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tomatoes & squash - REPLY

This is about pruning tomatoes and harvesting and staking squash.

I have a bunch of different tomato plants, the varieties of which I do not
know (it's a long story).  I don't even know if they're determinate or
indeterminate.  I am growing them on stakes.  Question:  how do I prune them?
 I don't know which parts to cut off and which to leave, so I haven't cut
anything yet.

Also -- how tall do I need the stakes to be for the tomatoes, whether
indeterminate or  determinate?  I am worried that all my tomatoes are
determinate.  How do I tell?  

I am in Los Angeles, where it's not yet June but my spaghetti squash is
starting to look ripe.  Can someone tell me how to tell when spagetti squash
can be picked?  At this point they are large and yellow.  How will I know
when they are completely ripe?

Ditto for various winter squashes -- last year I left them on the vine for a
long long while and practically forgot about them.  They were most certainly
ripe by the time I felt like picking them.  I am gardening a lot more
assiduously this year.  Question is, how *early* can I harvest winter squash
once they look "finished"?

By the way, I've staked my squash and melons this year (as I read about in
books but never actually saw anyone do) and am getting terrific results so
far.  I have an *unbelievable* number of plants in a small space and all seem
to be  producing fruit.  My garden looks extremely neat as well and very
impressive.  It is just such a fabulous change from growing vines on the
ground in an unruly mess that I can't believe it isn't a more universal
practice.  I am totally sold on this method and can't recommend it highly
enough.

Anyone have experience pinching off the staked vines at about 6 or 7 feet?  I
know that on the ground they often grow several times that length, but that's
what I've been doing and I'm hoping it's going to be OK.  

Any other Los Angeles/Southern California gardeners who want to trade local
tips -- climate, pests, local bargains?
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