[ti:Two Edible Plants Grow Well Indoors During Winter] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:00.04]Do you want to grow plants inside during the cold weather? [00:04.24]If so, you may want to consider some plants [00:09.04]that can flavor your food [00:11.68]and make your home smell nice at the same time. [00:15.68]We are talking about the herbs rosemary and bay laurel. [00:22.28]Both plants do well inside, near a sunny window in the cold weather [00:28.08]as long as the temperature is warm and you keep them watered. [00:32.76]Both rosemary and bay laurel [00:34.80]come from the part of the world near the Mediterranean Sea. [00:38.60]The area is cool but not icy during winter and it gets lots of sunlight. [00:47.28]Gardening expert Lee Reich of the Associated Press [00:52.16]says it is important to keep these plants [00:56.08]"happy and alive" in the cooler months. [01:00.60]So, how do you do it? [01:03.64]For rosemary, water level is very important. [01:08.36]The plant needs soil that is a little bit wet all the time but never soaked. [01:16.00]Too much water will kill the plant. [01:19.24]You can plant rosemary in a container [01:22.20]with soil that is about 25 percent sand, perlite or vermiculite. [01:29.88]Perlite and vermiculite help soil hold water. [01:35.08]Rosemary can add a nice taste to food [01:37.88]but it also can make a room smell good. [01:41.36]So if you have it growing inside, [01:44.32]it is a good idea to place the container near an airflow source, [01:49.36]like a door that is used often. [01:52.96]That way the pleasant smell of rosemary floats through the air. [01:58.72]Bay laurel has dark, green leaves and produces a nice smell when picked. [02:06.40]When added to food, Reich notes, [02:10.36]it makes soups and tomato sauces taste better. [02:15.48]You need to crush the leaves after you pick them to release the flavor. [02:21.72]If you want to grow the plants inside to make your home look good, [02:26.68]you can cut unwanted branches from the plant as it grows [02:31.84]and make it look like a small tree. [02:35.40]You will not hurt the plant if you do this. [02:38.68]Most plants that grow this way get a little bit taller than 65 centimeters. [02:47.04]Rosemary and bay laurel can live for more than 10 years if they are cared for. [02:53.40]Every two years it is a good idea to replace the soil [02:57.52]and add the plant to a larger container. [03:01.40]You can move them outside when the weather gets warm. [03:04.92]The plants will like the change. [03:07.64]And you can welcome the rosemary and bay laurel [03:10.92]back into your home for many winters to come. [03:14.72]I'm Dan Friedell. [03:16.72]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM