It’s Not Too Late To Start These 14 Vegetables In June

Gardening in June can feel like you ’ve pretermit your window — particularly when you take the air through the neighborhood and see lush tomato vines already weighed down with yield . But I ’m here to tell you that there ’s still plentitude of time ! As an devouring gardener who ’s been scrambling to fill beds many a June , I ’ve discovered that a diverseness of vegetables in reality do quite well when inseminate or transplant in this month . You just demand to know which one handle warm soil , how to negociate the heat , and the minuscule prank to assure you still get a robust harvest . I ’ll plunge into each of these 15 vegetable with passel of contingent : where they ’re from , whether they can become invasive , how they attract beneficial dirt ball , and what to see out for as they age . Consider this your “ June Jumpstart ” scout — pack with the enthusiasm of someone who ’s been exactly where you are mightily now !

start these vegetables now signify pay attention to soil fertility , wet , and heat tolerance . Some veg love the summer Dominicus and will sprint toward maturity , while others apprise a bit of shade or regular mulching to keep their roots coolheaded . Throughout these sections , I ’ll portion out tip on bed cooking , plague prevention , and companion plant mating — because nothing beats harvesting fresh garden truck when it feels like your time of year has already slipped away . So seize your favourite gardening gloves and permit ’s plunk into the 14 vegetables you could still confidently implant in June !

Okra

Okra is such a delectation when started in June , peculiarly if you go where summer heats cursorily . aboriginal to West Africa , Abelmoschus esculentus has been cultivated for centuries and travels through chronicle to India and the Americas . While most modern Hibiscus esculentus varieties are n’t considered invasive , if you leave abundant seed pod to dry and scatter , they can offer in unexpected spots the following year . For a June planting , seed seeds directly once dark temperature stay above 65 ° F — plant seed an inch rich and space them about 12 inches aside . Germination typically take place within 7 to 14 days if the grime is warm , and soon those tall , branching plants will tower over neighboring seedlings .

When lady’s-finger blooms , its hibiscus - like bloom appeal aboriginal bee , honeybees , and even hummingbirds to their burnished , star - influence petals . Those pollinators do the heavy lifting to ready fuel pod , and I have it off watching humblebee creep deep into each blossom in the early morning . The plants ’ stout stalks create vertical interest in the garden and proffer a rod for predatory wasp and spiders hunting pestilence like aphids and stink microbe . Just keep an eye out for verticillium wilt and powdery mildew as temperatures go up — rotate beds and providing expert air flow by space plant properly will help oneself you avoid vulgar diseases . By late August or September , you ’ll be picking untoughened seedpod for fry okra or pickling — trial impression that June - sown gumbo is well worth the effort !

Swiss Chard

Swiss chard ’s plushy , crinkled leaves are a staple fibre in my garden , no matter what time of class . Originating in the coastal Mediterranean realm , chard has thrived since ancient times without becoming invading in most home gardens . It handle heat surprisingly well , making it perfect for a June sowing . I usually unmediated - sow seeds about ½ inch deep , spacing row 12 to 18 inches apart . Within 7 to 14 days , seedlings seem and quickly take form warm folio . Chard matures in rough 50 to 60 days , so if you mulch around the plants to conserve moisture and govern territory temperature , you ’ll have harvestable greens by late summer .

When chard bolts and send out up its efflorescence stalk , bee drove to the clusters of small , greenish - chicken blossoms , busily pick up nectar and pollen . Even before flowering , the liberal leaves offer a sheltered environs where beneficial insects like earth beetle , lacewing fly , and ladybird beetle can hide and feast on aphids . One of my fond garden retentivity is discover a praying mantid egg example tuck under a chard leafage — nature ’s own pest ascendence at study ! Since chard is tolerant of slightly piquant or alkaline soils , it ’s a forgiving crop if you ’re still remedy beds in June . Just watch for leaf miners ; if you spot those telltale white burrow , consider floating row covers until you ’re quick to reap .

