What to plant in June

June is a great month to sow seeds directly outdoors and get young plants into the ground. It's time to plant out any tender crops and annuals that are still in the greenhouse, such as tomatoes or poached egg plants. Both air and soil temperatures are high at this time of year, giving plants a good start.

Bear in mind, however, that dry periods and drought can inhibit plant growth, due to the lack of moisture in the soil. Keep an eye on new plants and seedlings and provide extra water when necessary. Lots of vegetable and flower seeds can also be sown in June, including sweetcorn, outdoor cucumbers and night-scented stock, either to crop or bloom within a few weeks or – in the case of biennials like foxgloves – to overwinter for the following summer.



Seeds of flowering annuals sown in June will provide a splash of colour in late-summer to autumn, after many others have finished blooming. It's also possible to plants trees, shrubs and perennials this month, but make sure you water them regularly especially during hot weather. Find out more about which flowers, vegetables, shrubs and trees you can plant in June, below.

You will need: Many seeds can be sown outside at this time of year, and the last of the tender plants can be planted outside, which reduces the amount of kit you'll need but here's a few recommendations for tools you might need and some greenhouse advice. Tools, pots and supports: now that your seedlings are ready to plant out, you'll find that a hand trowel is a great tool for the job. Our expert testers have put a range of styles through their paces to find the best garden hand trowels, so you can buy in confidence.

If you're looking to create eye-catching containers with your homegrown plants, we've also selected the best eco friendly plant pots, while our pick of decorative garden obelisks and plant supports will help keep your sweet peas looking in tip top condition. Greenhouse: for those of you who have been toying with the idea of a greenhouse, we’ve got handy guides packed with information about how to choose the best greenhouse, as well as 12 of the most useful greenhouse accessories. No outside space? No problem – our round-up of the best indoor greenhouses is just for you.

Vegetables to grow in June Pak choi When to harvest: May to August. How to grow: Pak choi is a leafy vegetable, perfect for adding crisp texture and fresh taste to salads and stir-fries, with a flavour similar to something in between cabbage and spinach. Sow direct in shallow drills or in pots.

Now's also a good time to plant out young pak choi plants sown last month. How to grow pak choi Buy pak-choi seeds from Suttons and Thompson & Morgan Spring onions When to harvest: April to October. How to grow: Spring onions can be sown from March to August, and successional sowings every few weeks will ensure you have a continuous crop.

Sow direct into shallow drills about 1cm deep. Thin seedlings to 2.5-5cm apart and keep well watered.

Spring onions also do well in containers. How to grow spring onions Buy spring onion seeds from Suttons and Thompson & Morgan Broccoli When to harvest: July to November depending on variety. How to grow: June is a good time to plant out winter brassica seedlings now that the weather has warmed up.

This is also the latest you can sow calabrese (the dome-headed broccoli). Sow direct in well-prepared soil or into multi-celled trays to plant out later. Purple sprouting broccoli which is sown between April and mid June will be ready to harvest between January and May the following year.

How to grow broccoli Buy broccoli seed from Thompson & Morgan and Crocus Florence fennel When to harvest: July to October. How to grow: Florence fennel can be sown direct between April and July. Successional sowings every couple of weeks from May to July should ensure harvests from around August to October.

Sow into well-prepared soil and thin the seedlings to 30cm. Florence fennel thrives in moist conditions so keep plants well watered. How to grow Florence fennel Buy Florence fennel from Suttons, Sarah Raven and Crocus Pumpkins When to harvest: September to October.

How to grow: Early June is your last chance to sow pumpkins to provide them with sufficient warm days to develop size and good flavour. If you live in Scotland or a cold area it would be better to sow earlier to ensure a long enough growing season. Remember to choose your seeds wisely.

Large pumpkin cultivars are often bred for size alone, so if you're growing pumpkins to eat, choose a cultivar that's known for flavour. Sow direct into fertile soil or into individual pots to plant out later. Alternatively, plug plants can be planted out this month.

How to grow pumpkins Buy pumpkin seed from Suttons and Crocus Peas When to harvest: June to October. How to grow: Peas can be sown direct outdoors in June. Improve the soil before you sow your peas, digging in some compost or well-rotted manure.

