What to sow and grow in June

What To Sow And Grow In June

There’s plenty to keep you busy in the garden in June, but also plenty to sit back and enjoy! With the longest day bringing extra hours of warmth and sunshine, the threat of cold spells and frost is now long past, and you can start planting in earnest.

Here are our top picks of seasonal things to sow and grow in the garden this month:

Flowers to Sow and Grow

In the Greenhouse/Indoors

• Sow winter-flowering pansies in seed trays so they’ll be ready for your winter containers.
•  It might seem a bit early, but start thinking about spring flowers for next year.  Sow perennial seeds such as aquilegia, bellis, Canterbury bells, delphiniums and lupins indoors for flowering next year.
• Sow perennial scabiosa in pots or trays for years of attractive flowers which are loved by bees and butterflies.
• For flowers that bridge the gap between spring and summer try growing forget-me-nots, foxgloves, sweet Williams, and wallflowers in seed trays now, for colour next year.
• Now there is space on windowsills again, think about sowing biennials for next year.

Direct Sow Outdoors

•  It's not too late to direct sow calendula, candytuft, clarkia (Godetia), larkspur and limnanthes for a show of flowers later this summer.
• Nasturtiums are easy to grow in containers or from direct sowings, and quick to flower - use them in beds, containers, baskets and the vegetable plot.
• Scatter nigella seeds in your borders now for some striking blue late-summer flowers.
• Grow the tallest sunflower from direct sowings - great fun for the kids….and adults!!

Plant Outdoors

• Now that the risk of frost has passed, plant out any remaining annual summer bedding plants.

Herbs & Vegetables to Sow and Grow

In the Greenhouse / Indoors

• Sow cucumber and gherkinseeds in individual pots or modules.
• Start winter cabbageseeds off in a greenhouse or cold frame now as they require a long growing season.

Direct Sow Outdoors

• There’s still time to grow runner beans and french beans - sow them directly in the ground now.
• Sow beetroot thinly, directly into the ground.
• Sow broccoli and calabrese now in a nursery bed, for transplanting later on, or sow directly in your vegetable plot.
• Direct sow carrots in rows and protect with fleece to prevent carrot fly attack.
• Add colour to your stir-fries with chicory. Seeds can be sown directly into the soil now.
• Sow fast-growing herbs such as coriander, dill and parsley directly into the ground or in containers indoors.
• Try direct sowing hardy corn salad (Lamb's Lettuce) for summer and winter salads.
• Sow courgette and squash seeds in pots or directly outside now.
• Think ahead to winter cropping and start kale seeds in a nursery bed now.
• For something more unusual try sowing kohl rabi where you want it to grow - it’ll be ready in as little as 8 weeks after sowing.
• Try direct sowing nutritious pak choi every 3 weeks for a continuous crop.
• Sow peas directly into the ground or start them off in modules if mice are a problem. Allow about 20 plants per person.
• Sow radish seeds directly into the soil for quick and easy home-grown salads.
• Salad leaves are one of the fastest and most productive crops you can grow - sow seeds in module trays under glass for transplanting in the garden later. Alternatively sow direct outside and thin out the seedlings. Sow every 3 or 4 weeks for continuous harvesting.
• Direct sow spinach seeds in soil enriched with plenty of organic matter. Try growing spinach 'Perpetual' if you have very dry soil.
• Sow spring onion seeds in drills outdoors for a quick crop to add to salads and stir fries.
• Sow swede seeds outdoors in a rich fertile soil for autumn and winter crops.
• Sow sweetcorn seeds directly outside or start them off in modules. Grow at least 12 plants for good pollination and cropping.
• Swiss Chard can be direct sown now for a colourful addition to both borders and the vegetable plot.
• Start to sow turnipsin drills outdoors for a great addition to casseroles and stews.

Plant Outdoors

• Plant out sprouting broccoli spacing the plants 60cm apart. Calabrese plants can be spaced closer together at 30cm (1ft) apart.
• Plant your Brussels sprout plants deeply in the soil and earth them up as they grow for stability.
• Plant out summer cabbages about 35cm (14in) apart.
• Plant out cauliflowers into moist soil, and be sure not to allow the soil to dry out during growth.

• Plant out pepper plantsinto grow-bags in a sheltered, sunny position.
• Plant out kale plantsallowing them plenty of space to grow - space 75cm (30in) apart for the tall varieties.
• Plant out leeksby dibbing a hole 15cm (6in) deep, dropping the leek inside and filling the hole with water. There’s no need to refill the hole with soil – this method will ensure a good blanch on the stems.
• Plant out celery in blocks to increase natural blanching of the stems.
• Plant out celeriacinto fertile soil.
• Plant out cucumbers in the greenhouseor in grow bags outdoors in a sheltered, sunny position.
• Plant out squashes and pumpkinsinto rich, fertile soil - they are heavy feeders!
• Plant out your tomatoplants in a warm and sunny location for the best crops.
• Charlotteand Maris Peer potatoes can be planted from mid June to late July. These are best planted into our 40 litre patio bags, 5 tubers per bag. No chitting is necessary as the warmth of the compost and the summer temperatures will quickly entice growth.

Fruit to Sow and Grow

• Order potted strawberry plants or cold-stored, bare rooted runners and get them in the ground straight away. Feed and water them and you’ll be able to harvest in about 8 weeks’ time. Late season ‘Florence’ strawberries are a great choice.
• When your cape gooseberry plants (Physalis peruviana) have reached 20cm high, plant them out in well drained soil in full sun or transplant into grow bags in the greenhouse.
• Now that the risk of a late frost has passed, plant melon seedlings out into a sheltered, sunny spot. They need rich fertile soil and do especially well in a polytunnel.