From what I can see you are a month or more away. Those buds will double in size.

Now to your questions.

If you must flush them wait another three weeks. I don't bother to flush my outdoor inground plants. And though they are small and insignificant they do taste good.

Taking them a branch at a time will get you a slightly bigger harvest. The buds in the shade will fatten up so you will get a little more by staging.

Yes you are jumping the gun...big time.

The bigger one... five weeks. Smaller one...more,

If you must make a mistake, let them go longer than shorter. Nothing says "I screwed up, and I don't know what I'm doing" more than busting out young weed.