Planting options for June: Vegetables, salads, and flowers to cultivate this month
In the heat of June, numerous gardening possibilities bloom! This month is primetime for planting a diverse array of flowers and crops that will keep your garden buzzing all summer long and even into the chillier months. Here's what you should be growing during this midpoint of the gardening season:
What to sow in June - vegetables, fruits, and more
June is all about preparing for the fall and winter ahead, while taking advantage of the bounty from earlier plantings. Here are the fruits (and veggies) of your labor you should be planting this month:
Vegetables (let's get to the good stuff!)
✅ Summer cabbage: These varieties can provide you with cabbages all year round if you take care and protect them from pests. Space them 13 inches apart and enjoy the crunch of these tasty greens through the season!✅ Radishes: Say goodbye to sad store-bought radishes and learn how to grow these peppery, crunchy delights yourself! Sow them in June and enjoy a delicious, homegrown snack in as little as a few weeks.✅ Okra: Known as ladies' fingers, okra thrives in hot weather—especially in the southern states. If you're eager to learn how to grow this heat-loving crop, you can use seedlings to speed up its growing time by about 3 weeks. Space them 10 inches apart to keep them happy in the sunniest spot in your backyard.
Did you know? The term "sow" in gardening parlance means to plant seeds, not small animals!
Salads that'll make yousing
By attending to your greenhouse plans, you can enjoy an abundance of fresh salads for your daily meal. Here are some greens that'll do the trick:
Chicory:
A versatile and nutritious leafy green, chicory can be cooked or eaten raw. Its distinctively bittersweet flavor adds an unexpected zing to your meal. Plant its seeds directly in the ground in a sunny spot during June.
Lettuce:
Homemade lettuce is far tastier than store-bought and is worth the effort! You can sow lettuce seeds directly in your vegetable garden in June for a continuous harvest throughout the summer. Space your plants apart depending on the variety, and don't forget to pick the outer leaves to allow the inner ones to grow.
Mizuna:
Mizuna is a Japanese leafy green that possesses a tangy, slightly peppery cabbage flavor. Use it in stir-fries, soups, salads, and more. This cool-weather crop does well in June, especially if given some shade during the hottest days.
Brighten up your garden with June flowers
As the days grow longer and the weather becomes balmy, flowers start popping up everywhere! Here are some suggestions for your cutting garden:
Foxglove - Digitalis purpurea 'Sutton's Apricot':
These classic cottage garden plants attract pollinators like bees and provide beautiful cut flowers. Plant its tiny, dust-like seeds in June and enjoy a delightful apricot-hued bloom with peonies.
Wallflower - Erysimum 'Winter Orchid':
Fragrant wallflowers come in rich colors and add an intoxicating scent to your garden. Look for the soft yellow 'Winter Orchid' variety that blooms from spring to summer.
Honesty - Lunaria annua 'Chedglow':
This unique black-crimson leafed variety of honesty offers striking architectural value in your garden, and its silvery pods can be used in dried flower arrangements. Whether you choose to grow it in pots or in the ground, it will stand out in your June bouquets!
- Incorporate raised beds into your garden ideas this June for a convenient way to grow vegetables like summer cabbage, radishes, and okra.
- By sowing vegetables such as these in June, you can ensure a continuous supply of fresh produce for your cooking needs throughout the summer and into the fall.
- In addition to vegetables, consider planting chicory, lettuce, and mizuna for a variety of fresh salads that will enhance your lifestyle and food-and-drink choices.
- To add color and fragrance to your home-and-garden, consider flower options like foxglove, wallflower, and honesty, which are suitable for planting in June and can be used in both fresh and dried arrangements.
