I've been using raised beds for vegetables for the past 15 years. I had untreated wood beds but as they rotted, I replaced them with 3x6 galvanized beds. They were cheap (about half of what they sell for today) and fun to assemble. Changing from wood eliminated slug problems. The reflective metal beds kept the beds cooler in the summer heat.
The raised beds generally pose some problems though.
I fight tree roots and twice a year I would till the beds and remove roots that were leaching nutrients and moisture.
In this climate, the demand for moisture has been a challenge. I placed raised barrels at the head of each bed so I could water on site as needed.
I live with pets and find that loose soil attracts cats. My Sugar dog likes to bed down in them so when planting, I use all manner of wire baskets, cattle panels, etc., to deter the pets.
The beds seem to attract fire ants. When there is excess rainfall, they move to higher ground in the raised beds. As I don't want to use chemicals around foods and pets, I use boiling water to discourage them. Unfortunately, it does damage some of the plantings as well.
This year I noticed that some of the beds have rusted through and look like Swiss cheese.
While prepping one of the beds for spring planting, I found a coral snake had taken up residence by entering through the ground level hole. That was the final straw.
The past two seasons I had dabbled with Earth Boxes keeping a pair in the greenhouse for winter tomatoes. Last summer I trialed some for the tomato crop and was successful beyond my gardening dreams. 
Production was so much better than those in the raised beds. Logic convinced me that using these planters should eliminate many of the raised bed headaches. Easier to hydrate, pets can't use them, fire ants can't move into them, no slug or snail headaches, no tree roots and hopefully no reptiles.
I removed the first rotting bed and set the planters in place. This year I am growing more tomatoes, two winter squash and two summer squash in the planters. As I replace the galvanized beds, I will try to add more planters.
Oh yes... the anticipation.
I moved plants out of the greenhouse and to my shock I already have flower buds on some of the Epiphyllum. I have never had buds this early. I hope they don't blast. I am anxious to see the blooms as these two have not bloomed for me before. Cannot wait!
Also I was gifted an amaryllis bulb over a year ago that was coated in wax. After asking questions among those with knowledge, I chose to peel the wax off. I found it was enclosed in a balloon type skin under the wax coating which I also removed. I let it remain dormant in the cool greenhouse with virtually no moisture this winter. When I moved plants out, I set it outdoors and ignored it. Now I find the slowest developing flower stem and bud. I can hardly wait to see the color and the bloom.
Roselle is a favorite summer bloomer and St. Kitts has been my chosen cultivar.
" The greatest pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him, and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself, too." -Samuel Butler
In this case it is a her... she is most fun.
I am an inveterate note maker. It gets me through life from notes at work or notes at home. Lists to do. Items to purchase. Things to research.
Many times in the garden, I have neglected to make notes so hopefully this will be my list.
This is the first year using earth boxes. I like them but learned
• USE MOSQUITO BITS IN THE WATER RESERVOIR.
Lots of BER on the tomatoes in the earth boxes. Not a problem on the tomatoes in ground. Next season Calcium Nitrate added to the water reservoir. 1 tsp. in the water reservoir weekly.
In 2023 I trialed a few tomatoes in the earth boxes.
•Kewalo SPRAWLS TOO MUCH.
Sleeping lady is stocky and LISTS even when tied up.
First ripe tomatoes were delivered by Sleeping Lady.
Bella Rosa is a nice sized plant and loaded with fruit.
I like the posture of the Jamestown tomato but it ended up as a monster plant.
On the raised beds, the one that stands out is the yellow Brandywine. Few blooms and no pollination. •DO NOT GROW AGAIN.
•WASPS LIKE THE WIND CHIME AND THE BOTTLES ON THE BOTTLE TREE.
BUSH CUCUMBERS ARE NOT VERY PRODUCTIVE IN THIS CLIMATE. THEY PROVIDED EATERS BUT NOTHING MORE.
•GOING BACK TO THE OLD STANDBY EARLY CLUSTER.
•CUMIN GERMINÀTED WELL AND MELTED. I DON'T KNOW IF HEAT, HUMIDITY OR RAIN DID IT IN.
•FAVORITE ROSELLE ~ ST. KITTS
• BEGONIAS HAVE SOME COMPETITION THIS YEAR. I LOVE THE BRIGHT COLORS of ZINNIAS, especially Zahara.
A synopsis for the tomato crop this year:
Jamestown. Dealt me misery with BER. One plant, 26 nice sized fruit. Would have been better if I hadn't had to discard the BER damaged.
Kewalo Two plants delivered 32 tomatoes. The sizes were erratic from big to small. Inconsistent.
Sleeping Lady. I love the mellow taste of this gal. Two plants delivered 95 tomatoes. They ate and canned well.
Bella Rosa. 2 well behaved size plants gave me 34 fruit. A good deal of BER.
Sweet Florida Orange 23 fruit a pleasant mild taste and smaller fruit. In ground.
Yellow Brandywine in ground. No production and nevermore.
Garden Peach. 25 fruit in ground.
Summer Best 5 fruit. This was a pretty, well shaped flawless tomato of moderate size
LA Red. In ground, 9 fruit. Small size.
LA Pink in ground, 4 fruit. Small size.
LA Gulf State in ground, 9 fruit. Small size.
No discernable difference between any of the LA tomatoes.
Hillbilly is a beautiful color. Yellow with red streaks. A delightful, clear taste. Not sure why but reminiscent of citrus.
So seeds have been started for the 2024 season.
I will be growing two of the Hillbillies in earth boxes. I am planning on six of the Sleeping Ladies in earth boxes. I also started twelve Sleeping Ladies for a friend who loved them when I shared last year.
In the greenhouse this winter I have two plants of Black Gum Drop which is more cold sensitive, less productive and a bit too tart for my tastes. I also have two Black Cherries which I adore. The same temperature and the same treatment as the Gum Drop but these are not as sensitive to colder temps and far more willing to produce. The fruits of the Black Cherry have a mellow taste that doesn't assault the taste buds when I nibble them. I haven't decided to try a summer crop of cherry tomatoes yet.
I do have my mind made up and the rest of the seeds in hand for the summer planting season ahead. For now, it is just a waiting game.
Plant info:
http://rslandscapedesign.blogs...
https://joegardener.com/podcas...
https://www.gardenmyths.com/al...
https://www.zone3vegetablegard...
https://www.begonias.org/resou...
https://www.tomatodirt.com/fer...
https://rosydawngardens.com/pa...
https://www.tomatodirt.com/fer...
https://www.tomatobible.com/to...
Fun and useful links:
https://birdcast.info/migratio...
https://learn.eartheasy.com/gu...
https://poweroutage.us/
https://ansonrecord.com/news/9...
http://corad.org/texas_radar_m...
https://todayshomeowner.com/la...
https://www.attainable-sustain...
https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/gtwo....
https://www.outdoorlife.com/ph...
Recipes and foods:
https://garden.org/thread/view...
https://nesfp.nutrition.tufts....
https://laurenslatest.com/fail...
https://glycemic-index.net/gly...
Otherwise links:
https://www.betterbones.com/fr...
https://goop.com/wellness/heal...