Carrots

I absolutely eff the thrill of harvesting attendant June - sown carrots in former fall . Native to Persia ( modern - day Iran and Afghanistan ) and first domesticated over a millenary ago , carrot are now a staple in garden worldwide . Cultivated Daucus carota sativa ( Daucus carotasubsp.sativus ) are n’t invasive , though their wild relatives sometimes pop up along distressed roadsides . For a June planting , moisture is everything — ironical land leave to fork-like or split solution . Sow seed roughly ¼ in late in rows spaced 12 inch apart . Germination can take anywhere from 10 to 21 days , depending on how strong your grease is — cooler soils slow things down , so I always keep newly sown bottom consistently moist with gentle , frequent lacrimation .

When carrot finally bolt and forge umbel of tiny white flowers , they become herculean magnets for parasitic wasps , hoverflies , and a variety of native bees , all of which avail control aphid elsewhere in the garden . Even before they flower , carrot ’s feathery leafage serves as land cover for predatory reason mallet and spiders that hunting slugs and cutworms . To keep carrot fly sheet at bay , I plant carrots beside onions — the solid onion odor deters those plague effectively ! By late summertime or other fall — around 60 to 80 days after sowing — you’ll be pulling honeyed , crunchy roots from the soil . recent - time of year carrot often develop an almost honeyed flavor as nighttime temperatures throw , make them a literal treat for stews or clean salad .

Winter Squash

Winter mash , beloved for its long storage life , hail from Mesoamerica — the same realm that gifted us summer squash and pumpkins . Varieties like butternut , acorn , and kabocha take longer to mature than summer squash — often 90 to 120 twenty-four hours — so if you ’re engraft in June , break up too soon - senesce cultivars . Once stain temperatures consistently exceed 70 ° atomic number 9 , sow seeds 1 to 2 inch deep in mounded hill . property 3 to 4 semen per hill , then flimsy to 2 or 3 strong seedlings once they show a span of genuine leave . Space mound 4 to 6 foot asunder , because winter squash vines can disseminate aggressively if untrained . Their dense leafage naturally suppress weed and shades the soil , helping to conserve precious wet during hot July and August week .

When wintertime squash flowers open , the large yellow bloom of youth attract Apis mellifera , bumblebee , and squash bees , whose pollination is key to arrange heavy fruit . I ’ll never tire of watching a buzz pollination in action — humblebee hover at just the right frequency to didder pollen loose ! Underneath those vines , a mini ecosystem thrives : flat coat beetles , rove mallet , and spiders police for slugs , cutworm , and other pesterer . Still , powdery mould can develop toward late summertime if air flow is confine , so I prune a few lower leaves to improve circulation . By early October or mid - September — look on how cursorily your potpourri matures — you’ll be harvesting sweet , dense squash racquets that can last for month in storage . Planting in June might seem late for wintertime squash , but if you choose sagely , the payoff in fall is Brobdingnagian !

Summer Squash

Summer squash , including courgette and yellow summer crookneck , originates from Mesoamerica and was crop by Aztecs and Mayans long before Europeans come . Unlike some untamed gourds , these cultivated varieties are n’t invading , but their vigorous vine can straggle if left uncurbed . For a June sowing , lineal - seed 2 to 3 seed per Alfred Hawthorne about 1 inch deep , space mound 3 to 4 ft apart . Germination usually occur in a week when the soil warms above 70 ° F . Once seedlings are show , thin to 2 potent plants per J. J. Hill . The cay is rich , well - debilitate ground amended with compost — these plants are heavy feeders and appreciate consistent moisture , especially in June ’s first heat waves .

Summer squash efflorescence — large , xanthous blooms — are magnets for bee : honeybees , bumblebee , and solitary bee flock to accumulate nectar and pollen . Because squash farm separate male and female flush , you need pollinator to ensure yield band ; otherwise , tiny cucuzza - like fruit may abort . Underneath those broad leaf , natural predators like lacewings and parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant notice resort and feast on aphid or caterpillars that might attempt to settle . I always interplant nasturtium or marigolds nearby to cark pesterer like squash bugs , which can be unappeasable . Once blooms fade , you ’ll be harvesting tender zucchini and scandalmongering squash in mid - July — break up daily to keep the plants producing in abundance , and enjoy the unflagging summertime amplitude .

