2 Tomato
Soil Preparation. Tomatoes are a delicate crop, so choose a warm spot to plant your tomatoes for the best results. During the winter, dig up your plot thoroughly and apply a good compost into your soil. Before planting add a good source of fertilizer to the plot. If you lack ground space, you can easily grow excellent tomatoes , but remember to water them regularly. Regular feeding with a good fertilizer will be necessary.
Sowing and Planting. Sow the seeds into a standard sized pot filled with a good fertilizer or compost. Before you sow your seeds, dampen the soil in the pot and allow it to sit overnight. Sow one seed in each pot by placing the seed on top of the soil. Sprinkle a light cover of compost or fertilizer over the seed. Keep the soil moist, but not wet, for the best results. When the seeds have grown into seedlings that are 6 inches high, transplant the seedlings into your plot.
Looking after the plants. Tie the main stem of each plant to a cane or provide a cage for each plant. Water and feed the plants regularly, especially in hot weather, to keep the soil moist. Overwatering will lead to many problems, primarily split-fruit and blossom-end rot.
Harvesting. Pick the fruits when ripe and fully-coloured. Always harvest the fruit with a sharp knife to avoid damaging the plant.
Nutritional value and health benefits. There is a research-based information that tomatoes are good for man. Tomatoes are packed with vitamin C, potassium, fiber and vitamin A in the form of health promoting beta-carotene.
Tomatoes are also a source of lycopene, which play a role in the fight against cancer, especially prostate cancer. Lycopene is responsible for the bright red colour of the tomato.
(1400)
Words to the text:
feeding - кормление
overnight – в течение ночи
seedling - рассада
overwatering – чрезмерный полив
split-fruit – образование трещин на плодах
blossom-end rot – прекращение цветения
potassium - калий
lycopene - ликопин
2.1 Say if the sentences are true or false:
1) Tomatoes are cool-season crop.
2) Soil for tomatoes should be moist for the best results.
3) Never water plants in hot weather.
4) Carotene and lycopene are responsible for the bright red color of tomatoes.
3 Cabbage
Cabbage is an excellent, relatively easy to grow. There are three main types of cabbage: spring, summer and winter varieties. There are various types of green, red and purple varieties. Head shapes varies from the standard round to flattened and pointed.
Soil Preparation. Cabbage grows in a range of soil types but prefers well drained fertile soil with plenty of well rotted manure or organic matter added.
Sowing and Planting. The most preferred method of growing cabbage is to sow them indoors under glass. Sow one seed per large module and let the seedlings grow until they have five or six leaves.
You can sow the seed direct into a seed bed outdoors. The seedlings will need thinning to three inches apart and then let them grow until they also have five or six leaves.
When the cabbage seedlings are ready transplant them into firm ground.
Looking after the Plants. Protect the cabbages from birds and cabbage white butterflies by netting over the crop. Keep the cabbage bed weeded and water frequently during the summer months.
Harvesting. Harvest when the cabbages have a good solid head before they split. Heavy rain can cause the heads to split. If this happens harvest the cabbage as soon as possible.
Nutritional Value and Health Benefits. Cabbage is a good source of vitamins and have disease-preventive properties as well. Cabbage is a cruciferous vegetable and may reduce the risk of some forms of cancer. Cabbage is also high in beta-carotene, vitamin C and fiber.
(1200)
Words to the text:
well rotted manure - перегной
module – емкость с торфом или питательной смесью
thinning -прореживание
head - кочан
cruciferous -крестоцветный
fiber - клетчатка
3.1 Answer the questions:
1) What kind of soils does cabbage grow?
2) Can heavy rain cause the heads to split?
3) What types of cabbage do you know?
4) What is the nutritional value of cabbage?