June is a great time to sow seeds and plant young plants, as both air and soil temperatures are high so the plants get off to 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, so you may need to be on hand to provide extra water when necessary
Lots of vegetable and flower seeds can be sown in June, either to crop or bloom within a few weeks, or – in the case of biennials like foxgloves – to overwinter for the following summer. Seeds of flowering annuals sown in June will provide a splash of colour in late-summer to autumn, after many others have finished blooming.
Find out which flowers and vegetables you can plant in June, below.
Vegetables to plant in June
Pak choi
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 in between 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
Spring onions
Spring onions can be sown from March toAugust, and successional sowings every few weeks will ensure you have a continuous crop. Sow direct into shallow drills – spring onions also do well in pots but they do need a lot of moisture.
- Spring onions – Grow Guide
- Buy spring onion seeds from Suttons
Broccoli
Late sprouting broccoli cultivars and calabrese can both be sown in June. Sow direct in well-prepared soil or into multi-celled trays to plant out later. Now is also a good time to plant out broccoli and calabrese plants sown the previous month.
- How to grow broccoli
- Buy broccoli seed from Thompson & Morgan
Florence fennel
Florence fennel can be sown direct in June. 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.
- How to grow Florence fennel
- Buy Florence fennel from Suttons
Pumpkins
Early June is your last time to sow pumpkins, to provide them with plenty of warm days to develop size and good flavour. 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 with good flavour. Sow direct into fertile soil or into individual pots to plant out later.
- How to grow pumpkins and squash
- Buy pumpkin seed from Suttons
Flowers to plant in June
Poached egg plant, Limnanthes
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.
- Buy poached egg plant from Thompson & Morgan
Nasturtiums
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 and runner beans.
- Buy nasturtium seed from Thompson & Morgan
- Buy bean seeds from Thompson & Morgan
- How to grow and care for nasturtiums
Coreopsis
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. Coreopsis is one of the best plants for containers, too.
- Buy coreopsis from Thompson & Morgan
- How to grow coreopsis
Night-scented stock
Night-scented stock can still be sown now, to ensure you have blooms right up until the first frosts. Deadhead regularly to encourage a further flush of colour.
- Buy night-scented stock from Thompson & Morgan
Candelabra primulas
By June, many candelabra primulas will have finished blooming and set seed, so now is the perfect time to gather the seed and sow it fresh for more plants the following year.
- How to grow primroses and primulas
- Buy candelabra primula from Suttons
