Now we’re just three weeks away from the longest day of the year (summer solstice on June 21st), so the soil is warm enough to plant squash and bean seeds. Even in colder climates where the nights are still frosty, the growing season is just around the corner.

Maybe you have already planted carrots and lettuce, and your spring planted vegetable garden is already producing. Remember that planting more seeds now will produce a vastly extended harvest period. Planting more flower seeds now will extend your garden’s bloom time, and improve pollination of late crops like squash and pumpkins.

What to Plant in June

And now is the time to seriously consider planting seeds for fall and winter harvest. This is our list of seeds to start in June.

Direct sow outdoors:

Alyssum Alyssum
Arugula Arugula
Barley Barley
Basil Basil
Beans, Bush Beans, Bush
Beans, Pole Beans, Pole
Beans, Drying Beans, Drying
Beets Beets
Broccoli Broccoli
Buckwheat Buckwheat
Cabbage Cabbage
Carrots Carrots
Celeriac Celeriac (for winter harvest)
Chives Chives
Cilantro Cilantro
Cleome Cleome
Corn Corn
Cosmos Cosmos
Crimson Clover Crimson Clover
Cucumbers Cucumbers
Cynoglossum Cynoglossum
Dill Dill
Endive & Radicchio Endive & Radicchio (for fall & winter harvest)
Fennel Fennel
Gypsophila Gypsophila
Iberis Iberis
Kohlrabi Kohlrabi
Leeks Leeks (for winter harvest)
Lettuce Lettuce
Mustard Greens Mustard Greens
Nasturtiums Nasturtiums
Oats Oats
Oregano Oregano
Pansies Pansies
Parsley Parsley
Parsnips Parsnips
Phacelia Phacelia
Pumpkins Pumpkins
Rutabaga Rutabaga (wait until after June 21st)
Scallions Scallions
Sorghum Sorghum
Spinach Spinach
Squash Squash
Sunflowers Sunflowers
Swiss Chard Swiss Chard
Turnips Turnips
Yarrow Yarrow
Zinnias Zinnias
Zucchini Zucchini

Seeds to sow indoors in June:

Brussels Sprouts Brussels Sprouts (transplant in early August, fall & winter harvest)
Cauliflower Cauliflower (transplant in August for fall harvest)
Overwintering Onions Overwintering Onions (sow in late June, transplant in August)
Purple Sprouting Broccoli Purple Sprouting Broccoli (transplant in August for winter & spring harvest)

If you live outside of south coastal British Columbia, have a look at our Regional Planting Charts, adjusted for your growing area.