What to plant in June: 5 seasonal favourites to fill your garden
Gardening experts share their top recommendations for flowers and vegetables to add to your garden this month
June brings with it lots to do in the garden, and while many of your plants may be blooming already, there's still time to add more to your plot this month.
Whether you're cracking on with your June gardening jobs or are looking for ways to transform your garden on a budget, this month is the perfect time to add some new plants to your space.
There are many late summer flowers and vegetables you can start sowing and planting out now that will offer food as well as colour as we head into autumn. Our team of gardening experts have shared their recommendations on what you can still plant this month for impressive results.
What to plant in June: 5 seasonal additions
Looking for plants for autumn colour or to try your hand at vegetable gardening? It's not too late to expand your plant collection outside and add a little bit more life to your space.
1. Cosmos
As some of the best cutting flowers you can grow in your garden, cosmos are a great choice for florals. They're pretty hardy and will bloom all the way into autumn.
"If you started Cosmos off from seed indoors or in your greenhouse, then June is the perfect time to transplant them out into your garden, with the longer days, warmer temperatures and warmer soil all enabling these frost-tender half-hardy annuals the ideal conditions to quickly establish and continue to grow a strong root system which will support their vibrant blooms from mid-summer until autumn," starts Lucie Bradley, gardening expert at Easy Garden Irrigation.
"When finding the perfect spot for cosmos, look for somewhere they will be able to get full sun, so a bright south or west-facing location is usually best. The great thing with cosmos is that you don’t need to prepare the ground by digging in compost, as they don’t like overly rich soil and actually thrive in poor to moderate soil as long as it’s free-draining," she adds.
Lucie does, however, warn against crowding your pots or bedding areas with too many cosmos. She recommends spacing them around 30cm apart to give them enough room to grow.
"Whilst cosmos are highly drought-tolerant once established, when first planted, ensure that you keep them well watered until they have settled in," she continues.
With over 28 years of experience working in the garden industry, Lucie has been fortunate enough to spend every day speaking to both amateur and professional gardeners.
2. Hebe
As one of the fastest-growing shrubs you can add to your garden, hebe's are perfect if you're looking to add some dimension or privacy to your space.
"This shrub prefers a sunny or partially shaded area in the garden and needs free-draining soil. Since it needs regular watering in hot weather until it’s established, avoid using heavy soil that is prone to waterlogging," says Chris Bonnett, founder of GardeningExpress.co.uk.
It can be a good idea to check your soil type before planting species that are particularly vulnerable to intense soil conditions.
Chris is the founder of the online garden centre GardeningExpress and has been in the horticulture industry for over 20 years. Whilst he was young, he combined his passion for the outdoors with the internet to deliver quality plants across the UK and Europe.
3. Carrots
Carrots are fantastic for succession planting, as you can sow their seeds from between April and August and still have a successful harvest from them.
"Carrot seeds can be sown in June in well-drained, moisture-retentive soil. You’ll want to place seedlings around 5cm apart so they have enough space to grow. If you’re growing carrots in a container, make sure it's deep enough for the carrots to grow. A pot that is around 30cm deep is usually ideal," says Chris.
If you've got a pot big enough, carrots can make pretty good patio container plants, just make sure they have plenty of room to grow.
4. Cucumbers
Even if you don't have much outdoor space, cucumbers are a tasty treat you can grow in pots when you opt for compact varieties. If you do have more space, though, regular cucumbers are a great addition to a veggie patch.
"Cucumbers need warm weather, so wait until temperatures are consistently above 12°C. Once planted, water generously. You’ll also need support for cucumbers if growing vining varieties. This is a great option for those with smaller garden spaces, as cucumbers take up little space on the ground," says Chris.
5. Marigolds
Marigolds are a great addition to your garden for many reasons. Not only are they one of the best companion plants that will deter pests, but they're also wonderfully scented.
"They grow so easily and require so little care, but they're also great companions to the other plants in my garden by attracting beneficial pollinators and predatory insects, their aroma deterring common pests like aphids and their roots naturally suppressing harmful soil nematodes," Lucie says.
"The best varieties for these beneficial properties are French Marigolds and Signet Marigolds. June is the perfect time of year to plant marigolds as these annuals thrive in warmth."
"Both the higher soil and air temperatures of June mean that they will quickly establish and produce a strong root system, which in turn helps them to mature quickly so that they will be in flower in just six weeks after planting and continue producing colourful blooms through until October, encouraged by deadheading spent flowers," she adds.
FAQs
Is June too late for planting?
Although there are plenty of summer gardening jobs to get ticked off this season, you might be a little dubious about planting halfway through the year.
"June is still an excellent time to plant, particularly in containers. Many summer flowers will continue performing for months, and vegetables such as beans and salad crops can still produce strong harvests when planted in June," says Dr Russell Sharp, horticulture expert and Founder of Eutrema.
"The main adjustment is dealing with heat. During hot weather, it's better to plant early in the morning or later in the evening, water thoroughly after planting, and keep a close eye on moisture levels while new plants settle in," he adds.
It's important to know when the best time to water your garden is, too, as this changes seasonally and impacts the health of your plants.
Dr Russell Sharp is a plant scientist and innovator, best known for developing the range of plant care products offered by his company, Eutrema. He previously served as Senior Lecturer in Horticulture at Moulton College and Northampton University, where he shared his expertise with the next generation of plant enthusiasts.
What to plant in pots in June in the UK?
While there are plenty of container gardening mistakes to make, having plants in pots can make gardening much easier and more manageable.
"Begonias are one of the best plants for pots in our gardens, as our damp summers, duller days provide them with their ideal environment of moist soil and partial shade, so that they provide us with continuous blooms from early summer through to the first frosts of autumn," explains Lucie.
"June is the ideal month for establishing petunias in pots, as these half-hardy annuals, which might struggle to start growing in a cold, wet spring, will thrive now that all chance of frost has passed and the soil is warm," she continues.
"Highly sensitive to cold, wet soil, I wait until June and the warmer weather to start planting Dahlias into pots in my garden so that the warmer soil encourages rapid, strong growth. If planted too early in the year, both the cold temperatures and wet soil can lead to tubers rotting, whilst warmer, drier weather makes it a safe time to have potted dahlias outside," finishes Lucie.
Want to make the most of the space you have in your garden? These plants will make a big impact in even the smallest of spaces and give you that lush look without changing your entire garden.
