| How to Harvest Plums Posted: 29 Jul 2021 05:00 PM PDT A perfectly ripe plum is hard to beat, especially if you picked it yourself. There's not a lot to harvesting this tasty stone fruit—you can pick it while it's slightly underripe or wait until it's totally soft and sweet. Still have questions? We've got answers! Read on to get helpful harvesting tips. [Edit]When are plums ready to pick? - Most plum varieties ripen between July and September. This is just a rough time frame, though—plums in your area may ripen in late spring, so keep your eyes on the plum trees starting in June.[1]
- Harvest European plums when they're soft to the touch. If you've got a European variety, they'll soften and turn blue or purple when they're ripe. To test, gently press the surface of a plum with your thumb and forefinger. If it's soft, it's ready to pick.[2]
- You might see a powdery white substance on the surface of your plums. It's a fungus that's harmless and doesn't affect the flavor of the fruit—it just means the plums are really ripe!
- Damson, Stanley, and Mount Royal are popular European plum varieties.
- Pick Japanese and American plums when they're slightly soft. You don't need to wait until these plums are completely soft to the touch. Instead, pick the yellow or red plums as soon as they're firm-ripe. They'll finish ripening within a few days if you set them on the counter.[3]
- Popular American plum varieties include Alderman, Tecumseh, and Pipestone. Autumn Rosa, Burgundy, and Santa Rosa are all popular Japanese varieties.
- You can also taste a plum to tell if it's sweet enough. If you get a sour bite or the fruit is still greenish-blue, wait a few days and check the plums again.[4]
[Edit]How do I pick the plums? - Pluck the fruit from the tree so the stem stays attached. Be gentle when you twist the fruit away from the branch so you don't harm the tree or bruise the plum. Sometimes, if the fruit is really ripe, it will fall into your hand as soon as you grasp it.[5]
- Harvesting a lot of really ripe plums? Lay a tarp or clean sheet underneath the tree to catch any fruit that may fall as you pick.
[Edit]Do plums continue to ripen after you pick them? - Yes—they'll soften at room temperature within a few days. Although you'll get the sweetest-tasting plums by letting them fully ripen on the trees, you can pick them while they're slightly underripe. Put the plums in a paper bag and set them on the counter. They should ripen within 4 days.[6]
- Check the plums every day since you don't want them to soften too much.
[Edit]Can you pick plums when they're green? - You can, but they won't be very large or sweet. Green plums, especially wild ones, are still growing, so they'll be quite a bit smaller than ripe plums. They're also hard if you try to squeeze them. If you do pick the underripe fruit, you can put them in a paper bag and try to ripen them, but they'll probably soften just a little.[7]
- Remember, most of the ripening happens while the fruit is on the tree, so you're really better off waiting to harvest the plums.
[Edit]How can I ripen plums after picking them? - Put firm plums into a paper bag and set them on the counter. As the fruit sits at room temperature, it releases ethylene gas, which speeds up the ripening process. Check the plums every day—they should become soft enough to eat within a few days.[8]
- It's really important to use a paper bag, not plastic since the paper lets air move around the fruit. Plastic traps air and moisture, which can cause the plums to spoil.
- Store your plums in the fridge for 3 to 5 weeks. You can keep them in produce bags or put them into plastic bags with a few holes poked in them.[9]
- If the plums are soft, they're ready to eat! Leave firm plums to ripen or cook with them—whip up a tart or make jam, for instance.[10]
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| How to Set a Pin for a Netflix Profile Posted: 29 Jul 2021 09:00 AM PDT Since people share Netflix accounts, you might want to be able to keep your profile locked. This wikiHow will teach you how to set a Profile Lock PIN using a web browser. If you try to do this in the mobile app, you'll be redirected to a web browser once you get to the account page. - Go to https://www.netflix.com/YourAccount in a web browser. You can use any web browser to set a Profile Lock PIN on a specific profile.
- Click the expand-down arrow next to the profile you want to add the lock to. You'll see a list of all the profiles associated with the account in the header "Profile & Parental Controls."
- Click next to "Profile Lock." You should see this menu option in the middle of the drop-down list.
- Enter your account password and click . You'll need to enter the account password in order to make changes to the profile.
- Click the box next to "Require a PIN" . When you check the box, space for you to enter the required 4-digit PIN will appear.[1]
- Create the PIN and click . You'll need to enter this PIN to be able to access that profile in the future unless you're using an unsupported device.[2]
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Stimulate Gross Motor Skills in Infants Posted: 29 Jul 2021 01:00 AM PDT It's amazing how much babies grow and develop during their first year. You've probably seen baby calendars with iconic milestones like rolling over, sitting up, crawling, and walking—all gross motor skills that your baby should learn. If you or your baby's pediatrician is concerned that your infant needs a little encouragement with their gross motor skills, read on for fun suggestions to strengthen and motivate them. [Edit]Give your baby room to explore and move. - Set them down in a safe space so they can stretch and kick. If your baby is very young, unswaddle them and spread a blanket on the floor. Lay your baby down on their back so they can move their body. Once your baby can hold up their head, you can put them down on their side so they can practice rolling. The important thing is to give them room to move their body—don't automatically put them into a swing, baby seat, or bouncer where they're contained.[1]
- Always set your baby on a flat surface like a blanket on the floor that they won't roll off of.
