Joan, do you already have a place prepared for planting? I use raised beds I built and that seems to be easier for me. I know from personal experience, you can raise lettuce and herbs in containers...like outside your kitchen for easy use. I planted lettuce several weeks ago and hopefully will get some before it gets too hot...lettuce doesn't like hot weather. Better to plant it in the fall.

Pick the herbs you like to cook with and plant away! Depending on where you are, rosemary can be grown in the ground year 'round (I'm zone 8b and that's where mine is)All herbs like a good amount of sunlight and good drainage. A good book on the subject is "Southern Herb Growing" by Madalene Hill and Gwen BArclay.

I will let someone else address the other veggies as I've only had mixed luck with everything except tomatoes. I would have to say that if you don't already have a plot prepared, consider containers. There are a lot of varieties out there that are developed specifically for that use. Try Burpee and Park seeds websites.

Good luck and let us know how you did!

Ask your local Extension agent for publication ANR-479, The Alabama Vegetable Gardener. An online version may be available at www.aces.edu. It includes a planting timetable for seeds. Of course, you may want to buy transplants! With the exception of lettuce, these are warm weather crops and you should wait until about April 15; lettuce can be planted now, in fact I would recommend transplants for lettuce.

Here is a link that might be useful: ACES