am Very lucky apparently because here there is very little critter pressure. However, I have tended to harvest tomatoes before fully ripe. Many, many years ago a comparison between picked fully ripe and picked at different stages of ripeness was conducted and it was determined that 3/4 ripe was optimum for my garden and our tastes. Picked almost ripe lasted longer on the shelf and there was no discernible taste difference. We have lots of birds, squirrels and raccoons but none of them like tomatoes, and since we have a nine foot deer fence they only eat my wife's flowers.

You had to mention raccoons.

I'm planning on having some sweet corn this year in the garden, and I forgot about the raccoons. The masked bandit with the impeccable table manners, who used to steal the ears, climb my picnic table, then shuck and eat them, there, is likely long gone from this life.

Tormato wrote: ↑Tue May 28, 2024 8:31 pm

Paulf wrote: ↑Tue May 28, 2024 10:20 am Very lucky apparently because here there is very little critter pressure. However, I have tended to harvest tomatoes before fully ripe. Many, many years ago a comparison between picked fully ripe and picked at different stages of ripeness was conducted and it was determined that 3/4 ripe was optimum for my garden and our tastes. Picked almost ripe lasted longer on the shelf and there was no discernible taste difference. We have lots of birds, squirrels and raccoons but none of them like tomatoes, and since we have a nine foot deer fence they only eat my wife's flowers.

You had to mention raccoons.

I'm planning on having some sweet corn this year in the garden, and I forgot about the raccoons. The masked bandit with the impeccable table manners, who used to steal the ears, climb my picnic table, then shuck and eat them, there, is likely long gone from this life.

About the only thing that keeps raccoons out of the sweet corn patch is a 3 wire electric fence. Either that or be prepared to be sitting out all night with a shotgun.

Wildcat82 wrote: ↑Wed May 29, 2024 11:00 am

Tormato wrote: ↑Tue May 28, 2024 8:31 pm

Paulf wrote: ↑Tue May 28, 2024 10:20 am Very lucky apparently because here there is very little critter pressure. However, I have tended to harvest tomatoes before fully ripe. Many, many years ago a comparison between picked fully ripe and picked at different stages of ripeness was conducted and it was determined that 3/4 ripe was optimum for my garden and our tastes. Picked almost ripe lasted longer on the shelf and there was no discernible taste difference. We have lots of birds, squirrels and raccoons but none of them like tomatoes, and since we have a nine foot deer fence they only eat my wife's flowers.

You had to mention raccoons.

I'm planning on having some sweet corn this year in the garden, and I forgot about the raccoons. The masked bandit with the impeccable table manners, who used to steal the ears, climb my picnic table, then shuck and eat them, there, is likely long gone from this life.

About the only thing that keeps raccoons out of the sweet corn patch is a 3 wire electric fence. Either that or be prepared to be sitting out all night with a shotgun.

Sweet corn, in general, has 21 DTM from silks being pollinated to maturity. What keeps raccoons out of my garden is the first 19 days.

And, while I have it on my calendar for me to pick it on the 21st day, the raccoons always show up on the 20th day.

Zeuspaul, I have to agree that Sungold shouldn't be picked early and needs to be ripened on the vine. I don't grow it any more because I find that it tastes funky when the weather gets hot. Also, my dog who LOVED Sungold passed away .

I only pick at first blush if there's rain in the forecast. Works for me .