As the calendar flips into June, the garden steps into full performance mode. The soil is warm, the days are long, and everything—plants included—seems to hum with life. It’s no longer about planting what will survive; now, it’s time to plant what will thrive. June may mark the end of spring, but for the gardener, it's a powerful beginning.
Here’s a curated planting guide for June—a blend of heat-lovers, tropical treasures, companion favorites, and a few floral showstoppers that don’t just grow... they perform.
Greens That Laugh at the Heat
Mizuna (Japanese Mustard Green)
While lettuce wilts and spinach sighs, mizuna throws on sunglasses and stretches toward the sun. This elegant Asian green, with its feathered leaves and mild mustard bite, is perfect for summer salads and stir-fries. Quick-growing and heat-tolerant, it’s a champion in raised beds and balcony boxes alike.
Pro tip: Harvest young for baby greens or let it grow for a fuller bite. Either way, mizuna doesn’t flinch when temperatures rise.
The Sun Worshippers
Black-Eyed Peas (Cowpeas)
These legumes don’t just tolerate the sun—they crave it. Black-eyed peas flourish in sizzling weather and poor soil, making them a favorite in southern gardens. Whether it’s 'Purple Hull' or 'California Blackeye No. 5', these plants are low-fuss and high-reward.
Bonus: They fix nitrogen, meaning they actually feed your soil. Plant them between peppers or corn as a helpful companion.
Fire-Loving Fruit
Peppers
Peppers are the sun's biggest fans. From sweet to spicy, these heat-loving plants thrive when the nights stay warm and the days sizzle. Great in containers or grow bags, peppers appreciate support once the fruit starts setting.
Container hack: One 7-gallon grow bag = one happy pepper.
Underground Gold: Cassava (Yuca)
This tropical titan doesn't come from seed but from cuttings, and once planted, it grows like it owns the place. Cassava offers huge yields with little maintenance—but there’s a catch: it must be cooked thoroughly to remove naturally occurring cyanide.
Harvest tip: Leave the tubers in the ground until ready to process—nature’s built-in root cellar.
The Tall Tale of Sunflowers
Beautiful, bold, and occasionally controversial—sunflowers divide gardeners. Some swear their roots release chemicals that stunt nearby plants. Others say that’s garden gossip. Either way, they’re stunning and multi-functional.
Try this: Use ‘Mammoth’ sunflowers as living trellises for runner beans. Want compact joy? Go for ‘Sunspot’ or ‘Vanilla Ice’.
Summer’s Second Wind: Succession Planting
Just because spring crops have left the stage doesn't mean the soil should rest. June is perfect for round two.
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Determinate Tomatoes: Small, manageable, and ideal for filling garden gaps.
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Squash & Cucumbers: Starting now may skip the worst pest cycles.
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Strategy: Keep a few seedlings ready to drop in when space opens up.
Blooms That Beat the Heat
Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena)
Drought-tolerant, sun-loving, and practically made for Instagram. These Dr. Seuss-style blooms dry beautifully, keeping their color all year.
Garden design tip: Dedicate a small bed to mixed varieties—they’ll reward you with color and pollinators through frost.
Heritage With Heat Resistance
Seminole Pumpkin
An heirloom native to Florida and built for the tropics. With vines stretching up to 25 feet, this squash covers ground quickly and cranks out flavorful fruit with impressive shelf life.
Fun fact: A well-cured Seminole pumpkin can last over a year.
Bitterness With Benefits: Bitter Melon
Not a melon, not really a gourd—this tropical vine has a category of its own. Loved across Asia and the Caribbean, bitter melon is prized for its health benefits and culinary uses. While it lives up to its name raw, cooking transforms it into a flavorful, complex ingredient.
Medical studies: Show promise in blood sugar regulation. Diabetics take note.
Herbs With Grit
Some herbs were made for summer. Here are three that don’t mind the heat:
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Chives (or Garlic Chives): Easy, deer-resistant, and great for filling small spaces.
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Fennel: Grow for fronds, bulbs, or seeds. ‘Bronze Fennel’ acts as a decoy for caterpillars.
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Dill: ‘Tetra’ for leaves, ‘Bouquet’ for pickling flowers and seeds.
Pro tip: Succession sow herbs every few weeks to keep flavor fresh and foliage full.
The June Gardening Mindset
June isn’t the gardener’s pause button—it’s a pivot. It’s the time to plan ahead, replace the tired, and embrace the bold. From tropical root crops to balcony-friendly blooms, this month is a celebration of plants that love the sun and return the favor tenfold.
So fill the gaps, try something new, and let the garden ride the heatwave with style.
