June is the month to tend, protect and harvest. In cold climates (USDA zones 3 to 5), finish planting warm-season crops early in the month, harvest peas, lettuce and strawberries, mulch and water, and start pest patrols. In temperate zones 6 and 7, harvest garlic scapes and early crops, succession sow beans and carrots, prune and stake tomatoes, guard squash against vine borers and Japanese beetles, renovate strawberry beds after harvest, and start fall broccoli and cabbage seeds late in the month. In warm zones 8 and 9, manage summer heat with deep watering, mulch and shade, harvest daily, and plan fall gardens. In frost-free zones 10 and 11, the rainy and hurricane seasons begin, so focus on drainage, cover crops and tropical fruit.
June garden tasks by region
| Region | Typical areas | Top June tasks |
|---|---|---|
| Cold (zones 3 to 5) | Upper Midwest, northern Plains, northern New England, Rockies | Finish planting; harvest peas, greens, strawberries; mulch; water; pest patrol |
| Temperate (zones 6 to 7) | Mid-Atlantic, Ohio Valley, lower Midwest, southern New England, inland Pacific Northwest | Harvest scapes and garlic; succession sow; stake tomatoes; vine borer and beetle control; start fall brassicas |
| Warm (zones 8 to 9) | Southeast, Gulf Coast, Texas, California valleys | Heat management; daily harvest; okra and southern peas; plan fall garden; hurricane prep on the Gulf |
| Frost-free (zones 10 to 11) | South Florida, coastal Southern California, Hawaii, low deserts | Rainy season drainage; cover crops or solarization; tropical fruit harvest; storm prep |
Check your zone on the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map and your first fall frost date with our frost dates by zip code tool; in June you already need it to plan fall crops. The latest planting date before frost calculator shows the last safe sowing date for each crop.
What to do in cold-climate gardens (zones 3 to 5)
- Finish planting tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers and beans in early June if not yet done.
- Harvest peas, lettuce, spinach, radishes and strawberries regularly, and pick rhubarb until late June, then let plants rest.
- Mulch once the soil is warm to hold moisture and suppress weeds.
- Hill potatoes again and watch for Colorado potato beetles, flipping leaves to find their orange egg clusters.
- Sow successions of beans, carrots, beets and lettuce (in light shade) every two to three weeks.
- Cover brassicas with netting against cabbage worms.
- Plant annuals in containers and beds, and deadhead spring perennials.
What to do in temperate gardens (zones 6 to 7)
- Cut garlic scapes when they curl, and harvest garlic in late June or July when the lower third of the leaves turn brown. Cure bulbs in a dry, airy place for two to three weeks. See growing garlic.
- Prune and support tomatoes: remove suckers below the first flower cluster on indeterminate varieties, tie stems to stakes, and remove lower leaves touching the soil to reduce early blight and Septoria leaf spot.
- Protect squash from squash vine borers (wrap stems or cover until flowering), squash bugs and cucumber beetles.
- Hand-pick Japanese beetles into soapy water in the morning as they appear in late June.
- Renovate June-bearing strawberries after harvest: mow or cut leaves, thin plants, weed, fertilize and water.
- Start fall broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower from seed late in the month for August transplanting.
- Succession sow beans, carrots, beets and cucumbers.
- Pinch chrysanthemums and asters until early July for bushier fall plants.
What to do in warm-climate gardens (zones 8 to 9)
- Water deeply early in the morning and keep 3 inches of mulch around plants.
- Harvest daily: okra, beans, squash and cucumbers become tough when left too long.
- Use shade cloth (30 to 40 percent) over tomatoes, peppers and lettuce in the afternoon to reduce sunscald and heat stress.
- Plant heat-tolerant crops: okra, southern peas, sweet potatoes, peppers, eggplant and amaranth.
- Plan the fall garden: in Texas and the Gulf South, start fall tomato transplants in late June to July for a second crop.
- Remove spent spring crops and consider solarizing empty beds for four to six weeks.
- Prepare for hurricane season on the Gulf and Atlantic coasts: prune dead branches, secure containers and trellises.
- Watch for spider mites and whiteflies, which thrive in hot, dry weather.
What to do in frost-free gardens (zones 10 to 11)
- Manage rainy season water: improve drainage, avoid overwatering, and watch for root rot and fungal diseases.
- Sow cover crops such as cowpeas, sunn hemp or sorghum-sudangrass in resting beds, or solarize.
- Harvest mangoes, lychees and avocados and clean up fallen fruit to reduce pests.
- Empty standing water from saucers and containers to limit mosquitoes.
- Prepare for storms: secure loose items and prune weak branches.
The University of Florida IFAS guide to what to plant in June lists summer crops for Florida.
What about the Pacific Northwest?
In maritime climates, June is when warm-season crops finally grow quickly. Plant any remaining tomatoes and squash early in the month, start watering regularly as summer drought begins, mulch, and harvest peas, strawberries and greens. Sow fall carrots, beets and kale late in the month. The Oregon State University Extension monthly garden calendars cover June tasks in detail.
Safety note: Work in the garden early or late in the day during heat waves, drink water often, and know the signs of heat exhaustion (heavy sweating, dizziness, nausea). Wear sunscreen and check for ticks. Follow labels on any pest control product, avoid spraying open flowers, and store products out of reach of children and pets. Empty standing water to reduce mosquitoes.
June tasks for every garden
Vegetables
- Side-dress corn when it is knee-high and tomatoes when the first fruits set.
- Keep soil evenly moist to prevent blossom end rot and cracking.
- Weed regularly; weeds compete hardest for water in summer.
- Watch for powdery mildew on squash and cucumbers, and remove badly affected leaves.
- Harvest herbs before they flower for the best flavor, and preserve extras; see drying herbs.
