Spring layout
Lino Lakes, MN · Two 3×6 ft raised beds · Chain-link fence along back · Last frost ~May 15
Bed A — Climbers, Kale & Greens
⛓ chain-link fence
↑ Back (fence) · ↓ Front (walkway)
Bed B — Brassicas, Peppers, Carrots & Greens
⛓ chain-link fence
PEPPER/BRASSICA ZONE ← left · CARROT ZONE → right
↑ Back (fence) · ↓ Front (walkway)
Tiered Planter — Spring (0.5×3 ft per tier)
TOP TIER — full sun · herbs & green onions
MIDDLE TIER — partial shade · lettuce
BOTTOM TIER — most depth · jalapeños, chives, basil
50% compost + 50% perlite mix · no topsoil · ensure drainage holes before filling
Layout notes: Broccoli in Bed B's middle row — frost tolerant, plant now, done by late June then replace with bush beans. Jalapeños in tiered planter bottom tier after May 15. Top tier is a full cooking herb station: green onions, rosemary, oregano, and cilantro.
Summer swaps
What changes once the heat arrives — mid June onward
Bed A — Summer
⛓ chain-link fence
↑ Back (fence) · ↓ Front (walkway)
Bed B — Summer
⛓ chain-link fence
PEPPER ZONE ← left · CARROT ZONE → right
↑ Back (fence) · ↓ Front (walkway)
Tiered Planter — Summer
TOP TIER
MIDDLE TIER
BOTTOM TIER
Water daily in peak summer — shallow tiers dry out faster than raised beds
Summer swaps: Snap peas out → bush beans in (Bed A back row). Broccoli done by late June → direct sow bush beans in that same Bed B cell. Bolted spinach swaps to lettuce in Bed B. Peppers and strawberries stay all season. Kale holds in both beds through October.
Full planting schedule
What to do and when — April through October
Growing tips
Variety recommendations, harvest techniques, and seasonal advice

🥦 Kale — the season-long workhorse

Kale is the most productive plant in this layout per square foot over the full season. Always harvest outer leaves first — the center growing point keeps pushing new leaves all summer. Flavor actually improves after the first frost as cold converts starches to sugar. Varieties like Lacinato (dinosaur kale) or Red Russian are excellent for MN.

🌿 Spinach, lettuce & kale — staggered harvest

Spinach bolts first in June heat, lettuce hangs on a couple weeks longer, and kale keeps going through October. Staggered harvest windows mean you'll have fresh greens continuously from late April through frost — no glut all at once.

🥬 Best leaf lettuce varieties for MN

Black Seeded Simpson — fast, light green, heat tolerant. Red Sails — beautiful burgundy, bolt-resistant. Salad Bowl — oak-leaf type, cut-and-come-again for weeks. A mix of two adds color to both the garden and the plate.

✂️ Harvest greens the right way

For spinach, lettuce, and kale: always harvest outer leaves first, leaving the center growing point intact. This keeps each plant producing for weeks or months. Only pull the whole plant when it bolts — you'll see a tall center stalk shoot up rapidly.

🥒 Cucumbers — consistency is everything

Inconsistent watering causes bitter cucumbers — keep moisture steady with a drip timer. Trellis vertically along the fence to save bed space and improve air circulation, which reduces powdery mildew. Pick at 6–8 inches and harvest every 2–3 days at peak — leaving cucumbers on the vine stops new production entirely.

🎃 Mini pumpkins — managing the vines

Even "mini" varieties send vines 4–6 feet in every direction. Allow them to spill north over the bed edge into the lawn. Limit to 4–6 fruits per plant by pinching extra flowers. Hand-pollinate early flowers using a small brush to transfer pollen from male to female flowers (female flowers have a tiny proto-pumpkin at the base).

🍓 Strawberries — year 1 vs year 2

First-year harvest is intentionally light. Consider pinching off some early flowers to strengthen the plant's root system for much heavier production in year 2. Trim runners mid-summer to redirect energy into fruit. Strawberries are perennial and return every spring — a one-time purchase.

💧 Watering system

Use adjustable drip emitters (0–10 GPH) on individual plants, inline drip line for pea/bean and carrot rows, and flag emitters for shallow-rooted plants like spinach and strawberries. Set timer for early morning (5–7am) — morning watering lets foliage dry during the day, reducing mildew. Hand water the tiered planter daily.

🪵 Cedar mulch — use natural only

Use natural undyed cedar mulch for the middle fill layer. Avoid colored/dyed cedar mulch — it's often made from recycled wood waste including treated lumber containing chemicals. Look for bags labeled "natural cedar mulch" or "virgin cedar mulch."

Purchasing guide
Everything you need to buy, when to buy it, and where
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Lino Lakes, MN · Zone 5a · checks sync across all devices
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