What to plant in June

June is ideal for direct sowing beans, cucumbers, squash, and basil in zones 5–6 (if you didn't in May). In zone 7–8, succession planting extends harvests. In zones 8–10, it's peak summer and the focus is on heat-tolerant crops. June is the last practical month to start cool-seas

June can feel like you've missed the window — but for many crops you haven't. Succession sowing keeps the harvest coming, heat-season vegetables love June conditions, and a well-timed planting can produce a fall harvest that surprises you.

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What's still worth planting in June

Beans

Bush and pole beans can be planted in June in any zone where frost is 50+ days away. Per Penn State Extension, beans "mature in 50–65 days from planting" — a June 1 planting produces harvest by late July in zone 7. A June 15 planting in zone 5 (last fall frost September 30) produces beans by mid-August.

Per NC State Extension, succession plant beans every 2–3 weeks through June for a continuous harvest rather than one large flush that exceeds what you can use.

Summer squash and cucumbers

Both are fast producers (45–65 days from direct sowing) that do well with June plantings. Per Penn State Extension, "succession planting every 3–4 weeks extends the harvest and avoids the midsummer glut."

A June 1 sowing of zucchini in zone 7 will produce harvest by mid-July, extending the season past a May sowing that may be past peak production by late July.

Corn

Final window for corn planting in zone 5–7. Per Penn State Extension, "corn planted after June 15 in zone 6 may not mature before fall frost." Use short-season varieties (65–75 day) for June sowings.

Melons (zones 5–6 final chance)

Zone 5–6 gardeners who haven't planted melons yet: June 1 is the latest practical date for transplanting watermelon or cantaloupe starts in zones with a September 30 frost. Choose short-season varieties ('Sugar Baby' watermelon at 75 days, 'Honey Rock' cantaloupe at 70 days). Per University of Minnesota Extension, "longer-season melons are not practical in zone 4–5."

Sweet potatoes

June is the best planting month for sweet potato slips (rooted cuttings) in zones 6–8. Per NC State Extension, sweet potatoes need "90–120 frost-free days" and warm soil (above 65°F). A June 1 planting in zone 7 gives 140+ days before first frost — ample time.

Basil

If you didn't plant basil in May, June is perfectly fine. Basil grows very fast in warm conditions and a June 1 planting in zone 7 will produce a full harvest by July. Per Clemson HGIC, basil "thrives in hot weather" and actually performs better in June–August heat than in the cooler temperatures of early May.

Heat-tolerant greens

When cool-season crops have bolted, these substitutes provide salad greens through summer:

• Malabar spinach (Basella alba): Tropical vine that thrives in heat. Per NC State Extension, "Malabar spinach is a warm-season alternative to true spinach and produces prolifically in summer." Sow directly in June.
• Purslane (Portulaca oleracea): Grows as a weed in most gardens; cultivated varieties have larger, more succulent leaves. Nutritionally dense.
• Amaranth (leafy types): Grows in heat and produces edible leaves. Direct sow in June.
• New Zealand spinach (Tetragonia tetragonioides): Not a true spinach but produces spinach-like leaves. Tolerates heat and drought. Sow directly in June.

What has mostly passed

Peas

Cool-season peas planted in March–April will be finishing their production by mid-June in zone 7. Replanting peas in June for a fall harvest is possible but challenging in zones 6–8 — they need to mature before fall frost but also need cool weather to thrive, which is only available in September–October. Per Penn State Extension, timing a fall pea crop requires "counting back 60 days from the first fall frost date."

For zone 7 (first fall frost ~October 15), a fall pea sowing in mid-August is the better approach.

Lettuce and spinach

Bolting risk increases sharply in June in zones 6–8. New plantings of regular lettuce in June will likely bolt before producing much in zones 7–8. The exception: heat-tolerant lettuce varieties ('Jericho', 'Muir', 'Nevada') planted in partial shade with consistent moisture. Per Cornell Cooperative Extension, "summer lettuce production is possible in zones 6–7 with shade cloth and heat-tolerant varieties."

Starting fall crops in June

June is not just about summer planting — it's the beginning of fall-harvest planning.

Kale and collards for fall harvest

Per Penn State Extension, "kale and collards planted in late June to early July produce the best fall harvest." Kale flavor improves with frost exposure; plants started in June and harvested from September through November are sweeter than spring-planted kale.

