Next year I'll promise myself not to plant squash in the main part of my garden. They are space hogs! I'll also wait to plant dill- thought I could time that harvest with my cukes, but the dill is nearly done and the cukes are just starting to ripen. I WILL leave myself some room to stoop and walk so I don't have to twist and turn my body like a piece of spaghetti! I will come to terms with the thought that every square inch of bare dirt does not need just a few more bean seeds, another round of basil or just a few more cuke vines.
-Nan

I will keep Rutabaga on the Easy side of my beds. They are in the center two sections now and are towering above the Carrots and Chard. That and I will also start Tomato seeds earlier.
Mike

This is my first year, too. I'll plant my tomatoes & cukes across the bed instead along the back side, which will give me a lot more shade for my lettuces and spinach. I'm going to wait and see whether or not I'd move the bush beans to maybe the corner of the beds since I've heard they tend to flop. I did notice that one of mine is starting to do that. I also see that the eggplant would be nice to use as shade for lettuce, since the leaves are nice and wide. And I'd like to try different varieties of tom's.
Overall, I realize this is a learning experience, so I'm having fun with it.

dazzle- no matter how long you've been gardening it is a constant learning experience it seems. I just figure it's like mental therapy and go with the flow like you. I had those floppy bush beans too, so I took four bamboo stakes, put one on each corner of the square and then starting winding fishing line around and around to build a make-shift cage for them. Now they're just flopping on the fishing line and I'm not crushing them with my feet anymore.
-Nan

Nan, I like the idea you used to support your bush beans. I have plenty of bamboo so that'll make it easy and cheap.

Thanks.

add 4 more 4 x 8 beds.

Next year, hmmmm. OK, heres my plan, first take over Monsanto then mysteriously liquidate the company overnight. Excellent!!!

Meanwhile back at the batcave i will be growing hairy vetch as a cover crop, mowing it and planting my tomatoes and peppers into the cover crop.

Also, growing everything completely vegetarian, no bonemeal, no bloodmeal no fish fertilizer. I am not a vegetarian but want to see if I can do it that way.

Stay tuned for my next dastardly plan!!!

Here is a link that might be useful: My veggie blog

Install soaker hoses. My plants are growing so well and getting so crowded I can't even see the soil, let alone get to it to water it.

Do some serious mulching...so no more weeding!