| How to Plan a Vegetable Garden Posted: 28 Oct 2017 05:00 PM PDT So you're planting a vegetable garden for the first time! To prepare for planting season, choose vegetables you want to plant, pick the perfect site for your garden, and always prep before you plant. While there's no right way to make a vegetable garden, each of these things can help you plan a garden well-adapted to your climate. Once you've got all of these elements figured out, you're ready to create a thriving garden. EditChoosing Vegetables - Pick two or three vegetables to start. New gardeners often make the mistake of planting more than they can handle. For your first season, choose up to three plants that you're adamant about putting in your garden. You can rotate out different plants between planting seasons.[1]
- Check gardening catalogs, both print and online, if you struggle to think of a plant.
- Try easy-to-grow plants for your first year gardening. Research the planting difficulty of the vegetables you decide on to make sure your choices are suitable for beginners. You don't want to commit to more than you can manage. Choose increasingly difficult plants as your gardening experience increases.
- Beginner-friendly vegetable plants include: carrots, radishes, sugar or snap peas, beets, and lettuce.[2]
- Select veggies that are native or adaptable to your climate. You don't have to find a plant that only grows in your location, but look for plants adapted to similar climates. If your city is hot and humid, for example, buy plants that love humidity (or vice-versa if you live in a desert).[3]
- Tomatoes, for example, originated in South America but thrive in the similar climate of the Mediterranean.
- Avoid choosing rare or temperamental plants that will require more care than you can give.[4]
- Look for vegetables suitable for the season. Vegetables are sorted into two major types: "warm season" and "cool season." Warm season vegetables are planted and harvested from mid-spring to early summer, and cool season vegetables are planted and harvest from late summer to mid-autumn. Pick a variety compatible with the season to keep your plants healthy.[5]
- Warm weather vegetables include: beans, cantaloupes, cucumbers, okras, peppers, peas, sweet corn, tomatoes, and watermelons.
- Cool weather vegetables include: beets, broccoli, cauliflower, onions, potatoes, radishes, and turnips.
- Look for disease-resistant plants or seeds. Check a seed catalog or ask a plant nursery employee to find plants equipped to combat blights or fungal diseases. Preventative measures can keep diseases from spreading and ravaging all the plants in your garden.[6]
- Pick plants that you have enough room to accommodate. Some plants, like corn, grow very tall and others, like cucumbers, have vines that require fences or trellises. Research every potential plant's growing process so you don't choose a plant larger than what you have room for.
- Never judge a plant by its seedling, as some begin deceivingly small.
- Vegetables ideal for small spaces are: tomatoes, lettuce, pole beans, chard, radishes, eggplants, avocados, lemons, and most herbs.[7]
EditFinding the Right Site - Determine how much space you will need. Research how much space each of your plants will need. Tomatoes, for example, may need more space than peppers. Depending on how much space you have available, choose how many of each plants you will grow.
- Choose a place that receives six to eight hours of sun. Most vegetable plants require "full sun" conditions, which means that they need at least six hours of sun per day. Without it, they cannot grow very large. Avoid spots that are shaded by trees or your home during the afternoon.[8]
- Check your plants' growing conditions for specific details on how much sun they need.
- Locate a spot with a portable water supply. Water in large quantities, especially enough to water a garden, is heavy. Choose a spot that can be reached by sprinklers, a hose, or irrigation system. If none are available, pick a spot close to your home so you won't have to carry water far.[9]
- Most plants need at least of water per week. Check your plants' growing conditions for detailed instructions.
- Place your garden at a spot with a wind barrier. Plants with no obstructions against the wind are at risk of getting damaged, dried out, or blown over. Choose a place next to a slatted fence, hedge, or small grove of trees.[10]
- Look for an area with well-draining soil. Vegetables generally do best in moist, well-draining soil. To test your soil for drainage, dig a by hole in the ground. Fill the hole with water and observe how long it takes for the water to sink into the ground. Soils with better draining properties will lose water quickly.[11]
- Ten minutes or less is the ideal. Any longer, and your soil may have poor drainage.