Dig a shallow trench around 20-25cm wide and sow peas 3cm deep. Sow them 7-10cm apart in two parallel lines. How to grow peas Buy peas from Thompson & Morgan and Suttons Courgettes When to harvest: July to October How to grow: this month is your last chance to sow courgettes direct outdoors if you want to ensure a long enough growing season.

It's also a good month to plant out courgette seedlings grown indoors. Choose a warm, sunny spot. Harden off young plants first before moving permanently outdoors.

Sow courgettes 2.5cm deep and space 90cm apart. Keep plants well watered and feed every two weeks, once they start flowering, with tomato fertiliser.

How to grow courgettes Buy courgettes from Sarah Raven and Thompson & Morgan Flowers to plant in June Poached egg plant, Limnanthes Flowers: June to September How to grow: Sow seed shallowly in well prepared soil. Choose a bed in a sunny spot. With its distinctive white and yellow flowers, the aptly named poached egg plant (Limnanthes douglasii) is a lovely hardy annual to grow.

It should self-seed freely and naturalise in the garden. How to grow poached egg plant Buy poached egg plant from Thompson & Morgan and Crocus Nasturtiums, Tropaeolum Flowers: June to September How to grow: Colourful and easy to grow, nasturtiums are great for filling borders and training to climb up a trellis. They also work well as companion plants for veg crops, including French beans, soybeans and runner beans.

Sow seed 1.5m deep, 10cm apart. Once seedlings emerge, thin to 30cm apart.

How to grow nasturtiums Buy nasturtium seed from Thompson & Morgan and Crocus Coreopsis Flowers: June to October How to grow: June is the last month of the year for sowing coreopsis outdoors. Try 'Incredible Dwarf Mixed' (pictured), which produces a froth of attractive, cheery flowers. Sow direct where they are to flower, scattering seed on a to a well-prepared bed.

Coreopsis is one of the best plants for containers, too. How to grow coreopsis Buy coreopsis from Thompson & Morgan and Crocus Night scented stock Flowers: June to October How to grow: Night-scented stock can still be sown now, to ensure you have blooms right up until the first frosts. Sow direct into beds that have been weeded and raked smooth.

Scatter the seed and then rake over lightly. Once seedlings emerge, thin them out to around 20cm apart. Deadhead regularly to encourage a further flush of colour.

How to grow night-scented stock Buy night-scented stock from Thompson & Morgan and Mr Fothergill's Hardy geraniums Flowers: June to October How to grow: buy a potted hardy geranium such as Geranium 'Rozanne', one of the varieties which flowers all through the summer into autumn. Plant it in a spot that gets sun to partial shade, with the top of the rootball level with the surrounding soil. Water well after planting, and regularly until established.

How to grow hardy geraniums Buy hardy geraniums from Sarah Raven and Mr Fothergill's Lobelia Flowers: June to September How to grow: June is a good month to plant out lobelia – either seedlings that you have grown on indoors, or plug plants from the garden centre. Harden off indoor grown plants before planting out, to get them used to outdoor conditions. Plug plants bought now should be big enough to plant straight into hanging baskets or containers.

How to grow lobelia Buy lobelia from Suttons and Thompson & Morgan Mexican fleabane, Erigeron karvinskianus Flowers: June to October How to grow: this is a good choice if you're looking for new perennials to buy at the garden centre this month. It flowers for months and will self seed around the garden, creating more plants for free. Plant Mexican fleabane in sun or partial shade, in free draining soil.

How to grow Erigeron karvinskianus Buy Mexican fleabane from Sarah Raven and Crocus Cosmos Flowers: July to October How to grow: June is a good month to plant out cosmos seedlings or plug plants now that the danger of frost is over. Plant in sunny borders or containers, in well-drained soil. Choose shorter varieties for pots as many cosmos can grow over a metre tall.

Compact varieties such as 'Sonata White' reach around 60cm. How to grow cosmos Buy cosmos from Sarah Raven and Thompson & Morgan Fruit to grow in June Melons When to harvest: July to September How to grow: It's too late to sow melons this month, but it is the perfect time to plant out melon seedlings, either into greenhouse borders, or outdoors, depending on which variety you are growing. Nurseries online often sell garden-ready melon plants.

Cantaloupe varieties are best for outdoor growing - check first that the variety is suitable before planting and choose a sunny, sheltered position. How to grow melons Buy melons from Thompson & Morgan and Mr Fothergill's.