Planting Seeds in June: A Guide for Gardeners
June is the perfect time to start sowing seeds for a vibrant summer display in your garden. Here are some flowers and vegetables that thrive in the British summer and are suitable for planting this month.
Vegetables
Lettuces
Lettuces like 'Romaine Ballon', 'Lollo Rossa', and 'Tom Thumb' are ideal for sowing in June. These varieties produce sweet and crunchy salad or braising leaves, and you can expect them to be ready for picking between six weeks for loose-leaves and 10 weeks for hearting lettuces.
Carrots
Carrots can be sown outside now for harvests later in the season. Varieties like 'Flyaway' and 'Maestro' are more resistant to carrot root fly, making them a great choice for your garden.
Spring Onions
Sow spring onions like 'Guardsman' and 'White Lisbon' this month for continuous harvests throughout summer and into autumn. These varieties are ideal for containers.
Runner Beans
Runner beans can be sown outside this month and prefer a warm, sheltered spot with sturdy support. Varieties like 'Snowstorm' and 'White Lady' have pure white flowers that are less prone to being eaten by birds and produce delicious beans.
Cornflowers
Cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus) can be sown direct into well-prepared soil in a sheltered, sunny spot this month. These hardy annuals attract pollinating insects and make beautiful bouquets.
Flowers
Stock Flowers
Stock flowers produce dense clusters of double-petal blooms in a wide color range. They are best sown in neutral soil with partial sun and regular watering. Deadheading encourages continuous blooming throughout summer until late heat or frost.
Sunflowers
Sunflowers are easy to grow and can reach heights between 3 to 6 feet. They follow the sun and bloom all summer into fall when planted after the last frost. Dwarf and giant varieties are available.
Sweet Peas
Sweet peas climb on trellises and provide fragrant, delicate blooms in white, pink, and purple. They are best suited for milder climates and alkaline soil with weekly watering. Partial shade helps in warm regions, and deadheading maintains flowering.
Midsummer Blooms
For a longer-lasting midsummer display and if you want perennial options to plant by June for summer bloom, consider Agastache and Hostas.
Agastache is an aromatic perennial with spikes of colorful flowers that bloom from midsummer into fall. They attract pollinators and thrive in full sun and drought-prone soil with minimal care.
Hostas, while prized mostly for foliage, also bloom in midsummer with bell-shaped flowers in shaded spots. They prefer partial to full shade and moist soil, ideal for filling shaded garden areas.
Quick Color for Patios
For quick, vibrant color in containers or patio pots starting from June or July, Lantana is an excellent choice. This plant produces clusters of brightly colored flowers and thrives in full sun and heat, drought-tolerant yet benefits from watering. It blooms until the first frost with deadheading.
Combining Colors
Combining cornflowers with calendula, ammi majus, or daucus carota creates a dramatic display. Forget-me-nots can be sown in-situ this month and will readily self-seed once established, adding more color to your garden.
By following this guide, you can create a beautiful and vibrant summer garden that will provide you with fresh vegetables and stunning flowers throughout the season. Happy planting!
[1] RHS - Planting Guide: June [2] RHS - Growing Agastache [3] RHS - Growing Hostas
- To add a touch of vibrant color to your home-and-garden, consider planting Lantana in containers or patio pots during June or July for blooms that last until the first frost.
- For more colorful additions to your lifestyle, you can try sifting through various recipes that feature fresh vegetables like carrots, lettuces, and runner beans picked straight from your home-and-garden.
- Fashion-and-beauty enthusiasts might find inspiration in the striking blooms of sunflowers, Cornflowers, or Stock Flowers. These flowers can brighten up any space, making beautiful arrangements or adorning your personal style.
