Fruit & vegetable growing guide for June

June is a month when the UK often experiences hot and sunny weather as the country approaches its longest day of the year on the 21^st of the month. With the extra daylight hours and warm temperatures, it means there is a lot you can do in June in terms of sowing and harvesting and it is one of the busiest months of the year for gardeners.

There is a long list of vegetables to plant in June and a lengthy list of the best fruits to plant in June in the UK, as well as lots of other gardening jobs you can get on with in the month. As it is such a busy month in the garden with a multitude of jobs that can be done you might need an extra pair of hands to help you, especially if you suffer from a mobility problem and you need to use aids like stairlifts or walking frames.

Stefan Drew, who is the founder of the Bite Sized Gardening website, talks a bit more about why June is an exciting month for gardeners.

He said: “Many people think that the longest day signifies a downhill slope towards the end of the gardening year. But nothing could be further from the truth. In many ways, it’s the beginning of yet another year.

“I’ve spent much of my life as a market gardener, horticultural lecturer and gardening correspondent, and for me, this is one of the most exciting times of the year. Not only are the days long and inviting, but, once in the garden, the fresh air and tranquillity of being in a natural setting makes me feel good. And even without a large garden or allotment, it’s still possible to grow nutritious fresh and tasty crops on a windowsill, in containers on a terrace or even on a balcony.”

No matter if you are a beginner and want to know what vegetables to plant in June in the UK, or you are an experienced gardener, this guide looks at the best fruit to plant in June in the UK and the different types of vegetables you can sow as well.

Vegetables to plant in June in the UK

There are plenty of vegetables to plant outdoors in the UK during the month of June and here you can read on to find out which vegetables you can start planting and what you need to consider.

Salad crops and peas

In June you can continue sowing salad crops such as lettuce, beetroot, radish, pak choi, and peas. Leafy salad usually does best in shady sites as continued hot and dry weather can lead to bitter-tasting leaves, so if you have a shady area of your garden you should look to sow the seeds there.

Stefan Drew adds: “Some of these crops can be ready in weeks. Try sowing radish for example and you could be eating them in as little as 3-4 weeks. And a handful of peas could be producing edible pea shoots in just a couple of weeks. Try densely planting them you’ll soon have an edible jungle to add to salads.

“Alternatively grow mange tout and you could be eating the whole pod in no time or try a podding variety to give you garden fresh peas.

“For me, every month is seed sowing month and I expect to harvest crops 52 weeks a year. In winter my greenhouse supplies me with over 20 varieties of leafy crops, from coriander to Chinese cabbage and mizuna. You could grow these as well.”

READ MORE: Fruit & vegetable growing guide for May

French and runner beans

French and runner beans are some of the most productive crops and they can be grown in small gardens, which makes them a hugely popular vegetable to grow. They are commonly grown up a wigwam of canes and are usually sown straight into the ground or in large pots.

Jason, who is the writer behind the Gardening With Jason blog, spoke a bit more about planting climbing beans and what other vegetables you can plant in June:

“The vegetable garden is in full swing by June, but there is still plenty to plant including climbing beans, dwarf beans and sweetcorn for a late-season crop. Salad vegetables such as lettuce, beetroot and radish can be planted, though lettuce likes a shady spot for protection from the heat.”

When you are growing runner beans you will need to find a sunny position in your garden for them and an area that has moisture-retentive soil. June can be a very dry month and runner beans are thirsty plants so you will need to water them regularly.

If you are planting runner beans you will need canes or bean poles so they can climb up them when growing and you will need to spread the canes about 40cm apart with the rows 75cm apart.

READ MORE: Fruit & vegetable growing guide for April

Turnips, kohl rabi and autumn brassicas

Although winter brassicas need to be sown earlier in the season, you can sow turnips, kohl rabi and other autumn brassicas like calabrese for an autumn crop.

These vegetables are ones that Jason highly recommends growing. He said: “Autumn crops such as swede, calabrese, kohlrabi and turnip can be planted and work well where you have dug up your early potatoes.”

White, green and purple varieties of kohl rabi can be sown in June, but no matter what variety you choose to plant, it is a good idea to make successional sowings, allowing you to harvest continually while the veg is young and tender.

Turnips are also quick and easy to grow from seed and are ready to harvest from six to 10 weeks. If you are planting turnips you should look to plant them in cool, moisture-retentive soil. Early turnips are the best varieties to plant in June and can be harvested throughout the summer months.

READ MORE: Fruit & vegetable growing guide for March

Carrots

Although many gardeners will sow their carrots in May at the latest, you can sow them up until the end of June and still harvest great crops during the autumn months.

UK home and gardening blogger Catherine, who runs the Growing Family blog, says she sows carrots in June: “Carrots need warm soil to germinate, so this is a great time of year to sow seeds. Try to remove as many stones from the soil as you can to avoid split roots, or go for a shorter variety such as Chantenay.

“Carrots will grow well in containers too, so if your soil is poor or you’re tight on space this is a good option. And while you’re sowing seeds, you could have some fun growing fairy carrots in a jar with the kids – magic!”

There are other varieties of carrots that you can sow in June and these varieties include Early Nantes, Autumn King, Rothild or Paris Market Round.

READ MORE: Fruit & vegetable growing guide for February

Spring onions

Spring onions are another easy-to-grow vegetable that can be sown in June, and they will be ready to harvest in just eight weeks. Many gardeners use them as a ‘filler crop’ between rows of slower-growing vegetables as they grow so quickly and don’t take up much room.

