What do I do if there are a lot of tomatoes? Do I start picking them when they aren't quite ripe?

by Emily
(Farmington, NM)

I live in a hot area (high desert) and I don't know if I should pick tomatoes when they are almost red or do I leave them to ripen completely.

I have a lot of tomatoes on one bush and I'm afraid leaving all the tomatoes on the vine until they are red, instead of a scarlet red, will compromise the health of the plant and the other tomatoes.