June Gardening Checklist

Added on:  June 12, 2024 @ 2:54 pm

Introduction

June is an exciting month for gardeners in Virginia. With the arrival of summer, there are plenty of tasks to keep your garden thriving. June is a month of transition and growth, from harvesting cool-season crops to planting warm-season varieties. Follow this checklist to make the most of your garden this month!

June Care Tips

• Deadhead Flowers: Deadhead garden flowers, whether annuals or perennials, after they flower. This encourages the plants to produce more blooms, foliage, and roots.
• Fertilize Annuals: Flowering requires lots of energy, so fertilize annual plants with a balanced fertilizer once flowering begins. Fertilize one more time before the end of the season to keep them healthy and blooming.
• Weed Regularly: Weed your garden regularly to keep the task easy and manageable. Regular weeding helps your plants get the nutrients and water they need without competition.
• Heat-Loving Crops: There’s still time to plant heat-loving crops like Southern peas and asparagus beans. These plants thrive in the summer heat and will add variety to your garden.
• Pinch Herbs: Pinch the flowers off herbs like basil, mint, and oregano to promote bushy growth. This encourages the plants to produce more leaves, which you can use in your cooking!

Harvest Cool-Season Crops

Start your June gardening by harvesting cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach, and peas. As temperatures rise, these plants will begin to bolt and become bitter. Enjoy the fresh produce now before it’s too late. Harvesting these crops will also make room for new plantings.

Harvest Onion and Garlic

Harvest onions and garlic as the tops dry and fall over. Braid garlic tops and hang them in a cool, dry place. Cut onion tops back to one inch and dry them thoroughly before storing. Use any damaged produce immediately.

Add Warm-Season Annuals and Tuberous Perennials

Brighten up your garden with warm-season annuals like zinnias, sunflowers, and snapdragons. These flowers will add a splash of color and attract pollinators to your garden. June is also the time to plant tuberous perennial flowers such as dahlias, which will come back year after year, adding lasting beauty to your garden.

Keep Sowing Flowers and Herbs

When planting this month, choose varieties with a shorter maturity time. This ensures that your plants will be ready to harvest before the first frost in the fall. Direct sow sunflowers, nasturtiums, marigolds, borage, basil, and other warm-season flowers and herbs. These plants will thrive in the warm weather and add beauty and functionality to your garden.

Plant Warm-Season Crops

June is the perfect time to plant a second round of warm-season crops. Here are some ideal choices:

• Beans: Beans are an ideal crop because they mature quickly in warm soil and locations with at least eight hours of sun. You can choose bush beans, which grow faster and are ready for harvest in as soon as 35 days, or pole beans. French garden varieties of bush beans are excellent options. SOW SEED
• Bunching Onions (Green Onions or Scallions): Optimal soil temperature is 70°F to 75°F. Choose quicker-maturing varieties such as Red Beard or Guardsman. SOW SEED
• Corn: Depending on the variety, corn can mature within 60 to 70 days. It grows best in temperatures ranging from 60°F to 95°F in full sun with well-drained soil. Varieties like Orchard Baby, Golden Bantam, or Early Sunglow are good choices. SOW SEED
• Okra: Okra grows best when temperatures reach at least 85°F during the day and nights don’t dip below 60°F. It takes about 60 days to mature and handles humidity well. SOW SEED
• Peas: Typically grown in early spring, peas can also be grown in summer with the right heat-tolerant variety. Most take around 60 to 70 days to mature. Ensure they are well-watered to thrive in the heat. SOW SEED
• Peppers: Peppers mature between 65 and 120 days, but the majority are ready for harvest around 75 days. Optimal soil temperatures are above 70°F. SOW SEED OR PLANT SEEDLINGS
• Radishes: Summer varieties like French Breakfast, Rover Hybrid, or Crimson Giant are great choices. SOW SEED
• Summer Squash: These crops mature quickly, taking between 60 and 70 days to be ready for harvest. For oblong varieties, harvest when they are 8 to 12 inches long; for rounder shapes, harvest when they are 4 to 8 inches in diameter. SOW SEED
• Swiss Chard: Heat tolerant and a great alternative to lettuce, spinach, or kale. Varieties like Bright Lights, Fordhook Giant, or Green Lucullus are ideal. SOW SEED
• Tomatoes: Opt for smaller-fruited, determinate, or early-maturing varieties. Seedlings of Early Girl, Fourth of July, Juliet, Sungold, or Sun Sugars are good choices. PLANT SEEDLINGS

Watering and Maintenance Tips

• Avoid Wet Gardens: Stay out of the garden when the vegetable plant leaves are wet. Walking through a wet garden can spread disease from one plant to another.
• Proper Watering: After your vegetable garden is well established, water it thoroughly once a week rather than giving it a light watering every day. This encourages a deeper root system, which helps plants tolerate dry weather better.
• Monitor Spring Crops: Keep a close eye on your spring crops. Hot weather can cause lettuce to bolt and become bitter. As soon as you harvest your spring vegetables, plant a warm-season crop in their place.
• Prevent Blossom End Rot: Blossom end rot on tomatoes, peppers, squash, and watermelons can be prevented by maintaining uniform soil moisture. Mulch and water correctly, plant in well-drained soil, and avoid cultivating too deeply near the plants. Applying calcium-heavy fertilizer like bone meal can also help.

Conclusion

With this checklist, you’ll have a productive and beautiful garden throughout June. Happy gardening! If you have any questions that weren’t answered or need more information, feel free to stop by and see us at either the Broad St. or Mechanicsville location. You can also give us a call or drop us an email at info@stranges.com. We’re here to help you grow better! 

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