What should I plant here?

[placidscene]

I live in North West Arkansas.
We bought 2 acres here with a very large garden area at the top of our property. In July when we moved in, we were picking bushels of tamatos.
We would have had other vegetables, but the previous owners had let the gardens go and they were completely overgrown with weeds. There had been patatoes, onions, green beans, jalapenos, bell peppers, cabbage, cucumbers and several other things. We were able to salvage some of it.

I am wondering what I should plant here and when we should start. I moved from south central Texas. A much warmer and dryer climate to say the least.

Also, at the bottom of our property, there is a spring house. We don't own it, but the water table is at the soil level. When I dug fence posts down there, I had to pour in the concrete dry and mix it in the hole because the water table is only 3 inches down. There is a large area there that is constantly muddy, it hasn't dried out since I bought this place.
I am trying to figure out what I can plant there to make that a useful area of the property. It is mostly shaded because there are very large oak trees there. I was thinking onions? Maybe other bulb plants, or lettuce? Any help would be appreciated. I have never lived somewhere that the ground is not cracked from drought!

[Old Vet]

Any root crop you can start them in Early March The other crops you will start at when the last frost is done usually after Easter. You should start cabbage and Broccoli earlier.

[Use Less]

Ask around your neighborhood or the closest Extension agent for ideas on what grows well in your new area, including varieties. I would consider building raised beds in an area with that much water. Rot can be as much a problem as anything else in low-lying spots in areas that get rain.

[charged]

Cattail - edible
Taro - edible
Rice - edible

[placidscene]

I am not familiar with Taro? What is that?

Cattail is native here, I haven't ever eaten it, although I know it was a staple in the Native American diet and it is a very useful survival plant.

I had considered rice, but wasn't sure how difficult it would be to harvest. Cutting, drying, threshing and so forth sounds like a lot of work. I would prefer something that was a little more pick and eat friendly.

[placidscene]

Use Less (love the double meaning in your name by the way)

What is an Extension office? I have stated before in another thread, I grew up learning how to live in the woods, but we never were around people. My Dad relied on his hard work for income, and we had access to a couple thousand acres through a trade deal he had worked out with a rancher at the time. That is where we hunted and I learned most of my skills. Farming and cultivating is where I am the weakest.

[Grandmotherbear]

The Extension office is under your state land grant university a source for assisting with farming and gardening. Here in Florida they have grow sheets on major and minor vegetables and run Master Gardener classes, etc. Google your state name & extension service to find out what they can do in your area.
Investigate ground nuts, apios Americana also known as katniss, They are perennials, like damp soil and shade, were a major food resource for ameri-inds ( First Nationers?) and someone at Louisiana State was trying to develop to get em larger sized, conventional wisdom is not to harvest the first 3 years to let em increase in size. I believe someone on Gardenweb had the larger tubers and was trying to give them away last spring.
Check out www.groundnutgardens.com for more info.

In my 18 gallon tubs from Walmart I'm growing for my table wapato, lotus, and water chestnuts. I obtained a lotus tuber that had lost its identification from Van Ness Water Gardens in California and have currently between the lake cabin and the city house a dozen tubs with lotus. I do cook lots of stir fries, so I do use them up.
Doesn't fuki like damp also? read Eric toensmeier book on Perennial Vegetables, he'll have a lot of suggestions for you.

[placidscene]

I did find this website last night that seems to be very helpful for what to plant and what time of year to plant it last night after I made my initial post here.

http://www.uaex.edu/yard-garden/vege...spx#factsheets