First Garden

This is my first year ever to have a real garden, and even tho I've gotten carried away with all kinds of bean seeds and other things, I realize it is going to be called a trial-and-error garden this year so I will know what to expect next year. Question #1: I live in western MA and was wondering if anyone has been able to successfully grow things like red or pinto beans. I know they need long growing seasons and like hot weather. Where I live we only really get two good hot months. Because I am somewhat disabled, many things will be grown in pots on sawhorses and other things that are being 'repurposed' from a neighbor's shed. I thought of making some trellises from some fallen limbs nearby I've seen, and beans and cukes etc can grow on them. I think I am also going to try making a wattle fence, again repurposing small branches. Question #2: Besides the usual garden items, i.e. tomatoes, cuke, squash, beans, and some herbs mixed in as companions, what are other ideas to plant that would be good in containers and not require a whole lot of room? Right now I have several pots I got from the dollar store, and some things like carrots and potatoes will be planted in large totes. Thanks for any advice.

I would suggest going ahead and tryingto plant the beans to see what happens.

I would just buy a bag of beans at the grocery store to cook and save a few beans to plants.

for your second question about planting in containers.  I always plant lettuce, lemon balm, and parsley in containers.

A neat idea for potatoes that I saw here on the forum was to plant the potatoes in cardboard boxes.  That was so when you are ready to harvest the box is picked up and the potatoes fall out.  Just such an easy way to harvest potatoes with no digging.

Happy gardening!