What to Plant in June: The Complete Guide

Many gardeners question what to plant in June given the variety of weather conditions happening during this month. Depending on your region, you could only just be starting your summer garden or it could even be in full swing! Knowing your local climate is key to a successful June garden, but what might be some reliable crops and flowers for you to consider planting during this month?

In Hardiness Zones 3-7, you can plant just about any flower or vegetable in June, including cabbage, lettuce, tomatoes, lavender, and more. However, warmer Zones may not be able to plant heat-sensitive crops at this point. Corn, squash varieties, peppers, and sunflowers are always reliable choices for the month of June, no matter your Zone!

As you can no doubt guess, understanding your Hardiness Zone and local temperature conditions is a must for a successful June garden. In this article, we’ll go over some popular summertime crops and flowers for you to consider planting, including whether you should plant these plants from seed or established starts. Let’s get digging!

What to Plant in June: The Complete Guide

Remember how fickle temperatures can be in June. While you likely won’t have to worry about freeze damage any longer, the heat of the day can be detrimental to the health of some plants planted during this month. Be sure to water in excess on extremely hot days and keep an eye on any young plants as they start to establish roots. With all of this in mind, here are some flowers, vegetables, and more to plant in June!

What to Plant in June: Flowers

Many flowers need springtime temperatures to get established before the heat of summer sets in. However, there are still many flower options that can handle high temperatures, particularly tropical or heat-loving blooms. Purchasing established flowers rather than growing things from seed may also assist in your garden’s success. Here are some options if you want beautiful flowers all summer long!

Sunflowers

An option that is easy to grow and the epitome of summer– what could be better than sunflowers planted in June!? So long as your soil temperatures are consistently over 60 degrees Fahrenheit, sunflower seeds of any variety will germinate and sprout in June. While you may need to keep wildlife away from your young plants (birds and rodents love sunflower seeds!), sunflowers simply need space to grow and, of course, full sunshine. The more space you give your seedlings, the larger your sunflower heads will be!

Gladiolus

Stately and capable of reaching heights of up to 4 feet tall, gladiolus flowers bring unique colors to any summertime garden. You can plant these blooms in June and even in early July, depending on your Zone. These flowers prefer full sunshine and plenty of organic matter with a dash of mulch to help with moisture retention. Plus, glads grow from bulbs, which means you can always dig them up, store them, and reuse them the following year!

Lavender

While you should purchase an already-established lavender plant for best success, this sweet-smelling classic thrives in summertime. In fact, most lavender varieties don’t begin blooming until May or June, giving you plenty of flowers to enjoy throughout July and August! Well-draining soil is a must for lavender; it is a very drought-tolerant plant. Otherwise, plant this beauty in full sunshine and let the bees have at it!

Begonias

Unlike all of the other flowers we’ve discussed so far, begonias prefer partial shade conditions, especially from June through August. Full sunshine can damage the delicate flowers on these plants. There are multiple types of begonias, depending on what you are looking for. Wax and tuberous begonias are popular for both their flowers and their foliage. You can easily pick up an established begonia plant from your local nursery. Water your begonias frequently in June, but make sure to avoid watering from above. Wetting the foliage can cause diseases easily.

Dahlias

With unique petals and tubers that’ll keep them coming back year after year, dahlias are a gorgeous investment for any garden. Thriving in full sunshine, dahlias do best when planted after soil temperatures have reached 60 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer. Similar to gladiolus, dahlias can reach immense heights. They’ll need plenty of proper spacing in order to thrive as well as staking as they grow taller. Finally, drainage is key to a healthy dahlia; they are extremely susceptible to rot!

Lily Varieties

Canna lilies are an extremely popular lily variety to plant in June, though calla lilies may also still survive when planted during this month, depending on your region. When it comes to nearly every subtropical or tropical lily type, waiting until your soil is close to 70 degrees Fahrenheit consistently is a good idea. Likewise, full sun is often necessary for these plants, but some prefer a bit of shade in the heat of the afternoon to keep their flowers blooming longer! Keep their soil consistently moist and be sure to fertilize throughout the summertime.

What to Plant in June: Vegetables

Be aware of your local weather conditions when you consider planting vegetables during the month of June. Some locations can still plant cold-tolerant crops such as peas or lettuce during this time. Other regions are far too hot for certain veggies during the month of June. It all depends on where you live! Here’s a smattering of vegetables that typically do well when planted during the month of June, no matter your location.

Green Onions

While other onion varieties need cooler temperatures and a long growing season in order to thrive, green onions are perfectly acceptable when planted from seed during the month of June. The other great part about them is that they’ll keep coming back until you pull them out by their roots! Full sunshine is ideal for green onions, though partial shade may help this crop last for a bit longer in the summer.

