Summer Veggie Gardening – What to Plant in June

Summer gardening is in full swing! If you’re wondering what you can do in the veggie garden, here’s a list of what to plant in June.  Even if you haven’t started anything at all in your garden yet, it’s not too late to get going for a wonderful harvest of delicious veggies!  

Summer Veggie Gardening – What to Plant in June

If you’re not in Zone 5, the timing of this list might be off a bit, but in general, the progression is the same. Make sure you know your last average frost date and first average frost date. Those two dates determine when to do what in your specific area. If you don’t know those two dates, look them up here.

In my area of Eastern Iowa, the last average frost date is May 15

and first average frost date is October 15.

What to plant in June in your veggie garden

By now, you may have some good plants growing in your garden, but there is still so much you can plant and do in your garden to prolong your harvest and grow your best harvest yet. For instance, still in June,

• You can direct sow many seeds this month including beets, cucumber (by June 10), squash, zucchini, beans of all types, lettuce, carrots, muskmelon, watermelon, winter squash, kale, zinnia, and sunflower.
• Potatoes can still be planted as late as June 5. I recommend using the no-dig method for easier planting and harvesting. If you’ve already planted potatoes like I have, make sure you add mulch as needed to keep any growing potatoes from turning green due to sun exposure.
• June is the time to plant sweet potatoes slips as they like the warmer soil.
• Broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower starts may still be planted in early June – but hot weather is hard on them so get them in early.
• Pea seeds may be planted through June, but like the brassicas, they prefer cooler weather so they might not grow that well for you.
• Most varieties of tomato and peppers must be planted by early June. Make sure you follow these tips for planting tomato seedlings.
• Celery, endive, Swiss Chard, and leeks may be planted through June.
• Most herbs may be planted through June both directly sown seeds as well as plants. Don’t forget the herbs as they make excellent companion plants!
• Pumpkins may be started through July for late harvest. The end of June is the perfect time to start a pumpkin patch with your kids for Halloween pumpkins! Learn how to grow your own Halloween pumpkins here.
• Rhubarb may be planted as late as June too, but  make sure to keep it weeded and well watered to help establish it properly.

Early June is also the time to start brassica seeds indoors for a fall planting in early July.

• Start cabbage, broccoli,  and cauliflower seeds indoor for fall planting in July.

• Here are tips for starting brassica seeds indoors. They can be a little tricky!

Other June Garden Chores for Zone 5 include:

• Make a homemade bug spray so you’re ready for pesky bug infestations! My friend Jami at  An Oregon Cottage has a great, effective homemade bug spray {garlic &  mint!} recipe here! I also recommend keeping diatomaceous earth and Neem Oil on hand as well.
• Make sure you harden off seedlings before planting them so they will be acclimated to the outdoors.
• Thin out fruits on trees so they are only about every 5-6 inches on the branches for a better harvest.
• Spot treat with organic pesticides on your potatoes to avoid an infestation of potato bugs. Make sure to remove any larvae. Here are helpful tips for dealing with Colorado Potato Beetles.
• Start weeding out strawberry beds.
• Harvest asparagus if it is at least the second season and you had a late spring. Established asparagus plants can produce as long as 8 weeks. Young plants only produce for 2-3 weeks. After the spears have started decreasing in size, it’s time to let them develop ferns for proper plant support and nourishment.
• Add mulch to gardens to help hold in moisture during the summer heat waves.
• Fertilize corn with compost tea so that it will grow taller, sooner, or companion plant with beans and pumpkins to provide a natural fertilizer. Three Sisters Gardens are lovely and not that hard to grow!
• Make sure you spend a few minutes each day in your garden weeding and looking for harmful insects. Left unchecked, bugs like cucumber beetles and squash bugs will ruin your crops.

What’s going on in your garden?! I hope it’s growing well for you this year. Happy Gardening!