- Find a community garden if you live in the city. Urban gardening can seem impossible, but many cities offer communal gardens where anyone can plant seeds. Search online for nearby community gardens and check how much membership fees cost. Choose a location that best fits your vegetables and your budget.[12]
EditPreparing to Plant Your Garden - Plot out your garden on paper. Your drawing does not have to be overly-detailed but can function as a guide while planting. Outline the rough shape of your garden. Choose a symbol (like an X or O) for each plant so you know where you'll plant every vegetable in the garden.[13]
- Write down planting dates next to each drawing for future reference.
- Create a planting schedule for each of your vegetables. You don't need to plant all your vegetables at once. Grow two or three varieties at a time, warm weather plants first and cool weather plants later. Planning when you will grow each plant can help you achieve a higher yield.[14]
- Arrange your plants in a space-efficient way. Once you know how much space each plant needs, pay attention to these factors while organizing them. Place tall vegetables on the north side of your garden so they won't shade shorter vegetables. Then, group the plants further by timing: put plants that will mature at the same time together to make harvesting easier.[15]
- Make sure each vegetable has enough space to thrive. Taller vegetables usually have wider-reaching roots and require more space. Research every plant beforehand to make sure you space them far enough apart. Taking this into account will help you prevent one plant stealing water or soil nutrients from another.
- Choose an organic fertilizer for your plants. Organic fertilizers are better adapted to vegetable gardens because they supply slow and steady nutrients. This can help your plants fight off fungal and bacterial diseases. Chemical fertilizers, while often inexpensive, do not contribute organic matter.[16]
- Make sure to take care of your garden soil after each planting season. You will need to uproot spent plants and debris. You will also need to till the soil and add nutrients, such as by covering your soil with mulch.
- Space your plants evenly to avoid overcrowding your garden.
- Avoid purchasing exotic plants that will need around-the-clock care, especially if this is your first vegetable garden.
- Invest in basic gardening tools (like a spade, shovel, hoe, or wheelbarrow) to plant and take routine care of your plants.
- Prepare for harvesting in advance so you know what to do when the time comes.
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| How to Check Your Credit Score Posted: 28 Oct 2017 09:00 AM PDT Your credit score determines whether you can borrow money and the interest rate if you are successful. Increasingly, landlords and employers are looking at credit reports also. To check your score, visit a website that offers credit scores for free. If you are unhappy with your score, work to improve it by paying your bills on time and reducing your debts. EditUsing a Free Website - Find free websites. The most well-known free websites are Credit.com, CreditKarma.com, and CreditSesame.com. You won't have to pay anything to get your credit score, and your credit score won't be negatively impacted by requesting it.[1]
- Some websites advertise they are "free." However, you need to pay to access your report. Even worse, you get automatically signed up for an annual subscription.
- Sign up. At CreditSesame.com, for example, you need to provide your email and create a password. Doing so will allow you to return to the website and check your score in the future.
- Provide personal information. Each website will request slightly different information, but most will require the following:
- First and last name
- Mailing address
- Date of birth
- Last four digits of your Social Security Number
- Answer security questions. To confirm your identity, you'll be asked a few multiple-choice questions. For example, you might be asked how much you pay each month in student loans or the name of a street you have lived on.
- Receive your score. Your score will be three digits, from 300-850. The score you receive from these sites might be slightly different than the score a lender sees. However, they shouldn't be too different.[2]
- In addition to your score, you should see other information, such as a listing of your total debt. At CreditSesame.com, you can also buy a copy of your credit report for $9.95, but you should decline since you can get a copy for free each year.
- The website might also have links to sign up for credit cards. You are not required to, and should think carefully before signing up for any offered products.
