What to Do in the Vegetable Garden in June

June is a crucial month for your potager garden, offering prime conditions to plant tender vegetables like tomatoes, courgettes, and beans as the soil warms up and frost danger passes

Take advantage of warm temperatures to grow fast-producing crops and use succession planting for continuous harvests of lettuce, radishes, carrots, and more

Harvest spring crops at their peak, including crisp lettuce, fresh radishes, and sweet strawberries, picking regularly to encourage more yield

Keep your garden healthy with consistent watering, weeding, and pest control, focusing on morning watering and natural pest management

Support climbing plants like beans, cucumbers, and tomatoes early, and prune key fruiting crops to boost airflow, reduce disease, and increase productivity

With proper care and timing, your potager can stay productive, organized, and bountiful all summer long

Plant tender vegetables like tomatoes, courgettes, and beans as the soil warms up in June

June is the prime time to plant tender vegetables that need warm soil and no risk of frost.

These crops grow fast when temperatures rise and will produce well through summer.

Best Tender Vegetables to Plant in June

• Tomatoes – transplant outdoor or greenhouse varieties
• Courgettes (zucchini) – direct sow or plant out seedlings
• Cucumbers – great for greenhouses or warm sunny spots
• Beans – both bush and climbing types do well
• Peppers and eggplants – best planted as young plants

Planting Tips for Success

Choose a sunny location with well-drained soil.

Prepare the soil by loosening it and mixing in compost or well-rotted manure.

Water seedlings well before transplanting to reduce shock.

Space plants properly to allow for airflow and growth.

Support and Care After Planting

Use stakes, cages, or trellises for tomatoes and climbing beans.

Keep the soil moist but not soggy, especially during dry spells.

Protect young plants from slugs and snails with organic barriers or traps.

Check out our sale of vegetable plants for healthy seedlings ready to plant.

Recommended Planting Schedule for June

Sow fast-growing crops for succession planting to ensure a continuous harvest

Succession planting means sowing small batches of crops every few weeks instead of all at once.

This keeps your potager garden productive and avoids gluts or shortages.

June is ideal for sowing crops that mature quickly and love warm soil.

Best Vegetables for Succession Sowing in June

• Lettuce – sow every 2–3 weeks for fresh salads
• Radishes – ready in under a month, great for gaps
• Spinach and rocket – fast leafy greens with peppery flavor
• Beetroot – sow now for late summer harvests
• Carrots – use quick-maturing varieties like 'Amsterdam Forcing'
• Green onions (spring onions) – easy and reliable

How to Plan Succession Planting

Divide your growing space into sections or rows for staggered planting.

Sow a new batch every 10–14 days to keep the harvest going.

Keep a simple garden journal or use a checklist to track sowing dates.

Use empty spots left after harvesting spring crops like peas or spinach.

Tips for Success

Water the soil well before sowing seeds, especially in dry weather.

Use compost or organic matter to keep soil fertile between plantings.

Thin seedlings early to avoid overcrowding and improve growth.

Protect young seedlings from pests like birds and slugs.

Try using cloches or row covers to boost warmth and protect crops.

Quick Guide to Succession Sowing in June

For more tips on planning your garden layout, check out our guide to types of potager gardens.

Harvest early vegetables such as lettuce, radishes, and strawberries at their peak

June is the month when spring-planted crops reach their best flavor and texture.

Picking at the right time ensures quality and encourages more production.

What to Harvest in June

• Lettuce – best picked young and crisp, before it bolts
• Radishes – ready in weeks, harvest before they get woody
• Strawberries – pick when fully red and ripe for sweetest taste
• Spinach – cut leaves before flowering starts
• Green onions – pull when stems are firm and white
• Chives and other early herbs – snip regularly to promote growth

How to Harvest for Best Results

Harvest in the morning when plants are hydrated and cool.

Use clean scissors or pinch off leaves by hand to avoid damaging plants.

For lettuce and spinach, pick outer leaves first to let the center keep growing.

