Reading, Writing, and ... Gardening

I don't read much. Not to say I don't like to read, quite the opposite. But, it's a treat, very much like a nice restaurant - I would rather save up to do it right than eat out little meals here and there. And thus, I prefer to "save up" until I have at least a half a day so I can settle in... a comfy chair, a light blanket, a mug of hot coffee or tea, good lighting, and at least one uninterrupted hour... only then is when I prefer to read. It may sound picky, but I simply love devoting myself to a book!

Lately, I've been reading the Twilight series. I actually saved them until I had a perfect day to read. It was delightful! Soon, I shall take on the third book of the series (downloaded on the kindle!), along with my present reading for my yoga teacher training, and a book about gardening.

I do love being a housewife! In addition to volunteering at the Abilene Cultural Affairs and subbing for yoga classes, I'm planning my future container garden. I'm feeling quite a bit lost about the whole thing as I've had very little experience successfully growing anything in my life, much less food! But, as I've kept a number of house plants alive (some almost three years!) and thoroughly enjoyed my jaunt with front yard flowers - pansies, snapdragons, etc. - over the past two years, I feel ready to embrace the challenge. The lack I feel is for the experience that makes great gardeners. I remember when Rob saw me "watering" my first pansies and asked me what I was doing. It turns out that lightly spraying is not sufficient and one needs to soak. Who knew? Not me.

Thus, I feel a little intimidated when gardening books say things like "these love acidic soil" or "water only when needed" - Oh. Kay. How do I know when my soil is acidic? How do I make it more acidic if it's not? When does a plant really need water? I've figured out the first one, although I don't know what peat looks like (peat makes it more acidic) but how "dry" does the soil need to be before it "needs" water? These are things gardeners just know from observation and experience.

Well, my I didn't learn what I know about military life from a book, so experience, here I come!! ...Hopefully I won't kill too many plants learning said experience.

So, this is what I want to grow so you can get excited with me (I KNOW! I can hardly wait!)

"Garden Candy" Cherry Tomatoes

"Super Bush" Tomatoes (supposed to be great in containers)

"Baby Belle" Peppers (container happy)

"Jewel Tone" Peppers

Basil, Cilantro, Mint

maybe some Yukon Gold Potatoes (don't know how they'll grow, just like them a lot)

Now, the fruit I am really excited about, but I know it's the most difficult to grow:

Blueberries - I can't live without them after my experience in Florida! I will find a way to grow them!

Strawberries maybe

Fig trees I read grow well in containers... and YUM!

I'd like to try cherries

And a lemon tree would round it out nicely

Now, I want to grow them all in pots, so they're portable and I can take my hard labor with me to South Dakota and other places. Also, I can make the soil what I want in a container. I've picked out the sunniest places in the yard. Anything else? I'd love advice!