2011 Garden Planning

I'm planning to plant mostly flowers this year. I may plant a tomato plant or two in the actual yard (as opposed to containers). I'm considering a cucumber plant in the biggest container I have (I think it's about 7 gallons). The squash and the cucumbers seemed to do pretty well, even though they never produced any veggies and they seemed to have some wilting issues in the summer heat.

I haven't completely decided what I will do with the garden this summer, though. Unfortunately, all of the plants from last summer died prematurely. The picture from June is the best of the plants. The tomato plants never grew normal sized tomatoes in the containers.

So, here's my thoughts:
(2) 7 gallon containers: squash & cucumbers
(4) 5 gallon containers: tulips and other flowers
(2) 3.5 gallon containers: herbs and flowers
Tomato plant in the yard
Maybe a blackberry bush in the yard

Here are my questions:
Will tulip bulbs survive the winter in our basement in the 5 gallon containers?
What are the best flowers for my 5 gallon containers?
What herbs do I want to grow?

Changes in the Garden....Coming Soon to a Blog Near You!

So, Chuck at Lowe's thinks I'm crazy for growing squash, cucumbers, and blackberries in a container garden. I'm thinking about transplanting the blackberry bush in the apartment's yard (which means it would not move with us when we move). I'm not quite sure where I would plant it, yet. And, it would free up a planter for squash or cucumbers.

I'm also planning to transplant most of the squash and cucumbers so they aren't overcrowded. I haven't quite decided about the transplanting, yet, but hopefully, I'll have it figured out before I start tonight!