Last night I made up some Nighshade. I put the two packets of yeast in an set my timer for 5 minutes but somehow I can't remember if I actually stirred it after 5 minutes or just put the top on and put the fermenter away.

When I got up this morning for some reason it hit me that I might not have stirred the yeast in so I removed the fermenter cover and saw the yeast still sitting on the top of the liquid and figured I didn't stir it. My initial solution was to sanitize a spoon and stir it up, better late than ever?

did I do more harm than good? What can I do now to make sure the rest of the fermentation process goes well?

Why do they use 5 minutes in the mr. beer instructions when pitching?

you're fine. the yeast got in there. i wouldn't have stirred, but i'm sure you'll be fine if you sanitized the spoon and didn't hock a loogie or throw a pinch of dust into the fermenter. all is well.

Now all you can do is relax and let the yeast do its thing.

Well, that's not entirely true...you can also work to make sure temps stay stable and relatively cool. Do you have any type of temperature control? Other than that, all you can do is let the yeast work.

Oh, and don't forget to head over to the welcoming center and introduce yourself!

Yep, what they wrote. It's pretty hard to beat Jon with a quick answer.

Thanks for the advice, good to hear it wasn't that big of a mistake.

I have the fermenter in a cabinet in the kitchen. I added a stick on thermometer to it and it stays at about what the thermostat in the house is set to around 66/67. I will be following the 2/2/2 rule on this.

Good luck with your brew

sounds like you are gonna be a-ok...and that you have been doing your homework!

welcome aboard and enjoy your nightshade...excellent recipe choice BTW!