Pole Beans

Pole beans , the climbing cousins of bush bean , trace their origination to South and Central America . They are n’t invasive , but if you give dry pods on the vines , volunteer plants may seem next leaping . For a June planting , install sturdy trellis , fence , or teepee and sow seeded player 1 column inch deep at the base , spacing seeded player 4 to 6 inches apart . sprouting occurs in about 7 to 10 days when soil temperature are warm . As vines emerge , guide them toward their financial support — once they latch on , they ’ll climb quick . Pole edible bean free up garden distance by originate vertically , reach them ideal if you ’re brusk on real estate but require a uninterrupted edible bean harvest .

Pole bean flowers — bunch of pink , empurpled , or white blossom — attract humblebee , carpenter bees , and other aboriginal bees that ensure pods human body . The vines ’ dense foliage also provides habitat for beneficial insects such as lacewings and minute pirate bugs , which course on aphid tarry on young shoots . I once spotted a garden spider building its vane between two bean vines , enjoying the regular provision of immobilise garden pests ! Underneath the vine , cool soil benefits sequential planting of coolheaded - season greens if you ’re planning a fall craw . watch out out for Mexican bean beetle , which can skeletonize leaf in no clock time — handpick or shake them off early in the morning . In about 60 to 70 24-hour interval , those tender green pod will be ready to blame , seduce pole edible bean a rewarding June endeavor .

Chinese Cabbage

Taiwanese cabbage ( Napa cabbage ) , part of the mustard family , has been cultivated in East Asia for over a thousand year . Its wild relatives include bitter cress and shepherd ’s pocketbook , but Napas themselves are n’t invasive in home gardens . Timing is vital for a June planting — if temperatures soar , cabbages can bolt prematurely . I advocate starting seeds indoors in May or purchase healthy transplants . When seedling pass 4 to 6 true leaves , graft them into hole space 12 to 18 inches apart , always ensuring soil wet remain consistent . provide light good afternoon specter ( a filmy row cover works wonder ) helps prevent estrus focus and absquatulate .

When Napa cabbages dash and flower , they produce jaundiced umbel that draw in hoverflies , native bee , and even pollen - feeding beetles . Though bolting means parting become caustic , those blossoms help work up up good dirt ball population for surround crops . Before flowering , the dense rosette of leaves produce a sheltered micro - environment where predatory wasps and lacewing fly patrol for aphids and cat . I often interplant Napa with Anethum graveolens or Chinese parsley to lure in beneficial WASP that parasitize common brassica pests . In about 60 to 70 days , you ’ll harvest firm , terse cabbage heads perfect for kimchi , slaw , or shake up - fries — record that June can still be a great time to plant brassicas if you keep them cool and well - water .

Sweet Potatoes

odoriferous Irish potato , aboriginal to Central and South America , have been cultivated by autochthonous peoples for over 5,000 years . Though closely link to scraggy aurora nimbus specie , Ipomoea batatasitself is n’t typically invasive in temperate gardens . When planting in June , role slip ( vine cuttings ) rather than seeded player — slips embed now modernize robust vine that disseminate speedily . Arrange slips 12 to 18 inch apart on mounded words , ensuring the soil drains well ; sweet Irish potato hate stand water . By mid - June , when nightly lows stay above 65 ° degree Fahrenheit , slips root chop-chop , send out foresighted trail vines that deal the bed in profuse verdure .

Those vine produce pocket-size blank or lilac-colored blossoms in mid - summertime , attracting bees and butterfly — though we ’re chiefly growing for the starchy ascendant underground . The dense leaf acts as a live mulch , shade the soil and preventing weeds while providing cover for ground beetles and spiders that hunt biff and cutworms . I love how sweet tater beds become a little wildlife harbor , stomach a balanced micro - ecosystem . Still , see for signs of root - greyback nematodes ; a immediate grunge tryout before planting is fresh if you ’ve had nematode issues in the past . By late September or October — about 90 to 100 days after implant — those roots will be ready to harvest , offering sweet , vibrant flesh for autumn baking and memory board .

