Here's What to Plant in June in the Garden

Just as Memorial Day typically marks the start of summer break for school children, the end of May and beginning of June often mean an important transition in your garden: the change from one growing season to the next.

If you live in a colder climate, you're entering your warm season—and that means your next couple months will be filled with tomatoes, cucumbers, and so many of the other yummy things we think of as quintessentially summer crops.

If you live in a warmer climate, you're entering your hot season, but don't sweat it. There are still plenty of things you can grow in your kitchen garden over the next couple of months that can stand the heat.

Before we get into which fruits, vegetables, herbs, and leafy greens you can plant this month, let's make sure you know which growing season you're beginning.

Step One: Chart Your Highs and Lows

It’s time to use the internet to become further acquainted with your climate.

Google the average high and low temperatures for your town, county, city, or zip code for the months of June and July. If you’re in the United States, U.S. Climate Data is a helpful website that’s easy to use. Otherwise, you can search RSS Weather.

Step Two: Define Your Season

Rather than your garden zone, the goal is to understand your particular growing seasons. Once you know your seasons, you’ll have a better idea of what’s possible when in your unique garden, and to understand your seasons, all you need to know is the general weather for each month of the year in your area.  

We've moved into our warm season in the Chicago area, and my friends down in Houston are already feeling the arrival of their hot season.

Here's a breakdown of our two growing seasons in the Northern Hemisphere:

• Warm Season - Average high temperature between 65°F and 85°F (18.3°C and 29.4°C); no chance of frost/snow
• Hot Season - Average high temperature of 85°F (29.4°C) or above; no chance of anything close to cold

Now that you know your upcoming growing season, all you have to do is figure out which plants like to grow in that season.

Maximize Your Plants' Time in Your June Garden

If you didn't already start seeds indeeds for the larger plants you'd like to grow this season (such as tomatoes in the warm season or tomatillos in the hot season), it might be best to purchase starter plants from a local nursery or garden center. That way, you can maximize the amount of time these plants can enjoy in your garden during their ideal growing conditions.

(Here's our guide to knowing when to start seeds indoors and which seeds to prioritize.)

Keep reading for some recommendations based on your growing season in June.

What plants can you plant in June in cooler areas?

Here's what you can buy and direct sow in the garden this month for your warm season:

Vegetables to BUY

Larger plants like kale and swiss chard will have more time to grow and thrive in your transitional garden if you buy them as transplants from your local nursery or garden center now. Purchase tomato and pepper plants if you didn't start your own by seed indoors. Buying herbs is also a good idea so that you can maximize their time in the garden and begin cutting herbs immediately.

Seeds to PLANT in June

You can plant seeds for arugula, cucumbers, beans, squash, zucchini, and basil outdoors, directly in your garden. You can also plant potatoes once all threat of frost has passed, but I recommend planting them outside of your raised beds.

Harden off your warm season seedlings started indoors before transplanting them into the garden.

What plants can you plant in June in warmer areas?

Here's what you can buy and direct sow in your garden this month for your hot season:

Plants to BUY

I recommend buying a healthy basil plant from a nursery so that you can begin harvesting leaves immediately and maximize your enjoyment of this sun-loving herb. You can also buy other herbs, such as thyme, oregano, rosemary, and sage, though sage might need a more shaded location.

Vegetables to PLANT in June

Arugula is a fantastic leafy green that will continue producing even in the hottest months. Go with Armenian cucumbers, hot peppers, luffa gourds, yard-long beans, and Malabar spinach (which isn't actually spinach) if you're looking for varieties that don't mind the heat. Okra and sweet potatoes are two plants that thrive in the hottest of conditions, and sweet potatoes are a wise choice if you have upcoming summer travel plans.

You can also plant eggplant, chives, peas, and melons.

What to Plant Outdoors in June

WARM SEASON

• arugula
• cucumbers
• beans
• squash
• zucchini
• basil
• tomatoes
• peppers
• potatoes

HOT SEASON

• arugula
• Armenian cucumber
• basil
• yard-long beans
• chives
• eggplant
• hot peppers
• Malabar spinach
• okra
• peas
• sweet potato sets
• luffa gourds
• melons

What are the best flowers to plant in June?

You can plant zinnias, calendula, chamomile, strawflower, nasturtium, and marigolds over the summer.

If you're in a hotter climate, cosmos, petunias, and begonias planted now will continue to thrive through your hot season.

Find Resources for your June Garden

No matter what you plant, give your seeds a really good watering in and keep them moist in the first seven to ten days after sowing to prevent them from drying out.

If you're still getting your kitchen garden set up, learn more through Gardenary's many resources:

• Order a custom garden design through our virtual garden design service.
• Get started with my book, Kitchen Garden Revival.

Another great resource to help you know what to plant when in your area is the nearest garden consultant to you. Find a Garden Consultant near you in our Directory. Follow them on social media or sign up for their newsletter for an easy way to know what's possible to grow in your area each month.

Whatever you grow in your garden, don't grow alone! We're here to help you have confidence and find success in the garden every step of the way, rain or shine.

Here's to the start of a wonderful summer in the garden!