This Tomato Truss Timeline shows what first blush is, what every other stage is, and how many days it took to get there.

As for when to pick, that's a personal decision, so you may need to experiment. I like tomatoes ripened fully on the vine, but others don't.

If you use the terms 'blush' and 'break' in the search here you'll find several discussions about this, some with links to photos. Here is link to one of the sites with photos of tomato 'break' stages.

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: Tomato Break stages

As a practical matter, you can pick anytime after the fruit is no longer 100% green (i.e. has even a tiny bit of color/pink to it). IMO, in the home garden there is little reason to pick at breaker or first blush stage because problems (splitting, birds, etc) are still a few days away, so you just load up your house/counterspace with unripe fruit.

I'm having to pick at first blush or just a bit beyond right now. In 115 degree heat, it seems like tomatoes go from first blush to rotten in a few hours, especially if they have a tiny blemish.

Okay, so it's a matter of preference. What about the wait time when you pull them inside? A few days? A week?

Based on the info so far I think it is far more a matter of timing rather than just "a matter of preference". Unless you happen to live where pests like stink bugs or hornworms, splitting or cracking, or excessive temps, etc. are never an issue. :) Every year the forum is inundated with questions as to "why are my tomatoes splitting" and the answer is always the same - pick them at blush/break and it won't happen

As to how long inside, do you mean if you pick them at blush how long does it take them to ripen? Same amount of time as it would outside - 7-14 days or so depending on the variety and where you put them inside and the degree of blush when picked.

If you mean how long if you pick them when already fully ripe then you only have a day or 2 max inside before the fruit flies take them over because the center of the fruit is already going over-ripe.

The best way for you to decide when you want to pick your fruit is to try picking at several different stages and see which works best for you.

Dave

Thank you Dave. Great advice. :)