What to plant in June
Find out which vegetables, flowers, fruit, trees and shrubs you can plant in June.
It's not too late to get started in the garden in June. It's a great month to sow seeds directly outdoors and get young plants into the ground. It's time to plant out any tender crops and annuals that are still in the greenhouse, such as tomatoes, as well as fill hanging baskets and containers with bedding plants. Both air and soil temperatures are high at this time of year, which will give plants a good start. Bear in mind, however, that dry periods and drought can inhibit plant growth, due to the lack of moisture in the soil. Keep an eye on new plants and seedlings and provide extra water when necessary.
Lots of vegetable and flower seeds can be sown in June, including sweetcorn, outdoor cucumbers and night-scented stock, either to crop or bloom within a few weeks or – in the case of biennials like foxgloves – to overwinter for the following summer. Bedding plants can be used to fill hanging baskets and containers with summer colour. Seeds of flowering annuals sown in June will provide a splash of colour in late-summer to autumn, after many others have finished blooming. It's also possible to plant out shrubs and perennials this month, but make sure you water them regularly especially during hot weather.
Although June is a good time for planting out many vegetables, perennials and shrubs, it's too late to plant out bare-root plants, and it's not a great time of year to plant out trees. It is possible to plant out container grown trees and shrubs year-r0und, but it's harder for plants to establish in the hot and dry conditions of summer. There are also fewer fruits to plant in June, but it is a good time to plant out fruit sown indoors, such as outdoor melons.
The best flowers to plant in June, include perennials that are long flowering, such as hardy geraniums, so you can enjoy a display, despite planting later in the year, or bedding plants such as lobelia which will fill containers with colour for weeks on end. Summer and autumn-flowering bulbs are best planted between April and May, although it is possible to plant nerines, for flowers in autumn.
Here are some recommendations for some of the best things you can plant in June, including flowers, vegetables, fruit and shrubs.
You will need:
Many seeds can be sown outside at this time of year, and the last of the tender plants can be planted outside, which reduces the amount of kit you'll need but here's a few recommendations for tools you might need and some greenhouse advice.
- Tools, pots and supports: now that your seedlings are ready to plant out, you'll find that a hand trowel is a great tool for the job. Our expert testers have put a range of styles through their paces to find the best garden hand trowels, so you can buy in confidence. If you're looking to create eye-catching containers with your homegrown plants, we've also selected the best eco friendly plant pots, while our pick of decorative garden obelisks and plant supports will help keep your sweet peas looking in tip top condition.
- Greenhouse: for those of you who have been toying with the idea of a greenhouse, we’ve got handy guides packed with information about how to choose the best greenhouse, as well as 12 of the most useful greenhouse accessories. No outside space? No problem – our round-up of the best indoor greenhouses is just for you.
Vegetables to grow in June
Pak choi
When to harvest: May to August.
How to grow: Pak choi is a leafy vegetable, perfect for adding crisp texture and fresh taste to salads and stir-fries, with a flavour similar to something inbetween cabbage and spinach. Sow direct in shallow drills or in pots. Now's also a good time to plant out young pak choi plants sown last month.
- How to grow pak choi
- Buy pak-choi seeds from Suttons and Thompson & Morgan
Spring onions
When to harvest: April to October.
How to grow: Spring onions can be sown from March to August, and successional sowings every few weeks will ensure you have a continuous crop. Sow direct into shallow drills about 1cm deep. Thin seedlings to 2.5-5cm apart and keep well watered. Spring onions also do well in containers.
- How to grow spring onions
- Buy spring onion seeds from Suttons and Thompson & Morgan
Broccoli
When to harvest: July to November depending on variety.
How to grow: June is a good time to plant out winter brassica seedlings. This is also the latest you can sow calabrese (the dome-headed broccoli). Sow direct in well-prepared soil or into multi-celled trays to plant out later. Purple sprouting broccoli, which is sown between April and mid June will be ready to harvest between January and May the following year.
- How to grow broccoli
- Buy broccoli seed from Thompson & Morgan and Crocus
Florence fennel
When to harvest: July to October.
How to grow: Florence fennel can be sown direct between April and July. Successional sowings every couple of weeks from May to July should ensure harvests from around August to October. Sow into well-prepared soil and thin the seedlings to 30cm. Florence fennel thrives in moist conditions so keep plants well watered.
- How to grow Florence fennel
- Buy Florence fennel from Suttons, Sarah Raven and Crocus
Pumpkins
When to harvest: September to October.
How to grow: Early June is your last chance to sow pumpkins to provide them with sufficient warm days to develop size and good flavour. If you live in Scotland or a cold area it would be better to sow earlier to ensure a long enough growing season. Remember to choose your seeds wisely. Large pumpkin cultivars are often bred for size alone, so if you're growing pumpkins to eat, choose a cultivar that's known for flavour. Sow direct into fertile soil or into individual pots to plant out later. Alternatively, plug plants can be planted out this month.
Peas
When to harvest: June to October.
How to grow: Peas can be sown direct outdoors in June. Improve the soil before you sow your peas, digging in some compost or well-rotted manure. Dig a shallow trench around 20-25cm wide and sow peas 3cm deep. Sow them 7-10cm apart in two parallel lines.
- How to grow peas
- Buy peas from Thompson & Morgan and Suttons
Courgettes
When to harvest: July to October.
How to grow: this month is your last chance to sow courgettes direct outdoors if you want to ensure a long enough growing season. It's also a good month to plant out courgette seedlings grown indoors. Choose a warm, sunny spot. Harden off young plants first before moving permanently outdoors. Sow courgettes 2.5cm deep and space 90cm apart. Keep plants well watered and feed every two weeks, once they start flowering, with tomato fertiliser.
