I saw a recent post about gherkins on the Vegetable forum. Those are pickling cukes? If they are viners, you could put both in the 16" but find some way to support/trellis them. For eggplants, usually the biggest of them can go into a 12" easily and yours may be smaller ones (my sister grows asian ones - I started some "Orient Charm" for her and just planted them out yesterday - and they don't get that big), so something that size (which is about a 5 gallon equivalent) should be okay. This is her first time veggie growing in raised beds (we just planted a bunch of things yesterday) so it should be interesting how that turns out and you'll probably enjoy yours too once they are ready!

Looking for Mexican Sour Gherkin (can't get old seeds started) and any gomphrena seeds especially those called Strawberry Fields Forever. My trade list is somewhat incomplete with flowers and other veggies missing.

Nancy-0-sorry for the delay. Awesome list and I am embarrassed to say I have nothing....interested in any Russian heirlooms? I will update my list

I highly recommend growing mouse melons. They climb very readily and have tendrils. My single plant is extremely vigorous, and is, to some extent all through my 6'x10' raised garden bed, and at least 6' up a trellis. Pretty sure it would be taking over the lawn if it was allowed. It is in a sense small and delicate, the vines are lightweight and delicate, and I don't think it would be too hard to keep it smaller/ more under control than I have. I think you could grow them on a low trellis, though a taller one probably makes better use of space and makes harvesting a little easier. My mouse melon sprawls in all directions and is very happy to grow on the ground as well as up the trellis and over other plants... They compete very effectively with other plants! I direct seeded my mouse melon in early October (Spring here), begun harvesting mid January. The harvest has been increasing exponentially ever since. It is a difficult to keep up. I have pickled some, and given plenty away. I'm wondering if anyone has experience with what happens to a Mouse melon plant in a mild frostless winter? Three weeks till winter here, and it keeps growing. I wonder will it die back? Stop fruiting at some minimum temperature?