Big space you got there. So excited to see your plants grow😍 And thanks for letting us know about the french drain. It's my first time hearing about it and it seems to be a practical thing to do.

As for plants for beginners, I suggest the butterfly pea. I'm no expert gardener but it's very easy to grow and propagate. You don't need to water it everyday. If you want to propagate it, you can plant the dried seeds from bean pods. Sometimes, I don't even bother 'cause I see them sprouting on my garden on their own. The best thing about them, though is they flower almost everyday which you can make into tea.