Beets

Beets , native to the Mediterranean , have been naturalise for both their roots and greens since ancient times . AlthoughBeta vulgarisitself is n’t invasive , its dotty ancestor , ocean beetroot , can sometimes colonise edge of the garden . For a June sowing , beets call for systematically damp , well - tilled soil — dry weather condition lead to unsightly part ancestor . Sow seed about ½ in deep in rows spaced 12 inches asunder . await germination in 7 to 14 days when soil temperatures brood between 60 ° F and 70 ° fluorine . Once seedling reach out a couple of inches grandiloquent , thin them to 3 inch aside so each root has sufficient way to amplify .

If you let beets bolt and blossom ( often in an attempt to save seeds ) , you ’ll be cover to umbels of lilliputian blanched or yellow efflorescence that attract fly , hoverflies , bee , and parasitic wasps . These beneficial visitors police for aphids on beet and neighboring crop , providing natural pestilence controller . Even before the flora blossom , their rosette of edible leaves offer address for ground - dwelling piranha , like rove beetles and footing beetle , which Richard Morris Hunt slugs and cutworms . Interplanting beetroot with onions can deter flea beetle , which otherwise love to chew yap in sore beetroot leafage . In roughly 60 to 80 solar day , you ’ll enjoy sweet , kinky root — whether as babe beets in about 50 twenty-four hours or full - size harvest time a bit later — proving June is an acceptable time to sow these versatile veggies .

Pumpkins

One of my favourite late - time of year planting challenges is pumpkins . These behemoth develop from Mesoamerica , where indigenous the great unwashed have cultivated variousCucurbitaspecies for yard of age . While most pumpkin varieties are n’t considered invading in a typical place garden , they do have straggle vine that can overhaul blank space if left unchecked . For a June planting , pick out fast - get on varieties like ‘ Jack Be minuscule ’ or ‘ Baby Bear , ’ which get on in about 90 daytime . Plant seeds 1 inch deep and space hills 4 to 6 feet apart , amend the soil with plenty of compost and ensuring good drainage . Water deep but infrequently to promote strong root development and help prevent rot .

Pumpkin vine produce large , bright heyday that are attraction for honeybee , humblebee , and aboriginal bee . Watching pollinator crawl deep into each flower is a delicacy — knowing they ’re doing all the work that results in muscular gourd ! Under the vines , beneficial insects like ground mallet and spider find shelter , help mastery bullet and other plague . However , keep an eye out for squash vine borers and powdery mold , particularly as temperatures climb . I ’ve determine that interplanting nasturtiums or marigolds near pumpkin vine beds can lure aphid away and help with overall pest management . By mid - September , you ’ll be carve diddly-squat - o’-lanterns or roasting seed — validation that set forth pumpkin vine in June is perfectly deserving the effort !

Bush Beans

Bush beans , with their great , good industrial plant , are consummate for June sowing when space is at a bounty . First domesticated in South America more than 7,000 age ago , these noodle are n’t invasive but will self - seeded player if you leave pods to dry out on the vine . unmediated - sow seeds 1 to 1.5 in deep in rows 18 to 24 in apart , space seeds 2 to 4 column inch apart . Germination occur quickly — usually within 7 to 10 days — when ground temperature exceed 60 ° F . Once the seedlings emerge , sparse to 4 inches asunder , and keep territory systematically moist for vigorous growth and pod development .

When bush beans flower , they give rise clusters of small blanched , pinkish , or purple prime that , while not the flashy , still draw bees . More significantly , the plants ’ bushy foliage provides shade that suppresses weeds and conserves wet — crucial in June ’s heating plant . Those shaded bed become home to lacewing , lady beetles , and minute pirate bug that police for aphid and thripid . I once saved a bean bed from thrip damage just by encouraging lacewing fly with a nearby patch of alyssum . After about 50 to 60 days , you ’ll be harvest home tender , snap - quick beans , and can even succession - sow for a recent - season pick if your rime date is well into October .

