2010-6-28

This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.

People have grown chrysanthemums for more than two thousand years. Chinese and other Asian cultures make tea with the flowers. But mums also make bright and colorful gardens.

Getting the Most Out of Mums

One basic kind of mum is the hardy or garden mum. The other basic kind is the florist mum. The garden mum is better able to handle different growing conditions than the florist mum.

There are many varieties of mums. The decorative mum is often seen in gardens. Another popular type, the quill mum, has long, straight petals like a tube or needle.

Chrysanthemum blooms can be white, yellow, gold, red or other colors. The plants often grow to one meter in height.

The soil should be kept moist but well drained so it does not get too wet.

Newly planted mums should be watered two or three times a week, depending on conditions. Plants established in the ground may do well just with normal rainfall. In dry conditions they will need more water.

Mums grow best in full sunshine. They produce colorful blooms when days get shorter and nights get longer. The life cycle of the plant depends on the amount of daylight. This is why experts advise against placing mums near nightlights or streetlights. The light may interfere with their normal growth cycle. The plants may develop buds too soon.

In climates where temperatures fall below freezing, plant mums at least six weeks before the first frost is expected. That way, the plants will be well established for cold weather.

Placing mulch around the plants can protect them from the cold. Doug Akers from the cooperative extension service at Purdue University in Indiana suggests straw or shredded leaves for the mulch. The material will also add nutrients to the soil.

Some gardeners say the most beautiful presentation comes from planting mums close together. But they also advise leaving enough space between the plants so air can flow. If not, the chance of disease may increase.

To get more blooms, gardeners pinch back the branches when new growth has extended to fifteen centimeters. Squeeze about five to seven centimeters off each branch. Pinch again when a branch grows another twelve to fifteen centimeters. Stop pinching about one hundred days before you want the plants to bloom.

And that's the VOA Special English Agriculture Report, written by Jerilyn Watson. You can find all of our reports with transcripts and MP3s at chinavoa.com. I'm Faith Lapidus.

This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.

这里是美国之音慢速英语农业报道。

People have grown chrysanthemums for more than two thousand years. Chinese and other Asian cultures make tea with the flowers. But mums also make bright and colorful gardens.

人们种植菊花已经有超过2千年的历史。中国和其他亚洲国家以菊花为茶，但是菊花也能使花园更加鲜艳多彩。

One basic kind of mum is the hardy or garden mum. The other basic kind is the florist mum. The garden mum is better able to handle different growing conditions than the florist mum.

最基本的一种菊花是园艺菊，另一种是切花菊。园艺菊比切花菊更能适应不同生长环境。

There are many varieties of mums. The decorative mum is often seen in gardens. Another popular type, the quill mum, has long, straight petals like a tube or needle.

菊花分为很多种类。观赏菊常见于花园中。另一种流行品种是翎毛菊，其花瓣细长呈针或管状。

Chrysanthemum blooms can be white, yellow, gold, red or other colors. The plants often grow to one meter in height.

菊花可以开出白色、黄色、金色、红色或其它颜色的花朵，它们通常能长到一米高。

The soil should be kept moist but well drained so it does not get too wet.

(种植菊花时)土壤应保持湿润，但应保持排水良好以免过于潮湿。

Newly planted mums should be watered two or three times a week, depending on conditions. Plants established in the ground may do well just with normal rainfall. In dry conditions they will need more water.

新种下的菊花应该根据实际情况每周浇水2至3次。菊花在正常降雨条件下就能生长得很好，但在干燥环境下需要浇更多水。

Mums grow best in full sunshine. They produce colorful blooms when days get shorter and nights get longer. The life cycle of the plant depends on the amount of daylight. This is why experts advise against placing mums near nightlights or streetlights. The light may interfere with their normal growth cycle. The plants may develop buds too soon.

菊花在日照充足时生长情况最好。当白天变短黑夜变长时，它们会开出五颜六色的花。菊花的生长周期取决于光照时间。所以专家建议不要将菊花放置在夜灯或路灯附近。灯光会影响菊花的正常生长周期，导致花蕾提前开放。

In climates where temperatures fall below freezing, plant mums at least six weeks before the first frost is expected. That way, the plants will be well established for cold weather.

在零度以下的气候条件时，应在预期霜降前的6周种植菊花。这样，菊花就能更好地适应寒冷天气。

Placing mulch around the plants can protect them from the cold. Doug Akers from the cooperative extension service at Purdue University in Indiana suggests straw or shredded leaves for the mulch. The material will also add nutrients to the soil.

在菊花四周铺设覆盖物能防止菊花受冻。美国印第安纳普度大学合作推广中心的Doug Akers建议采用稻草或碎叶作为覆盖物。这些覆盖物还能增加土壤养分。

Some gardeners say the most beautiful presentation comes from planting mums close together. But they also advise leaving enough space between the plants so air can flow. If not, the chance of disease may increase.

有些园丁表示，菊花密集种植最为漂亮，但他们也建议植株间要留出足够空间以便空气流通。否则，菊花患病的几率可能会增加。

To get more blooms, gardeners pinch back the branches when new growth has extended to fifteen centimeters. Squeeze about five to seven centimeters off each branch. Pinch again when a branch grows another twelve to fifteen centimeters. Stop pinching about one hundred days before you want the plants to bloom.

为了得到更多花朵，当新枝长至15厘米时园丁会进行剪枝，每根枝条剪去5-7厘米。当枝条再长12至15厘米时再次进行剪枝。在你希望的花期前100天就要停止剪枝。