ask PHS

Lucky you! First, I have to admit that I am a big proponent of front yard vegetable gardens.  The possibilites are practically limitless for planting in this exposure, but since this is a front yard, you want to plan this carefully so that plants like pumpkins and watermelons don't overtake the space and grow beyond the limits that you establish, and what you finally do decide to plant is manageable and well planted.  I always go with tomatoes, perhaps because that's what I like to grow, along with basil.  There are so many varieties that would work well in a front yard, including cherry tomatoes that produce abundantly and require less space than some of the larger tomatoes. Peppers and some squashes such as zucchini and summer squash would work well, as would some eggplant varieties.  Bush cucumbers, beets and broccoli would be interesting possibilities. Herbs would be lovely accompaniments, and you could keep them tidy by cutting them regularly and using them.  The old standards of rosemary, thyme, sage, and parsley or coriander are good examples. Try some strawberries; you could grow them in strawberry pots, or there are now nice supports that keep the strawberres off the ground.  Blueberries also are now available for container growing.   I think a SW exposure would be too extreme for lettuces during the height of the summer, but you could start them in the cooler weather and then replant them when it gets cooler.  It's nice to think about integrating the veggies with roses and  low growing, flowering  shrubs such as  potentilla, and various perennials, such as chrysanthemums,  to create color.  Annuals do well as borders or as companions to the veggies and also add a splash of color.  However, after all that is said, planning is the key to a successful and beautiful front yard garden, and now is the time to be doing that.  There is lots of information online, as well as in the library.  Also, check with your gardening friends and neighbors;  they are always excellent resources.  Good luck.