冬季为春季种植做好准备
📖 逐句对照翻译
From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.
这里是VOA慢速英语的健康与生活方式报道。
In many parts of the world, winter brings cold temperatures and, in some places, snowfall.
在世界许多地方，冬季带来寒冷的天气，有些地方还会下雪。
For people who like planting things, gardening may seem far away.
对于喜欢种植的人来说，园艺似乎遥不可及。
However, during winter weather, there are still things a gardener can do to prepare for the spring.
然而，在冬季天气里，园丁仍然可以做一些事情来为春天做准备。
Gardening expert Jessica Damiano recently wrote about such preparatory tasks for the Associated Press.
园艺专家杰西卡·达米亚诺最近为美联社撰写了关于这些准备工作的文章。
We can also call these tasks "prep work."
我们也可以把这些任务称为“准备工作”。
Testing seeds
测试种子
First let’s talk about seeds.
首先让我们谈谈种子。
If you have seed packets, she suggests checking their expiration date.
如果你有种子包，她建议检查一下它们的有效期。
That is the date by which they go “bad” or will not grow.
那就是它们变质或无法生长的日期。
Damiano says the seeds are usually considered “fresh” within a year of being packaged.
达米亚诺表示，种子在包装后一年内通常被视为“新鲜”。
But they can be used for longer than that.
但它们可以使用更长时间。
However, you cannot be sure if the seeds are still good just by looking at a date.
然而，仅凭日期你无法确定种子是否仍然良好。
She suggests testing them.
她建议对它们进行测试。
To do this, she places several seeds on a wet paper towel and then puts that into a plastic container.
为了做到这一点，她把几粒种子放在湿纸巾上，然后将其放入塑料容器中。
In about 10 days, she will look to see how many seeds have sprouted.
大约10天后，她会查看有多少种子已经发芽。
This gives her an idea of how many seeds to use to get the desired number of plants.
这让她了解到需要使用多少种子才能获得所需数量的植物。
However, if less than 50 percent of the seeds sprout, she throws them away.
然而，如果发芽的种子不到50%，她就会把它们扔掉。
Damiano tests her old seeds in the winter before the busy spring gardening season.
达米亚诺在繁忙的春季园艺季节到来之前的冬天测试她的旧种子。
That is when seed and plant stores, or nurseries, can run out of seeds.
这时种子和植物商店，或者说苗圃，可能会卖光种子。
Inspect and care for equipment
检查并保养设备
She also inspects her gardening equipment.
她还检查了她的园艺设备。
For example, if you use grow lights — lights especially made for plants — make sure they still work.
例如，如果你使用植物生长灯——专为植物制造的灯具——请确保它们仍能正常工作。
You might have to buy new bulbs.
你可能需要买些新灯泡。
Damiano brings out her grow lights and inspects each bulb.
达米亚诺拿出她的植物生长灯，逐一检查每个灯泡。
If necessary, she will order replacement bulbs.
如有必要，她会订购替换灯泡。
That way she is prepared to plant at any time, even six to eight weeks in the future.
这样她就能随时准备种植，哪怕是六到八周之后。
She also makes sure she has sterile seed-starting potting mix.
她还要确保自己有经过消毒的育苗盆栽土。
This is special soil for planting in containers.
这是用于容器种植的专用土壤。
Damiano sharpens her cutting tools, such as pruning shears.
达米亚诺打磨她的修剪工具，比如修枝剪。
Larger tools like lawnmowers should be inspected every year.
像割草机这样的大型工具应该每年检查一次。
Like nurseries, places that service lawn equipment might be busier in the spring.
与苗圃类似，提供草坪设备服务的地方在春季可能会更忙。
You can get ahead of the crowd by getting your tools fixed early.
你可以通过尽早修好工具来抢占先机。
Clean your gardening hand tools, like trowels and spades.
清洁你的园艺手工工具，如小铲子和铁锹。
Cover them lightly with oil.
给它们薄薄地抹上一层油。
This will help keep them in good working order.
这将有助于保持它们良好的工作状态。
Inspect things like hoses, sprinklers and other water systems for damage.
检查软管、喷水器及其他供水系统是否损坏。
Make a list of anything you may need to replace or repair.
列出你可能需要更换或修理的任何东西。
Damiano says that you could wait until spring to take care of all these things—but why?
达米亚诺说你可以等到春天再处理所有这些事情——但为什么呢？
Once spring arrives, you will have these tasks done.
一旦春天到来，你就能完成这些任务了。
And that’s the Health & Lifestyle report.
这就是健康与生活方式报告。
I’m Anna Matteo.
我是安娜·马特奥。
Jessica Damiano reported this story for The Associated Press from New York.
杰西卡·达米亚诺在纽约为美联社报道了这一故事。
Anna Matteo adapted it for VOA Learning English.
安娜·马特奥为VOA英语学习频道改编了此内容。