Direct sow or start transplants indoors in the last week of June for zone 6–7. Space kale 12–18 inches apart; collards 18–24 inches.

Broccoli and cabbage transplants for fall (zones 5–7)

Start broccoli and cabbage seeds indoors in late June for a late-July transplanting date. Per Penn State Extension, "fall broccoli started from seed in late June produces harvest in September–October in zone 6–7."

Fall broccoli and cabbage are often superior to spring crops because they mature in cooling weather — per NC State Extension, "cool temperatures before harvest improve flavor, especially sweetness."

June heat management

June brings the first heat stress events of the season. Several practices reduce plant stress:

Mulching: Apply 2–3 inches of shredded bark or straw mulch around tomatoes, peppers, and other transplants. Per Penn State Extension, "mulch reduces soil temperature by 10–15°F, conserves moisture, and suppresses weeds." This is the single highest-leverage task in the June garden.

Deep watering: Per UC Cooperative Extension, "infrequent, deep watering promotes deeper root development than frequent shallow watering." Water the vegetable garden to a depth of 8–10 inches, then allow the top inch or two to dry before watering again.

floating row cover removal: If you're still using frost protection row covers from spring, June is the time to remove them from heat-sensitive crops (lettuce, spinach) that will bolt faster under cover. Keep row covers available for emergency use against hailstorms.

Ornamental June planting

Dahlias (if not yet planted)

Dahlia tubers can still be planted in early June in zones 5–6. They bloom 90–120 days after tuber planting. A June 1 planting in zone 5 produces blooms in September–October before first frost.

Tropical annuals

Caladiums, elephant ears (Colocasia spp.), and cannas are all best established from June heat onward. Per Missouri Botanical Garden, elephant ears "require consistently warm temperatures (above 60°F) for best growth."

Cutting garden annuals

Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus), cosmos, and globe amaranth can all be directly sown in June for late-summer cut flower production. Per NC State Extension, "succession sowing sunflowers every 2–3 weeks" from May through June produces continuous cut flowers through September.

Regional guide for June

Northeast (zones 5–7)

Plant: beans, squash, cucumbers, tomato succession plants, basil, sweet potato slips. Start: fall broccoli and kale indoors (late June). Monitor: first heat stress events; apply mulch.

Southeast (zones 7–9)

June is hot. Focus on okra, Southern peas, sweet potatoes, and heat-tolerant herbs. Afternoon watering is inefficient — water in early morning per Clemson HGIC.

Midwest (zones 4–6)

Zone 5–6: still good planting window for all warm-season crops in early June. Zone 4 (last frost June 1): final direct sowing of warm-season crops.

Pacific Northwest (zones 7–9)

Zone 8 PNW: June is often still cool enough for cool-season crops. Plant tomatoes and peppers when nighttime temperatures consistently exceed 50°F. Per Oregon State Extension, "zone 8 PNW gardeners sometimes get their best tomato production from June-planted transplants" as the longer daylight accelerates growth.

State planting calendars

• New York: /planting/ny/
• Minnesota: /planting/mn/
• Texas: /planting/tx/
• Oregon: /planting/or/

Frequently asked

Is it too late to plant tomatoes in June?

In zones 5–6, June 1–15 is the last practical window for tomato transplanting, using transplants (not seeds). Per Penn State Extension, "tomatoes need at least 75–90 frost-free days after transplanting." Zone 5 gardeners with a September 30 frost can transplant tomatoes through about June 15.

In zone 7, tomatoes planted in June will produce, but the harvest window is shorter than May-planted tomatoes.

What vegetables grow fastest?

Per Penn State Extension, the fastest-producing vegetables for June planting: radishes (25 days), green onions from sets (30 days), beans (50 days), zucchini (45 days). These are all appropriate for June planting even in zones with early fall frost.

Should I fertilize June plantings?

Apply a balanced slow-release granular fertilizer at planting. Per Penn State Extension, a soil test is "the most accurate guide to fertilizer needs" — without a test, 5-10-10 or 10-10-10 at the label rate is a reasonable starting point for most vegetable gardens.

Sources

1. Penn State Extension — Vegetable Production
2. NC State Extension — Vegetable Crops
3. Clemson HGIC — Basil and Summer Vegetables
4. University of Minnesota Extension — Summer Planting
5. Cornell Cooperative Extension — Summer Lettuce
6. Missouri Botanical Garden — Tropical Annuals