It’s December, so of course I’m thinking about #FoodNotLawns and what I’m going to grow next season.

Things I grew last year that did well: okra, San Marzano tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, eggplant

Things I grew last year that did okay but could probably do better this year with some adjustments: squash ($@&%-ing squash vine borers), peppers, leeks, tomatillos

Things that crashed and burned: peas, heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers

Last summer was unbelievably hot and kept going back and forth between no rain for weeks and nothing but rain for days. Next summer, I’m going to pick more heat-tolerant plants and maybe set up drip irrigation.

My stepmother (expert gardener, grew up on a farm) suggested that I start my garden outside earlier and do a fall planting, but the latter may be challenging because my summer plants produced until November this year. I may put in a few more raised beds so that I can do some crop rotation.

I also want to start a mushroom garden on the north side of my house, but I’m not sure if I’m ready for such an absurdly big undertaking yet.