Radishes should be pulled gently to avoid breaking the root.

Strawberries are best picked with a small piece of stem attached.

Signs Each Crop Is Ready

Regular harvesting keeps plants producing longer.

Don’t wait too long – overgrown radishes turn pithy and lettuce can bolt fast in heat.

For ideas on using your fresh harvest, see our recipe ideas for garden-fresh dishes.

Maintain your potager garden with regular watering, weeding, and pest control

June brings warmer weather and faster plant growth, making garden upkeep crucial.

Staying on top of basic tasks keeps your vegetables healthy and productive all summer.

Watering Tips for June

Most vegetables need about 1 inch of water per week, more in hot or dry spells.

Water deeply and less often to encourage strong root growth.

Early morning is the best time to water, reducing evaporation and leaf diseases.

Use soaker hoses or drip irrigation to deliver water directly to roots and save water.

Avoid wetting leaves of tomatoes and cucumbers to prevent mildew.

Smart Weeding Strategies

Weeds grow fast in June and compete with crops for water and nutrients.

Remove weeds while they're small and before they seed.

Hand-pull or use a hoe for surface weeds, being careful not to damage plant roots.

Mulching helps block weeds and keeps soil moist.

Apply organic mulch like straw, grass clippings, or compost around plants.

Pest Watch and Natural Control

Common June pests include aphids, slugs, cabbage worms, and flea beetles.

Check plants regularly, especially under leaves and at growing tips.

Remove pests by hand or use a strong spray of water to knock off aphids.

Use lightweight row covers to protect crops like lettuce and brassicas.

Encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings by planting flowers nearby.

Monthly Maintenance Checklist

For more ways to protect your crops naturally, explore our potager garden video tips.

Support climbing plants and prune fruiting crops to boost growth and yield

June is the time to guide fast-growing plants and shape fruiting crops for better air flow and harvest.

Proper support and pruning reduce disease and increase sunlight exposure.

Plants That Need Support

Climbing and vining vegetables grow quickly in warm June weather.

Set up supports early to avoid damaging roots later.

• Tomatoes – use cages, stakes, or strings
• Beans – pole beans need trellises or bean poles
• Cucumbers – train on nets or frames
• Peas – use twine, netting, or twiggy branches

Secure stems gently with soft plant ties or twine.

Check ties every few days and adjust as plants grow.

Types of Supports to Use

Pruning for Better Harvests

Pruning improves airflow and directs energy into fruit, not leaves.

Focus on tomatoes, cucumbers, and squash.

How to Prune Key Crops

Tomatoes (indeterminate types):

• Remove side shoots (suckers) that form between main stem and branches
• Pinch them off when small, about 2–3 inches long
• Leave 6–7 fruit trusses then top the plant in late summer

Cucumbers:

• Pinch off the growing tip after 5–6 leaves to encourage side shoots
• Remove lower flowers and side shoots up to the 5th leaf
• Keep main vine growing upward and tie in regularly

Zucchini and squash:

• Pinch the tip after 6 leaves to promote branching
• Remove old or diseased leaves to improve air flow
• Pruning helps reduce mildew risk in humid weather

For easy DIY support ideas, check out our tipi jardin potager guide.

Make the Most of Your June Potager Garden

June is a key month for your potager garden with plenty of planting, harvesting, and care tasks to keep things productive

Plant tender vegetables like tomatoes, courgettes, and beans as the warm soil boosts growth and reduces frost risk

Use succession planting for crops like lettuce, radishes, and carrots to enjoy fresh harvests all summer long

Harvest spring crops at their peak including crisp lettuce, snappy radishes, and sweet strawberries

Stay consistent with watering, weeding, and pest checks to keep plants strong during the summer heat

Support climbing plants early and prune fruiting crops like tomatoes and cucumbers to improve yield and reduce disease

With the right timing and care, your garden can be both beautiful and bountiful all season

For more growing tips and garden inspiration, explore our guides on vegetable plants for sale and types of potager gardens