Title:
In the Garden: Getting the Most Out of Mums
Description: This is
a VOA Special English Agriculture Report.
See text below
Text:
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. 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. You can find all of our reports with
transcripts and MP3s at voaspecialenglish.com. You
can also comment on your own experience growing
mums.
Hi. I
personally reviewed this video and found it appropriate for
the news section of English Global Group. This
is a Voice of America video which covers an interesting
topic in Special English. I would appreciate some feedback from both
students and teachers about this video. You can comment in
the window below using any of a number of different services
including Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, and Hotmail.
To post a comment:
• Click "Comment using..." in
the window below
• Click your favorite service: Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail
• Login to the service
• Click "Add a comment..."
• Post your comment in the window
Students: Please post a
comment stating what you found interesting about this video. You are
welcome to include links to your English study blogs and any
other materials you think might be useful for learning
English.
Teachers: Please post your
thoughts about this video. You are welcome to include links to
your sites, blogs, and any other materials you think might
be useful for learning English.
Hi. I
personally reviewed this video and found it appropriate for
the news section of English Global Group. This
is a Voice of America video which covers an interesting
topic in Special English. I would appreciate some feedback from both
students and teachers about this video. You can comment in
the window below using any of a number of different services
including Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, and Hotmail.
