What to Sow and Harvest in June
When it comes to June, a lot of gardeners are thinking about autumn/winter sowings. It might seem strange to be focusing on colder months when we are just about to tip into summer. But now is the time to sow things you’ll be harvesting in the autumn and through the winter with protection.
I’ve had a polytunnel for two years now and both autumn/winter’s I haven’t planted any greens to harvest under cover. I want to change that this year. So I will be sowing lots of greens to keep me through the months. It also helps with my mental health, as it gets me outside and I am still eating fresh from my growing space.
It honestly surprises me how fast the year goes, half of it is practically gone now. But there is a lot to be getting on with, whether that’s harvesting some delicious things or sowing some more. Here are a list of things to sow and harvest in June:
Sow these now:
Peas: we always plant them in early spring, but if you have a shady, cool area of your growing space, you can sow some more through the summer. Peas love water and cool conditions, as they tend to get sun scald or go over if it’s too hot. So if you are in a north facing garden like me, peas might still be on the table for you.
Carrots: It’s time for another sowing of carrots, which I will most certainly be doing as mine didn’t germinate. It was old seed and quite frankly, that’s not the best with carrots or parsnips.
Lettuce: Lettuce and salad can be sown every couple of weeks for a constant reply, it does better in the cooler weather. But again, if you have a spot that’s a bit cooler or shaded, it’ll be fine.
Radishes: Like lettuce, you can succession sow radishes for a constant supply of spicy, crunchy and all round great little vegetables. These are great with kids and if you don’t like radishes, I promise they taste better when you grow them yourself.
Cabbage: Autumn cabbages should really be sown April/May but if you do so at the very start of the month, it’ll be okay.
Kale: If you sow kale now, you will have some to carry you through autumn. Once the frost hits it, it’ll be even sweeter.
Corn: Sow this at the very beginning of the month if you haven’t, as May is best. You’ll find that now the soil is warm, direct sowings tend to catch up.
Squash: It’s a bit late for pumpkins, but courgette plants if sown at the start of the month should be fine. They love the warmth and should catch up.
Basil: Basil is a great herb to sow for summer, it’s great with strawberries, tomatoes and salads. It’s a fast growing herb that loves heat, great in pesto or as a garnish.
Harvest these this month:
New potatoes
Radishes
Salad
Spring Onions
Garlic
Onions
Asparagus
Peas
Kale
Carrots
Strawberries
Blueberries
Gooseberries
Spinach
Beetroot
Turnips
Florence fennel