當然,拿到真正的月球和火星土來盆栽是不可能的要求.但是網絡搜索顯示,美國國家航空航天局（NASA）可能會滿足這個看似不可能的要求.
The US space agency makes ground similar to that on the Moon from sand found in an Arizona desert, while Mars' crimson "soil" is scooped from a volcano in Hawaii, Wamelink told reporters.
沃姆林克告訴記者,美國航天局在亞利桑那的沙漠中找到一種和月球土壤類似的沙子用做試驗田,而火星紅"土"采自夏威夷的一座火山.
The first experiments started in 2013 after Wageningen received an order of 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of NASA's imitation "space soil"—at a hefty price of 2,000 euros ($2,285).
瓦格寧根大學以2000歐元（2285美元）的高價從NASA訂購了100千克（220磅）的模擬"太空土",于2013年開始進行第一次試驗.
Wamelink stuck tomatoes, peas, cress and other plants in pots containing the simulated soil... and crossed his fingers.
沃姆林克把西紅柿、豌豆、水芹和其它植物種在盛有模擬土的盆子里……然后期盼好運.
To work in this soil "was very special. Nobody, not even NASA, could tell us what would happen," even just by simply adding water, he said.
在這樣的土壤里耕種"非常特殊.沒有人,甚至NASA,也不能告訴我們將會發生什么,"即使只是簡單地澆水,他說.
The imitation ground at first was a little "reluctant" to absorb water, but soon turned out to be good potting soil.
起初,模擬實驗田有點"不愿"吸水,但是很快就變成了很好的盆栽土.
Like the actor Matt Damon in the science fiction movie "The Martian", Wamelink watched with amazement as his "space veggies" grew bigger day-by-day.
就像科幻電影《火星救援》里的演員馬特•達蒙一樣,沃姆林克也驚奇地看著他的"太空蔬菜"一天天地長大.
"Especially in the Martian soil, plants were growing very fast and very good. They even started to flower, something that we never anticipated," Wamelink said.
"特別是火星土種植的植物長勢又快又好.甚至還開始開花了,我們從來沒有期望過它們能開花,"沃姆林克說.
來源：雅虎新聞