Kale

Kale , a hardy member of the Brassica house , grow in the eastern Mediterranean and was prized by the Romans for its nutritious leaves . Unlike some wild mustard greens relatives , most kale miscellanea are n’t invasive in plate gardens . For a June planting , you’re able to direct - sow seed about ¼ inch late into well - prepare bed , space them 12 to 18 inches apart . Germination usually come within 5 to 10 days if grunge temperature stay between 60 ° F and 70 ° atomic number 9 . In hotter regions , I opt starting seeds in shaded flats and transplant seedlings when they ’re 4 to 6 leaves grandiloquent , which helps prevent bolting triggered by intense noonday sun .

When kale bolt in nerveless weather , it produces delicate blanched or lavender bloom that appeal bees , syrphid fly front , and butterflies — hike pollination for other garden crop . Before unfolding , the curly or categorical leaves themselves furnish continuous habitat for predatory ground beetles and spiders that seek out slug and Caterpillar . Kale ’s thick leaves also refuse drought well than lettuce or spinach plant , making it more exonerative when June heat intensifies . Keep an heart out for cabbage aphids lurking in folio axils — if you fleck those , a good bam of piddle from the hosiery often dislodges them . In about 55 to 65 twenty-four hour period , you ’ll be harvesting nutrient - dense cole for salad , charmer , or sautéed sides — an exciting reward for planting in June !

Collard Greens

Collard greens , a staple fiber of Southern U.S. kitchens , trace their lineage back to ancient Greece and Rome , though they became especially democratic in the American South . As a cultivar ofBrassica oleracea(the same metal money as clams and kale ) , collard greens are n’t typically invasive . To plant in June , start up seed indoors or purchase transplant . If sow instantly , plant seeds about ½ column inch deep in early June and thin to 18 inches apart once seedlings reach a few inches improbable . Collards love warm land and take about 60 solar day to get on — just be mindful that extreme warmth can hurry make off , so apply mulch to aid keep radical cool and moist .

When collards decamp , they produce clusters of bantam scandalmongering flowers that attract native bee , hoverflies , and butterfly — bolstering your garden ’s overall pollinator population . Before flowering , their large , upright leaves create a shaded mini - home ground where min plagiarizer hemipteron and lady beetle patrol for aphids and Caterpillar . I recall one summer when a slew of tiny silver gray - spotted skipper butterflies visited my collard patch every morning — pure garden magic trick ! Be wakeful for cabbage worms ; if you get these small green caterpillars early , you could handpick them or temporarily habituate row covers until plants commence to head up . By late August , you ’ll bask sweet , tender collard leaves — thoroughgoing for soulful stews and sautéed greens — show that collard plant in June can thrive when given shade and steady body of water .

Cucumbers

Cucumbers , first domesticated in India over 2,000 years ago from their wild Mesoamerican ascendant , are now hold dear worldwide for their crisp , fat fruits . Cultivated cuke varieties are n’t invasive in a typical garden , but stray ejaculate can germinate volunteers if compost containing Cucumis sativus bit is n’t fully composted . To found in June , choose disease - repellent , tight - maturing varieties like ‘ Marketmore 76 ’ or ‘ Bush Champion . ’ Direct - sow seed 1 inch deep , spacing them 2 ft apart if you ’ll train vines onto a trellis or 3 ft apart if allow them to sprawl . Germination usually takes 7 to 10 day when soil temperature outperform 70 ° atomic number 9 .

When cucumbers bloom , their shining white-livered flowers beckon honeybee , humblebee , and solitary bee to gorge on nectar — assure excellent yield set . Under those vine , lacewings , parasitic wasps , and predatory mites fly high , hunting aphids and wanderer tinge that might otherwise damage young folio . If cucumber beetle are baffling in your country , I recommend using floating row covers early on and removing them once the first peak appear so pollinators can enter freely . I ’ve regard bumblebee navigate impenetrable cucumber vine with finding to strain every blossom — nature ’s trivial gymnast ! By late July or early August , you ’ll be harvest crisp , refreshing cucumbers — perfect for salads , pickles , or a cool snack direct from the vine .

cucumbers