Fruit
- Thin apples, pears and peaches after the June drop.
- Net cherries, blueberries and strawberries against birds.
- Watch for spotted wing drosophila as berries ripen, and harvest every one to two days.
- Make jam or freeze berries; see how to make jam and freezing.
Flowers and shrubs
- Deadhead annuals and perennials to keep them blooming.
- Prune spring-flowering shrubs after bloom, including lilacs, forsythia and weigela, and old-wood hydrangeas right after flowering. See hydrangea care.
- Cut back early-blooming perennials such as catmint and salvia by a third for a second flush.
- Watch roses for black spot and Japanese beetles.
Lawn
- Mow cool-season grass high and water deeply about 1 inch a week, or let it go dormant in drought.
- Fertilize warm-season grass during active growth.
- Leave clippings on the lawn to return nutrients.
Houseplants
- Water outdoor houseplants more often in heat, and keep them out of harsh afternoon sun.
- Feed regularly during summer growth.
What can you plant in June?
| Region | Outdoors | Indoors |
|---|---|---|
| Zones 3 to 5 | Last tomatoes, peppers, squash early; beans, carrots, beets, lettuce in succession | Fall broccoli and cabbage late in month |
| Zones 6 to 7 | Beans, cucumbers, summer squash, carrots, beets in succession; sweet potatoes early | Fall broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower late in month |
| Zones 8 to 9 | Okra, southern peas, sweet potatoes, peppers, eggplant, amaranth | Fall tomatoes late June to July |
| Zones 10 to 11 | Cover crops; tropical crops such as cassava and taro | Not needed |
How do you plan a fall garden in June?
Fall gardens are planned in summer. Count back from your first fall frost date using each crop’s days to maturity, plus about two weeks because growth slows as days shorten. For example, broccoli that takes 70 days from transplant, with a first frost of October 15, should be transplanted by early August, which means starting seeds indoors in late June. Carrots, beets, kale and collards can be sown directly in July. Our latest planting date before frost calculator does this math for you, and the planting calendar gives a full schedule.
Common June garden mistakes
- Watering at night or overhead, which encourages leaf diseases.
- Letting harvests sit on the plant, which slows production.
- Missing early pest signs such as egg clusters and small holes.
- Forgetting to plan fall crops until it is too late to start seeds.
- Using high-nitrogen fertilizer on tomatoes, which produces leaves rather than fruit.
- Pruning old-wood hydrangeas in late summer, removing next year’s buds.
Looking ahead to July
July is peak harvest and peak heat in most regions: tomatoes, peppers, beans, cucumbers and squash pour in, and preserving begins. It is also the time to sow fall carrots, beets and greens and transplant fall brassicas in the North. Our free printable garden planner has blanching times and canning safety numbers for preserving the harvest. See also our May and April guides.
Garden tasks by month: January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December. For a task list built from your own frost dates, use our gardening calendar.
Free printable: the Year-Round Garden & Preserving Planner
Planting dates for 24 crops, monthly tasks, blanching times, canning safety numbers and a winter storage chart in one 8-page PDF. Enter your email to download it instantly and get our seasonal garden newsletter.
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June garden FAQ
What can I plant in June?
Beans, cucumbers, squash, carrots and beets in succession in most areas, plus heat-lovers like okra and southern peas in the South.
When should I harvest garlic?
When the lower third of the leaves have turned brown, usually late June or July.
Should I prune tomato suckers?
On staked indeterminate tomatoes, removing suckers below the first flower cluster improves airflow; determinate types need little pruning.
How do I stop squash vine borers?
Cover plants until flowering, wrap stems, and watch for the moths from late spring.
When should I renovate strawberries?
Right after the June-bearing harvest ends.
When should I start fall broccoli?
About 12 to 14 weeks before your first fall frost, often late June.
How do you keep the garden going through summer heat?
As temperatures climb, small adjustments keep plants productive. Water deeply in the early morning so leaves dry quickly and roots get moisture before the heat of the day; drip irrigation and soaker hoses deliver water efficiently with little evaporation. A 2 to 3 inch layer of straw, shredded leaves or grass clippings keeps soil several degrees cooler and cuts watering needs significantly. Shade cloth over lettuce, spinach and other cool-season crops can extend their harvest by weeks, and afternoon shade on tomatoes and peppers reduces sunscald. Avoid fertilizing stressed plants during a heat wave; wait until temperatures moderate. Harvest in the morning when vegetables are crisp and cool, and refrigerate them quickly. Our garden watering calculator estimates how many gallons your beds need each week, and the soaker hose length calculator helps you plan an efficient system.
Succession planting for a steady harvest
A garden that is planted once often produces too much at the same time and then nothing. Instead, sow small amounts of beans, carrots, beets, cucumbers and lettuce every two to three weeks through early summer, and replant as soon as a crop is finished. When peas and spring lettuce come out in June, follow them with bush beans, cucumbers or summer squash in the same space, and later with fall carrots, beets or kale. Keeping a little compost on hand to refresh beds between crops helps maintain fertility. Over a season, succession planting can produce two or three crops from the same bed.
Keeping records
June is a good time to note which varieties are thriving and which are struggling, when pests first appeared and how much you are harvesting. These notes become invaluable when you plan next year’s garden and order seeds in winter.
Finally, take a few minutes each week simply to walk through the garden. Regular, unhurried observation is the best way to catch problems early, from the first aphid colonies and beetle eggs to a dry corner where the irrigation is not reaching, and it is one of the most enjoyable parts of gardening.
References used in this guide: USDA Agricultural Research Service, Plant Hardiness Zone Map; University of Florida IFAS, What to Plant in June; Oregon State University Extension, Monthly Garden Calendars.
