INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Cut the cake in half using a piece of thread or a bread knife, then spread some frosting or jam on the inside. Put the cake back together, then use a butter knife or off-set cake decorating spatula to spread more frosting on the top and sides of the cake.

SUMMARY: Decorate your cake.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: The typical banana plant flowers in 6-7 months under ideal conditions, but may take up to a year depending on the climate.  Never remove the leaves around the flower, as they protect it from the sun.  Do not confuse this with the Banana Bunchy Top Virus. See Tips below. This may take an additional 2 months or longer. Each connected cluster of bananas is called a "hand" and each individual banana, a "finger". The entire stem containing several hands is called a bunch. The remaining flower bud and/or tiny extra banana hand are the sterile male portions of the plant. The hand should wither off on its own, but removing the flower bud will cause the plant to put more energy into growing fruit.  The male portion of the flower is called the "banana heart". Some varieties of banana plants produce edible banana flowers that are popular in Southeast Asian cuisine, but not all are suitable for consumption. Most flowers will fall off and die before harvest. Use a stick to prop up the plant if the bunches are dragging it down. This will protect the fruit from insects and other dangers, but they must be open at both ends to allow adequate air and water flow. Tie the nylon or plastic sack with soft twine several inches from the first hand. The small flower at the tip of each banana will become dry and easily rub off, or the banana plant will lose most of its leaves. This is a good time to harvest the fruit.  Cut a notch halfway into the tree, opposite the side of the bunch. Carefully let the tree bend and cut off the bunch. The fruit will ripen quickly once harvested, so you may want to pick some well in advance of harvesting so you don't end up with excess fruit that will go to waste. Remove the top half of the banana stem once you harvest the fruit. Desucker the base using the same process as you have while caring for your plant. Remember to leave one sucker to replace the now-dying mother plant.

SUMMARY: Wait for the purple flower to emerge. Wait for the petals to withdraw and reveal bananas. Once all bunches are revealed, remove the extra portions. Cover the bunch with plastic covers. Harvest bananas when the flowers or plant are dying. Cut the stem of the tree and prepare the next sucker.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: when they are four to six inches in height. Usually this will take about six weeks. The height and plant development are more important than the duration of the germination process. Make sure you have completed the proper soil preparation methods outlined above before transplanting your seedlings, including fertilizing the soil. Position plants to the same depth they were in pots/containers. Miniature varieties can be planted as close as one foot apart. For summer plantings, apply an organic mulch of compost, leaves, or bark to keep soil cool. For winter plantings, apply a black plastic covering to heat the soil.

SUMMARY: Transplant seedlings Water the bed thoroughly before setting out seedlings. Dig holes about three inches deep and space seedlings one to two feet apart. Regulate the soil temperature. Dampen the soil with a thorough watering after transplanting.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Wear heavy duty clothing, gloves and eye protection as you never know what you will encounter. Many construction companies use the city dumps to dispose of material that they can't use or that they feel is not worth reclaiming. But you won't have the labor costs involved to strip paint from old windows and doors or to remove nails from lumber that the company would have, so it could be a great find for you.

SUMMARY:
Visit your community dump if they allow it.