EditUsing Other Methods - Check with your credit card provider. More and more credit card companies are offering their customers information on their credit scores. You can look on your most recent statement or log into your online account.[3]
- Ask a housing or credit counselor. These counselors can get your credit score and report for free. They can also analyze your finances and help you come up with a budget to improve your score.[4]
- Purchase your FICO score. Visit myfico.com and buy a one-time report. You can get your score along with a credit report from one or all of the three major credit report agencies (CRAs). Lenders usually look at your FICO score, so you can see exactly what they are seeing if you buy from this website.
- As of 2017, it costs $59.85 for your score and reports from all three CRAs.
- It costs $19.95 for your score and one CRA's report.
- Buy your score from a credit reporting agency. In the U.S, the three largest CRAs are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You can buy your score from each.[5] Visit their websites to order it.
- At Equifax, look under "Credit Report Assistance" at the bottom of the homepage. Click on "Purchase my credit score."
- At the Experian homepage, click on "Reports & Scores" and select "Credit Score."
- At TransUnion, click on "Credit Education" and then select "Credit Score."
EditImproving Your Credit Score - Make timely payments. Your payment history makes up 35% of your credit score. Make at least the minimum payment, and pay on time. One late payment won't crash your credit score, but the fewer missed payments you have, the better.[6]
- Contact your bank to set up automated payments so that you don't forget.
- Reduce your debt burden. The amount you owe makes up another 30% of your credit score.[7] Reduce your burden by paying off high-interest debts, such as credit card balances. Use a balance transfer credit card to speed up repayment.
- One factor FICO considers is the amount of available credit you use. For example, two people might have $3,000 in credit card debt. However, Person A has $20,000 of available credit, whereas Person B has only $5,000. Person A will probably have a higher score, since less of their available credit is being utilized.
- Avoid taking out new credit. New credit makes up 10% of your score. You might think it's a good idea to increase the amount of available credit by getting a new credit card. However, your score will take a hit if you open too many new accounts. FICO assumes that you are opening accounts because you are in financial trouble.[8]
- One exception: if you can get a new balance transfer credit card with an introductory 0% APR. This will allow you to pay down your debts quickly.
- Be patient. The length of your credit history makes up another 15% of your credit score. There isn't much you can do to speed up the process. However, you can help yourself by not closing old accounts, even if you don't currently use them.[9]
- If you're curious, the remaining 10% of your score is based on your mix of credit—installment loans, credit cards, mortgages, and store accounts. You really shouldn't take out new credit just to diversify your mix of accounts.
- Remove inaccurate information. Inaccurate information can pull down your credit score. Get a copy of your credit report and go through it carefully. In the U.S., you can get one free credit report each year by calling 877-322-8228 or visiting annualcreditreport.com.[10] Common errors include the following:[11]
- Accounts that don't belong to you.
- Accounts listed as late or delinquent when you have made timely payments.
- A single debt listed more than once.
- The wrong balance listed on the account.
- An account with the wrong credit limit listed.
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| How to Make Oreo Hot Chocolate Posted: 28 Oct 2017 01:00 AM PDT Warm yourself up this winter with a warm mug of delicious, sweet Oreo hot chocolate. Featuring your favorite cookie and garnished with whipped cream, this hot chocolate recipe makes an easy hot drink to enjoy on any cold day. You can make a rich, creamy version using condensed milk as a base, or you can make a simpler version using just plain milk. Whichever version you choose, you are bound to end up with a real treat. EditIngredients EditGourmet Oreo Hot Chocolate - 4 cups (950 milliliters) whole milk, divided
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) sweetened condensed milk
- 8 Oreos
- 3 tablespoons (22.5 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon (7.5 grams) cornstarch (optional)
- Whipped cream (for garnish)
- 1 tablespoon (7.5 grams) crushed Oreos (for garnish)
Serves 4 EditSimple Oreo Hot Chocolate - 2 cups (470 milliliters) whole milk, divided
- ½ cup (50 grams) hot chocolate powder
- 4 to 5 Oreos
- Whipped cream (for garnish)
- 1 tablespoon (7.5 grams) crushed Oreos (for garnish)
Serves 2 EditMaking Gourmet Oreo Hot Chocolate - Heat 3 cups (700 milliliters) of milk until it just begins to steam. Pour 3 cups (700 milliliters) of whole milk into a saucepan. Cook the milk over medium-low heat, whisking occasionally, until it just begins to steam. This will take about 8 to 10 minutes.[1]
- While you're waiting for the milk to heat up, get started on the next step.