- Kicking and waving their arms helps your baby strengthen their muscles.
- If your baby likes reaching for things, lay them on a baby mat that has toys hanging above them. Your baby won't be able to resist reaching up to play!
[Edit]Lay your baby on their tummy for a few minutes. - Daily tummy time strengthens your baby's upper body muscles. Lay your baby down on their stomach and give them a minute to move, stretch, or rock from side to side. Keep tummy time short—plan on 1 minute for every month of your baby's age. For example, a 3-month old can do around 3 minutes while a 6-month old can handle around 6 minutes.[2]
- Don't leave your baby unattended during tummy time since they should only do it for about a minute.
- You can start doing tummy time once your baby has enough strength to lift up their own head.
- Some babies really don't like tummy time! If your baby fusses and cries, try making it more comfortable and fun. Lay your baby on a cushion and stay close by. Ring a bell or sing a song so they turn their body to look at you.
[Edit]Sit behind your child and engage with them. - Sitting might not seem like a skill, but it actually strengthens their back and core muscles. To help your kiddo learn to balance, place them on the floor and sit behind them or put a big, soft toy behind them so they can lean back if they need to. Then, put toys in front of your baby or sing songs with them to let them know that you're still there.[3]
- Your baby may be a little wobbly at first—this is totally okay! With a little practice, your baby will become more confident and steady.
- To engage your baby, you might hold your hands out in front of them and do patty cake or the itsy bitsy spider.
[Edit]Give your little one toys that make sounds. - Set out noisy toys so your baby has to shake or bang them. Babies are curious and constantly learning about the world around them. Stimulate their interest by putting out pots and pans. Then, give them wooden spoons so they can stretch their arms and bang the spoons on the pots. You can also put beads inside a sealable plastic container and encourage your baby to shake it back and forth.[4]
- Don't offer toys with small parts that your baby could choke on.
- These may not seem like serious gross motor exercises, but these noisy toys get your baby moving!
- Your baby will have more fun if you're playing with them. Occasionally, ask your baby to hand you a spoon or shaker. This way, they turn their body and stretch their arm out to you.
[Edit]Set toys just out of your baby's reach. - Motivate your baby to stretch, crawl, or walk by putting a toy in front of them. If your baby dislikes tummy time or needs some encouragement to try walking, make it fun for them! Hold their favorite toy or a new item just out of their reach and say, "Come and get it!" If your baby doesn't try, move the toy a little closer and encourage them again.[5]
- Don't have any new toys? No worries—babies love checking out new things. You could set out measuring spoons or a stack of plastic measuring cups, for instance.
[Edit]Crawl around on the floor with your kiddo. - Get down on the floor and model crawling behavior. Some babies start shuffling and dragging themselves along, but others need a little encouragement to crawl. Join your baby on the floor and crawl in front of them. Then, turn back to them and say something like, "Come on! Crawl to me!"[6]
- If your baby is still hesitant to crawl, set up a little baby tunnel for them to crawl through and explore.
- Make crawling a game—set your baby down on their tummy and roll a ball in front of them to chase.
[Edit]Hold your baby up by their arms and bounce them while they stand. - Pull your baby up into a standing position with their feet on your knees. While you hold them under their armpits, gently bounce your knees a few times. This helps them learn balance and strengthens their leg muscles.[7]
- Remember, your baby will have more chances at standing if they're not strapped into a stroller or sling all the time.
[Edit]Give your baby a push toy to get them cruising. - Set out walking push toys or hold your baby's hands as they learn to walk. Once your baby has figured out standing, they may take a few cautious steps on their own. For a little extra support, give them a push toy that they walk behind. This is more helpful than strapping them into a walker with a seat. You can also walk with them! Hold both of their hands as they toddle so they feel stable.[8]
- Take off your baby's socks and let them walk barefoot. Shoes might feel awkward to learn in and your baby may slip in socks.
- If you've got stairs, put up a baby gate so your baby can't fall down them or climb up where they're not supposed to be. Close doors to rooms that you don't want your baby in, too.
[Edit]Have a dance party to get your baby moving. - Turn on some music and start dancing! Exaggerate your gestures so your baby tries to mimic you. You might wiggle, shake, turn your body, clap your hands, stomp your feet, or wave scarves around. Switch up the music to find out what your baby likes. You'll probably see them start to bounce or twist as they get into the music, too![9]
- If your baby loves music, try playing games while you play music in the background. You sit on the floor and roll a ball back and forth, for instance.
[Edit]Take your baby to parks or play spaces. - Let your baby scramble over play equipment once they're crawling or walking. Help your baby pick up more challenging skills by letting them explore different surfaces. Set them down to play around on the beach or crawl through the grass at the park. Give them the opportunity to practice walking up slopes or stairs, too.[10]
- Most playgrounds have a smaller area for babies and toddlers. These are usually away from bigger kids so your baby can play safely.
- Remember, babies learn at their own pace so be flexible with what you expect your baby to do. If you have concerns that they're not meeting important milestones, reach out to your baby's pediatrician.
[Edit]Warnings - Always supervise your baby when they're playing or exploring. Never set them down on an elevated surface like a changing table and walk away.
[Edit]References |
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