Spring onions can be used in multiple dishes and are a tasty addition to a salad or a stir fry as well as being able to be eaten raw or cooked.

Spring onions will grow in any good fertile soil so long as it drains well. Before planting the seeds, you should prepare your soil by raking it and if you suffer from mobility problems and need aids such as curved stairlifts or other aids, then you may need to ask for help doing this. Once you have prepared the ground, you will need to make drills around 1.5cm deep and roughly 15cm apart.

READ MORE: Fruit & vegetable growing guide for January

Squashes

There are so many different types of squashes, and these range from butternuts, summer squashes and pumpkins and whilst they are planted indoors, in June you can begin to sow them outdoors as the last of the frosts will have passed.

By sowing squashes into the ground in June, you can get them off to an early start and can benefit by producing larger crops. You will need to sow two or three seeds at each sowing site, 2.5cm (1in) deep, then cover with cloches, jars or plastic to ensure that they are kept safe from slugs and snails.

Gardener Katharine Woods, who is also known as The Tea Break Gardener, talks a bit about the technique she uses to plant squashes: “My father’s patented planting technique, which I have since adopted, is to dig out a large hole, say 30x30cm and at least that deep. Fill the hole with manure, even heaping it into a little mound, and plant the seedling directly into the manure. Pull a bit of the soil around them and water. Squash are hungry feeders and should really love you for this technique. Otherwise, you could feed with chicken manure pellets at the base of each plant throughout June, July and early August.”

READ MORE: Fruit & vegetable growing guide for December

All the vegetables you can plant in June

• Beetroot
• Lettuce
• Pak choi
• Radish
• Peas
• Mange tout
• Turnips
• Kohl rabi
• Calabrese
• French and Runner Beans
• Spring onions
• Carrots
• Swedes
• Cauliflowers
• Chicory
• Endive
• Sweetcorn
• Pumpkins, butternut and summer squashes
• Courgette and Marrows

Fruit to plant in June in the UK

If you are wondering what fruit to plant in June, there are plenty that you can sow during the month. Read on to find out more about the fruit to plant in June.

Blackberries and hybrid berries

Blackberries and related hybrids, such as tayberries and loganberries, grow best when they are trained along walls or fences. There are thornless blackberry varieties that can be grown in containers which is perfect for people who don’t have much space in their gardens.

Jason said that in June you should train new shoots from blackberries: “Thin fruit tree crops to ensure a better quality harvest and remove suckers from the base of the trees. Train new shoots from blackberries and hybrid berries as these produce next year’s fruit.”

READ MORE: Fruit & vegetable growing guide for November

Tomatoes

At this time of the year, tomatoes can be transferred from growing indoors or in greenhouses to outside and when picking a spot, you should choose an area of your garden that is well sheltered and is sunny. You can also plant tomatoes in pots or in growing bags and put them outdoors if you are tight on space.

As June is one of the hotter months of the year, you will need to water your tomatoes regularly, so you keep the compost evenly moist. Fluctuating moisture levels can cause the fruit to split or rot, and as plants growing in containers can dry out quickly, you will need to water them daily, especially during hot spells of weather.

READ MORE: Fruit & vegetable growing guide for October

Strawberries

It doesn’t matter whether you have a large or small garden, if you are growing strawberries, they grow extremely well in pots, hanging baskets, planters, growing bags, window boxes or in the ground.

For gardeners who will be planting them into the ground, you will need to prepare the soil by digging in manure and spreading fertiliser before you sow the seeds.

The next step is to plant the strawberries around 30-45cm apart and will need to ensure any roots are buried well. After planting them it is vital that you water them regularly, especially for the first few weeks as this will help them to establish themselves more quickly.

READ MORE: Fruit & vegetable growing guide for September

Melons

In June you should transplant outdoor melons under cloches, but you will need to choose a spot in your garden that is sunny and well sheltered.

If you live in a colder region of the UK, you can still grow melons, but they will need to be grown in a cold frame or in a greenhouse. All three types of sweet melons (cantaloupe melons, honeydew types and musk melons) can be grown in your gardens.

READ MORE: Fruit & vegetable growing guide for August

All the fruits you can plant in June

• Blackberries and hybrid berries
• Melons
• Strawberries
• Tomatoes

Other gardening jobs to be done in June

There are lots of vegetables and fruit to plant in June in the UK, but there are other general tasks which you can do around the garden during the month too.

Gardening blogger Jason spoke about some of the other gardening jobs you can do during the month. He said: “June’s main jobs are to keep weeds down and control pests such as slugs and aphids. Between the warmth, digging and watering, the weeds grow like crazy. Many vegetables, such as garlic and onions, don’t like competition and can be crowded out.”

One of the main jobs in June is to regularly water your fruit and vegetables and if you are growing fruit in pots you will need to feed them high potassium liquid.

You should also look at pruning any fruit trees or raspberries during this time of the year as they can grow very quickly and will need to be kept on top of.

Crops that are ready to be harvested in June

• Asparagus
• Beetroot
• Spring onions
• Garlic
• Turnips
• Broad beans
• Carrots
• Radishes
• Peas
• Potatoes
• Spinach
• Salad leaves

READ MORE: Fruit & vegetable growing guide for July

This article looks at just some of the fruit and vegetables you can plant in May and the jobs you should consider doing during the month. For more tips and blogs like this, head to our news section.