- Blend the remaining milk, condensed milk, Oreos, and cocoa powder. Pour the remaining 1 cup (240 milliliters) of milk into a blender. Add the sweetened condensed milk, Oreos, and unsweetened cocoa powder. Close the blender, and blend on high until smooth, about 2 minutes.[2]
- You can use a food processor as well, but it would be a good idea to cover the lid with a towel to prevent leaks.
- For creamier hot chocolate, add 1 tablespoon (7.5 grams) of cornstarch or cornflour to the blender.
- Add the Oreo mixture to the saucepan. Pour the blended Oreo mixture into the saucepan. Stir everything together with a whisk until the color is consistent.
- Cook the mixture over medium-low heat for another 5 to 10 minutes. Whisk the mixture often and do not let it come to a boil. It is ready when the Oreo mixture is completely dissolved and mixed into the milk.[3]
- Divide the hot chocolate between 4 mugs. Alternatively, you can divide it between 2 large mugs, and have larger serving sizes instead. To avoid spills and wasting any hot chocolate, use a soup ladle to transfer it from the saucepan to the mugs. You can pour it straight from the saucepan if you are careful, however.
- Garnish and serve the hot chocolate. Add a dollop of whipped cream on top of the hot chocolate, then sprinkle it with crushed Oreos.[4]
- You can leave the hot chocolate ungarnished and serve it as-is.
EditMaking Simple Oreo Hot Chocolate - Heat the milk over medium-low heat until it just begins to simmer. Pour 2 cups (470 milliliters) of whole milk into a saucepan. Turn the heat up to medium-low, and allow the milk to cook until it just begins to simmer. Stir the milk often with a whisk, and do not let it come to a boil.[5]
- For richer hot chocolate, try 1 cup (240 milliliters) of whole milk and 1 cup (240 milliliters) of heavy cream.
- Remove the saucepan from heat and whisk in the hot chocolate powder. If you can't find hot chocolate powder, use ¼ cup (25 grams) of unsweetened cocoa powder and ¼ cup (55 grams) of granulated white sugar.[6] Don't use unsweetened cocoa powder on its own, or the hot chocolate won't be sweet enough.
- Try "candy cane" hot chocolate powder for a minty cookies n' flavor.[7]
- Grind the Oreos, then add them to the hot chocolate. You can do this using a blender or food processor. Make sure that you grind the Oreos into a fine powder. If there are any large chunks, they won't dissolve properly, and you'll get a gritty, grainy hot chocolate instead.[8]
- Whisk the hot chocolate until everything is dissolved. This should only take a few minutes. You need both the hot chocolate powder and the crushed Oreos to be completely mixed. The color should be even and the texture should be consistent.[9]
- Divide the hot chocolate between 2 mugs, then serve it. For a fancier treat, garnish the hot chocolate with a swirl of whipped cream. Add a sprinkle of crushed Oreos on top.
- You can leave the hot chocolate plain, without any whipped cream or Oreos.
- Consider using flavored Oreo cookies (i.e.: mint) for something more unique.
- You can use non-fat or low-fat milk instead of whole milk, but your hot chocolate won't be as rich.
- Homemade whipped cream will taste the best, but you can also use the kind that comes in a can.
- If you can't find Oreos, you can other chocolate sandwich cookies.
- Stir the milk often as it cooks, or it will develop a skin on top. If the milk develops a skin, scoop it off with a slotted spoon.
- You can easily halve or quarter the recipe.
- You can use store-bought crumbled Oreo cookies, but you will still need to crush them into a finer powder.
- You can use any biscuits, like, multigrain, chocolate, strawberry etc.It is your choice in the end!
EditThings You'll Need - Blender
- Saucepan
- Whisk
- Mugs
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