Chard

Nearly all varieties of Swiss chard grow well when planted in June, directly from seed. These leafy greens love full sunshine and composted soil, something fertile and rich to help these leaves thrive. You can continually sow chard seeds through July, depending on your region, and there are enough varieties to find something well-suited to your Zone. Best of all, chard grows up until your frost date in fall so long as you protect it from most heat waves!

Tomatoes

So long as you aren’t trying to grow your tomato plants from seed in June, you are free to plant already-established seedlings of any variety during this month! Tomatoes must have full sunshine to produce prolifically as well as some structural support as they age. With so many delicious varieties, you can easily find a tomato plant that suits both your region and lifestyle. Just make sure to consistently water your tomatoes, especially as they develop fruit.

Corn

Ready to grow in Zones 3-10 during the month of June, corn is a summertime staple. So long as you space your rows of corn properly, with pollination in mind, this is a surprisingly easy crop to manage and care for. Directly sow your corn seeds when your soil is consistently over 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit; corn plants will die in anything colder. Make sure to give your corn plenty of food and water while they’re growing, and keep an eye out for weeds that might interfere with its growth!

Summer Squash Varieties

Just like their namesake suggests, summer squashes can be planted in June. Yellow squash and zucchini are perfect for planting during this time of year when purchased as established plants or grown from seed. You’ll need to give your squashes plenty of space, but these crops are often extremely easy to care for. Be sure to plant some flowers nearby so that you can attract pollinators to your squashes. Once pollinated, it’s hard to stop a summer squash plant from producing!

Peppers

All pepper plants thrive in full sunshine. If you want to add peppers to your garden in June, it isn’t too late. However, be sure to purchase an established plant, as peppers take too long to germinate from seed. Much like tomatoes, peppers need support as they grow larger. And plenty of water, as well as compost, are musts for healthy, delicious pepper plants of any variety! Try to find a pepper that works best in your local area for greatest success.

Okra

An underrated vegetable that thrives in the hot summer sun, okra can absolutely be planted from established plants in June. However, make sure your Zone is ready for okra plants before you get too excited. This crop needs ambient temperatures in the 60s at all times and will likely thrive during dry spells and heat waves more than any other vegetable you plant. Full sun is therefore a must as well as some healthy servings of fertilizer!

Winter Squash Varieties

Many winter squashes, such as butternut and acorn, need over 100 days to reach maturity. That’s why June is typically ideal for planting winter squashes as well as summer squashes! As with all types of squash, full sunshine produces the best fruit and plants, while leaving plenty of space for these vines will also bring you success. Depending on the squash, you may need to protect your plants from the hottest summer days or at the very least provide them with extra water.

Cucumbers

Another staple of summertime, cucumbers can be grown from established plants in June. There are countless cucumber varieties, some of which do extremely well in containers. This is another plant that will require structural support as it gets taller, especially when you consider just how much cucumbers can weigh! You can even grow some types of cucumbers on trellises, so long as they’re planted in full sun.

Melon Varieties

From watermelon to cantaloupe to honeydew, you still have time to plant melons during the month of June. So long as your soil temperatures are 70 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer, melons should be planted as soon as possible. Watermelons in particular require at least 90 days of hot summer temperatures, in full sun, to produce their delicious fruit. Feed all melon types thoroughly and frequently. And take extra care to protect young fruits by lifting them off of the ground!

What to Plant in June: Make Sure it Can Take the Heat!

Most trees and shrubs should be transplanted in spring, which often means that June is too late to do this. However, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to plants, especially given just how different everyone’s region is. What else can you plant in June with success? Here are a few options with hot summer temperatures in mind!

Succulent Varieties

There are countless types of succulents out there, from cacti to sedum to hen and chicks. The good news is that all of them can be planted in June without you having to worry about the hot sun killing all of your hard work! This isn’t to say that succulents don’t need water, but nearly all types of succulents can take a bit of heat. You can plant succulents in containers or directly into the ground, depending on your landscaping and desires.

Heat-Tolerant Herbs (Basil & Sage)

Not all herbs can survive the summertime unless you live in the northernmost United States or Canada. However, there are a few heat-tolerant herbs to consider planting in June so that you can enjoy them all summer long. Basil, sage, thyme, and the aforementioned lavender all do well when planted as established plants during the month of June. Just give these herbs plenty of water if you notice them wilting!

Fruit Trees (With Care)

So long as you pay special attention to your tree and water it thoroughly, you may be able to transplant fruit trees during the month of June. This time of year likely won’t support the transplanting of more delicate fruit trees like pears or plums, but fig, lemon, lime, and orange trees often survive without much fuss. Just like all other plants, keep your new tree watered well after you first plant it. A bit of tree and fruit fertilizer goes a long way too!

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