Get Ready for Spring Planting in Winter

From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.

In many parts of the world, winter brings cold temperatures and, in some places, snowfall. For people who like planting things, gardening may seem far away.

However, during winter weather, there are still things a gardener can do to prepare for the spring. Gardening expert Jessica Damiano recently wrote about such preparatory tasks for the Associated Press. We can also call these tasks "prep work."

Testing seeds

First let’s talk about seeds.

If you have seed packets, she suggests checking their expiration date. That is the date by which they go “bad” or will not grow. Damiano says the seeds are usually considered “fresh” within a year of being packaged. But they can be used for longer than that.

However, you cannot be sure if the seeds are still good just by looking at a date. She suggests testing them.

To do this, she places several seeds on a wet paper towel and then puts that into a plastic container. In about 10 days, she will look to see how many seeds have sprouted.

This gives her an idea of how many seeds to use to get the desired number of plants. However, if less than 50 percent of the seeds sprout, she throws them away.

Damiano tests her old seeds in the winter before the busy spring gardening season. That is when seed and plant stores, or nurseries, can run out of seeds.

Inspect and care for equipment

She also inspects her gardening equipment.

For example, if you use grow lights — lights especially made for plants — make sure they still work. You might have to buy new bulbs.

Damiano brings out her grow lights and inspects each bulb. If necessary, she will order replacement bulbs. That way she is prepared to plant at any time, even six to eight weeks in the future.

She also makes sure she has sterile seed-starting potting mix. This is special soil for planting in containers.

Damiano sharpens her cutting tools, such as pruning shears. Larger tools like lawnmowers should be inspected every year. Like nurseries, places that service lawn equipment might be busier in the spring. You can get ahead of the crowd by getting your tools fixed early.

Clean your gardening hand tools, like trowels and spades. Cover them lightly with oil. This will help keep them in good working order.

Inspect things like hoses, sprinklers and other water systems for damage. Make a list of anything you may need to replace or repair.

Damiano says that you could wait until spring to take care of all these things—but why? Once spring arrives, you will have these tasks done.

And that’s the Health & Lifestyle report. I’m Anna Matteo.

Jessica Damiano reported this story for The Associated Press from New York. Anna Matteo adapted it for VOA Learning English.

task –n. a job or work that needs to be done

packet –n. a paper envelope that contains small things like seeds

expiration –n. the point at which something is no longer usable

package –v. to put a product in any one of many kinds of containers for sale to the public

sprouted –adj. a seed that has begun to send out early leaves

bulb –n. a round lighting device

sterile –adj. something that does not have any microorganisms in it

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