I've gotten permission from the powers in this housing complex to re-purpose a neglected above ground planter into a vegetable garden. The planter is made of concrete blocks, standing four blocks high, about 3 1/2 feet wide and 20 feet long. There is room for a good many veggies.

This area of Alaska has a fairly mild climate, i.e. our wintertime temperatures *can* dip below zero but 20 degrees above and ranging to the mid-40s is far more common. In Summer, temperatures rarely go above 80 degrees (90 is the all-time record) but most of the summer hovers between 60 and 75 degrees.

Summer is a short season. Our frost-free dates are considered to be May 24- September 15, so root vegetables do best in our climate. However, I have a greenhouse available for starter plants if need be.

I plan to plant the old standbys like carrots, beans and peas, of course, (I will plant potatoes in the ground not far away) but what else would you suggest? I'm going to stay away from large-leafed plants, like kale, in order to grow a larger variety in the ones I choose. I'm hoping that the garden will be successful enough that the 60-some people who live in these units will become interested in staking out some of the space for themselves

I have gardened most of my life so I'm familiar with various problems as well as perks but I'd love to hear stories.