Hi everyone.

I recently purchased my first home and will be moving in on May 27th.

It has a very large, slightly sloped backyard and I live in
Cincinnati, if anyone is familiar with the climate and strange weather
we have here it may be helpful I guess.

I haven't had a garden since I was a kid, so there is a lot I don't
remember.

Can anyone give advice on what to do to get a start on a garden for
next year, and how to plan my garden now?

What I would like to grow is:

Carrots
Lettuce
Tomatos (cherry and plum)
Corn (couple staulks)
Green Peppers
Green Onions
Onions
Banana Peppers (can you grow those in the US?)

I would also like to try some strawberries because in the back portion
of my yard is a pretty good slope in a shady area and I remember from
being a kid that they grow best in the shade and on a hill. I would
also like to try to grow some blueberries and maybe some blackberries.

In addition to all that (as if that's not enough) I would like to try
a little herb garden with some garlic, mint, cilantro, ginger,
parsley, and bay leaves. Would the herbs be best off in the garden or
should I try that in a window box?

I do plan also on starting a compost pile for use next year.

I guess one of my biggest hinderences to the yard preperation this
year might be that we have 17 year locusts, and this summer is the
17th year so they will be swarming. Does anyone know if this is really
a hinderence or just an annoyance?

Well... I guess I have written a long enough post here. I will try to
shorten them in the future, I am just pretty excited about it I guess.

Thank you in advance for your assistance everyone!

Cinnamon L - Cincinnati Ohio