In the early spring I fill the top with weed free hay from under the rabbit cages and plant some of my potatoes in the bins. The potato plants grow out the top and the holes of the bin. Fill with hay as the plants grow. I do water these if there's no consistent rain as they will dry out before the ground soil will. I plant my cukes and pole beans by the garden fence to trellis them off the ground.
Cukes are straighter and easier to find.
I also hang a shade cloth from the top of the fence out to an angle to provide shade for the cukes. Interplant with herbs - the grasshoppers are back, but no one had to tell you that. I've found they love my comfrey and clary sage but ignore my tomato bed right beside the herbs. Compost - one of the most important soil amendments. If you feel you can't have a compost bin, do row composting.