On streaking technique. I did my first plates last week. I used a technique involving 2 plates. Streak one in thirds turning the plate approx. 60° each time. Then without flaming the loop restreak a second plate the same way. I got excellent results for my first time. I realize it is a bit of a "waste" of a plate but it gave me many good single colonies on the second plates despite the fact that I believe I had too much yeast on the loop to begin with.
Only thing I now wonder about is this. Do you need to harvest the colonies before they grow too large? Meaning, should you use the plate as soon as colonies are evident? Mine went about 5 days at room temp before I streaked them on slants and into distilled water, and the colonies were quite thick and wide. Maybe ~1 mm?