Summer is finally on our doorstep, so what better time to head out into the garden, Darlac tools at the ready, to grow some brand-new plants in the sun? There is endless fun to be had in the garden for the entire family during those blissful summer months, whether you're growing from seed, vibrant flower plants, or fresh produce for family recipes.
Here at Fothergill's, we've got plenty of suggestions for what to plant in June to get you and your family out in the summer sun. We'll also walk you through some essential gardening tasks to keep in mind and maintain your garden until autumn arrives. Take a look now.
Vegetable Plants
There's nothing quite like bringing new textures and flavours to your recipes using vegetables you've grown yourself. So, let's dive into what to sow in June, so by the time autumn rolls around, you'll be reaping the benefits of your summer efforts.
Carrot Seeds
Carrot seeds can typically be sown from March to July, thriving in a warm and sunny location. We recommend spacing your rows of carrot seeds about one foot apart to ensure they have sufficient room to grow and establish their roots in the soil. With regular watering, well-draining soil, and plenty of light, carrots are generally considered easy to grow, making them perfect for involving the whole family.
Try Harlequin carrots for a touch of novelty with their unusual mix of colours. From purple and orange to yellow and white, each colour offers a subtle difference in taste. Brighten up any dish with Malbec carrots, perfect for roasting and named for their exceptional red colour. If you'd prefer to keep it sweet and simple, you can't go wrong with the popular Autumn King.
Pumpkin Seeds
If you're a passionate pumpkin carver, you'll want to make sure you've sown your pumpkin seeds by the end of June, which is generally considered the last month of the year to get them in the ground before the carving season begins.
Get the kids involved with Giant Pumpkins and let the excitement built as you see how large they grow over the summer, before carving for Halloween. Baby Bear, an attractive culinary pumpkin, contains 'naked' seeds, meaning they don't have a hard shell and are ready for eating or roasting straight away. Rogue vif d'Entampes, or the 'Cinderella' pumpkin, brings charm to the garden and kitchen with its unique flattened, ridged shape and vibrant orange colour.
Broccoli Seeds
When growing broccoli seeds in June, we recommend sowing them in a seedbed or container before transplanting them to their final location. Ensure regular watering and protect your broccoli from pests and birds with garden cloches (small tent-like structures), tunnels or use Build-a-Balls to support netting. As they grow, it's important to firm the min well (gently press the soil down around the roots) to prevent wind-rock, which can damage the roots.
While many broccoli varieties need to be sown earlier in the year, there are still a few that can be sown up until the end of June and will produce delicious, densely packed florets well into the autumn months: Covina, Babilon, or the RHS award-winning Calabrese Marathon.
Cauliflower Seeds
Just like broccoli, we recommend sowing cauliflower seeds in a seedbed before transplanting into fertile soil that has already been watered. Some varieties grow faster than others and can be harvested from around 16 weeks. Protect your cauliflowers from direct sunlight and preserve their quality by snapping the outer leaves and turning them over the heads.
Tulio F1 is a reliable, rare white Romano type, known for its exceptional flavour, quality breeding, and disease resistance. For something different, try Romanesco natalino; a special variety with unique spiral florets, crisp texture, and a distinctive flavour. June is the last month to sow the versatile, reliable, and tasty All The Year Around.
Salad Leaves
Easy and quick to grow, enjoy fresh and flavourful greens through the summer and autumn. They thrive in beds, borders, or containers, and sowing regularly (every two to three weeks) means a continuous supply all season long! Most Lettuce, Salad Leaf and Rocket Seeds can be sown in June. Other leaves that work wonderfully in salads are Spinach and Kale.
View our full range of vegetable seeds and plants.
Flowers
Summer is all about joy, brightness and vividity. So, inject new life into your garden with flower bulbs, plants, and seeds!
Nasturtiums
Perfect for beginner gardeners, nasturtium seeds are extremely easy to grow and are ideal for poor soil. They’re available in a range of bright and bold colours, making them an ideal match for various garden aesthetics. They’re great pollinators, too. It’s best to get them sown by the end of June, so now is the time to pick a colour and start growing them in your beds, plant pots, or containers.
Jewel Mixed offer fiery oranges, sunny yellows, and rich reds. For a mix of stunning, contemporary colours, try Summer Carousel. If you’d rather stick with one colour, take a look at Salmon Baby, with its semi-double blooms and warm, seasonal colour.
Pansies
Quite like nasturtiums, pansies also fairly easy to grow, and their gorgeous colours are a great choice for adding contrast to your beds and borders. They thrive in well-fertilised soil in full sun, and you can keep them flowering for longer by staying on top of removing dead flower heads.
For top quality nasturtiums, Mr F’s Early Mixed F1, also referred to as the ‘winter pansy’, are the perfect choice for a splash of vibrance. The ruffled blooms of Frou Frou Mixed will bring texture to your beds and containers. If you’re looking for something truly striking, the classic Blackjack is as close to black as you’re likely to find.
Delphiniums
From pure white to violet, these tall, densely packed flower spikes are the perfect choice for lining the back of a sunny border. Delphiniums flower the year after being sown, and they’re well worth the wait. They’re also magnificent as cut flowers, so you can enjoy their beauty (and your hard work) in your home as well as your garden. Delphinium flower heads can get quite heavy, so we recommend staking them to keep them upright in exposed locations.
Pacific Giants look beautiful at the back of borders, with their mixture of white and purple blooms. For something a little more bold, the Centurion Sky Blue F1 is one of the most high quality and spectacular delphiniums available, with densely packed spikes from the first year.
Gardening Jobs for June
If you’ve already been on top of your gardening maintenance throughout spring, you’ll know that summer brings a whole new range of responsibilities with it. If you’re new to gardening, you might be looking for a few tips for taking care of your plants over the coming months. No matter where you are in your gardening journey, we’ve put together a handy checklist, so you know what jobs to stay on top of.
Keep on top of your watering schedule
We all love a bit of sun, plants included! But there’s nothing worse than that dried-up, dehydrated feeling, so make sure your plants are watered regularly during dry periods.
Harvest your produce
Depending on your vegetable gardening schedule, you may have produce that is ready to be harvested in June. Veggies like early potatoes, carrots, lettuce, and peas may be ready to make their way into the kitchen, but again, this depends on your personal schedule and whether your vegetable plants are ready.
Plant out indoor seedlings
If you’ve been growing seeds indoors or in your greenhouse over the spring months, they could be ready for planting out in their final position. Like harvesting, this will depend on your individual schedule and the stage of growth your seedlings are in. In either case, keep a close eye on them and move them outside when they look ready!
Weed regularly
Give your plants the best chance to thrive by keeping on top of weeds that might threaten their growth.
Deadhead spring flowers
Whilst you might be excited about bringing new life to your garden this summer, it’s essential not to forget about the flowers you’ve already grown! Regular deadheading helps your flowers last longer and prevents them from self-seeding (which marks the end of their life cycle).
Order Gardening Essentials from Fothergill’s
Now that you’ve got a better idea of what to sow in June, and what gardening jobs you need to add to your to-do list, it’s time to order some supplies from Fothergill’s. We’ve got a wide range of tools and accessories to make your time in the garden that much easier, whether you’re sowing, planting, or just maintaining.
If you’ve got any further questions about what to sow in June, don’t hesitate to contact us or dig deeper into our gardening blog for even more advice and inspiration!