- How to grow courgettes
Buy courgettes from Sarah Raven and Thompson & Morgan
Flowers to grow in June
Poached egg plant, Limnanthes
Flowers: June to September.
How to grow: Sow seed shallowly in well prepared soil. Choose a bed in a sunny spot. With its distinctive white and yellow flowers, the aptly named poached egg plant (Limnanthes douglasii) is a lovely hardy annual to grow. It should self-seed freely and naturalise in the garden.
- How to grow poached egg plant
- Buy poached egg plant from Thompson & Morgan and Crocus
Nasturtiums, Tropaeolum
Flowers: June to September
How to grow: Colourful and easy to grow, nasturtiums are great for filling borders and training to climb up a trellis. They also work well as companion plants for veg crops, including French beans, soybeans and runner beans. Sow seed 1.5m deep, 10cm apart. Once seedlings emerge, thin to 30cm apart.
- How to grow nasturtiums
- Buy nasturtium seed from Thompson & Morgan and Crocus
Coreopsis
Flowers: June to October
How to grow: June is the last month of the year for sowing coreopsis outdoors. Try 'Incredible Dwarf Mixed' (pictured), which produces a froth of attractive, cheery flowers. Sow direct where they are to flower, scattering seed on a to a well-prepared bed. Coreopsis is one of the best plants for containers, too.
- How to grow coreopsis
- Buy coreopsis from Thompson & Morgan and Crocus
Night-scented stock, Matthiola longipetala
Flowers: June to October
How to grow: Night-scented stock can still be sown now, to ensure you have blooms right up until the first frosts. Sow direct into beds that have been weeded and raked smooth. Scatter the seed and then rake over lightly. Once seedlings emerge, thin them out to around 20cm apart. Deadhead regularly to encourage a further flush of colour.
- How to grow night-scented stock
- Buy night-scented stock from Thompson & Morgan and Mr Fothergill's
Hardy geraniums
Flowers: June to October
How to grow: buy a potted hardy geranium such as Geranium 'Rozanne', one of the varieties which flowers all through the summer into autumn. Plant it in a spot that gets sun to partial shade, with the top of the rootball level with the surrounding soil. Water well after planting, and regularly until established.
- How to grow hardy geraniums
- Buy hardy geraniums from Sarah Raven and Mr Fothergill's
Lobelia
Flowers: June to September
How to grow: June is a good month to plant out lobelia – either seedlings that you have grown on indoors, or plug plants from the garden centre. Harden off indoor grown plants before planting out, to get them used to outdoor conditions. Plug plants bought now should be big enough to plant straight into hanging baskets or containers.
- How to grow lobelia
- Buy lobelia from Suttons and Thompson & Morgan
Mexican fleabane, Erigeron karvinskianus
Flowers: June to October
How to grow: this is a good choice if you're looking for new perennials to buy at the garden centre this month. It flowers for months and will self seed around the garden, creating more plants for free. Plant Mexican fleabane in sun or partial shade, in free draining soil.
- How to grow Erigeron karvinskianus
- Buy Mexican fleabane from Sarah Raven and Crocus
Cosmos
Flowers: July to October
How to grow: June is a good month to plant out cosmos seedlings or plug plants now that the danger of frost is over. Plant in sunny borders or containers, in well-drained soil. Choose shorter varieties for pots as many cosmos can grow over a metre tall. Compact varieties such as 'Sonata White' reach around 60cm.
- How to grow cosmos
- Buy cosmos from Sarah Raven and Thompson & Morgan
Fruit to grow in June
Melons
When to harvest: July to September
How to grow: It's too late to sow melons this month, but it is the perfect time to plant out melon seedlings, either into greenhouse borders, or outdoors, depending on which variety you are growing. Nurseries online often sell garden-ready melon plants. Cantaloupe varieties are best for outdoor growing - check first that the variety is suitable before planting and choose a sunny, sheltered position.
- How to grow melons
- Buy melons from Thompson & Morgan and Mr Fothergill's
Trees and shrubs to grow in June
June is not the best time to plant trees. The ideal time to plant a tree is between October and April when trees are dormant. Avoid planting trees when the ground is frozen or waterlogged. The best time to plant shrubs is in the autumn or spring, when the weather is not too hot and the soil is moist. However, you can plant potted shrubs in June if you keep them well watered after planting.
Hebe
Flowers: June to September
How to grow: plant hebes in a sunny or partially shaded spot that has free draining soil. Avoid planting in heavy soil that is prone to waterlogging. Plant so that the top of the rootball is level with the surrounding soil and firm in well. Water after planting, and regularly in hot weather until the plant is established.
- How to grow hebes
- Buy hebe from Crocus and Thompson & Morgan
Fuchsia
Flowers: June to October
How to grow: Fuchsias thrive in the sun, but will also grow in partial shade. This low-maintenance shrub provides months of colour, whether in a pot, grown as a hedge or as a focal plant in a border. Plant in well drained soil and water well after planting. Add a layer of mulch to hold in the moisture. Keep the plant well watered until it's established.
- How to grow fuchsias
- Buy fuchsia from Crocus and Thompson & Morgan
Pittosporum
Flowers: May to July
How to grow: Most pittosporum are grown for their foliage, which is evergreen and comes in a variety of colours including purple, silver and green. Many types are hardy and simply need to be planted in a sunny spot, but there are some, such as Pittosporum tobira, which may need winter protection.
- How to grow pittosporum
- Buy fuchsia from Crocus and Thompson & Morgan
