Time the finishing. Time the curing.
Just as the timing of finishing is dictated by setting, so is the timing of curing. The concrete surface can be harmed, in some cases, when a saturated wet cure, such as burlap or soaker hoses, is applied to concrete that has not yet reached its final set. Water applied forcefully to a green concrete surface can penetrate that surface, damage the paste, and degrade the concrete. One can be more aggressive in applying water to cure the concrete the further along the concrete is in the setting process. There is a danger, however, in waiting too long to apply a wet cure as the peak rate of evaporative water loss occurs immediately after finishing. This is where spray-applied curing compounds are extremely valuable. They can be applied without walking on or marring the freshly finished surface, and then can be followed-up with a more substantive curing method a few hours later.