June in the Garden
Long days, warm nights, and gardens in full swing ☀️
June marks the start of summer and brings the longest day of the year — on the 21st — filling gardens with light, warmth, and energy. Everything seems to be growing at once: flowers are blooming, vegetables are ripening, and weeds are trying to take over! It’s a month of maintenance, harvesting, and making sure all that spring effort starts to pay off.
Top Jobs for June
- Harvest strawberries – The first fruits should now be ready to pick. Cover with netting to keep birds from stealing your crop.
- Harvest vegetables – Early potatoes, asparagus, salad leaves, carrots, onions, beetroot, peas, and tomatoes are ready for picking. Enjoy the first taste of your homegrown produce!
- Sow for succession – Continue sowing fast-maturing vegetables like radish, lettuce, and rocket for a steady summer supply. You can also sow winter crops such as cauliflower, swedes, runner beans, French beans, and beetroot for later harvests.
- Prune soft fruits – Keep currants and gooseberries productive with light pruning, and net them to protect berries from birds.
- Pollinate tomatoes – Gently tap or shake the flowers each day to help pollination and boost fruit yields.
- Keep tomatoes watered – Mist plants, especially in greenhouses, to maintain humidity and reduce the risk of pests.
- Thin out overcrowded seedlings – This gives healthy plants space to grow and mature properly.
- Plant out seedlings – Crops started in spring, such as leeks, French beans, squashes, tomatoes, sweetcorn, and peppers, can now go into their final positions.
- Vent the greenhouse – On hot days, open vents and doors to prevent overheating. Shade glass and spray the floor with water to cool things down.
Vegetable Seeds to Sow in June
You can still sow plenty of fast-growing and late-season crops this month:
Peas, radish, kale, rocket, tomatoes, spinach, beetroot, carrots, lettuce, courgettes, swedes, and broccoli.
Harvests will range from 25 days for rocket to 100+ days for swedes.
General Garden Care
With June 21st bringing the longest day, your plants are thriving in the light and warmth — and so are the weeds! Keep hoeing borders regularly in dry weather to stop them in their tracks.
Water wisely, especially in dry spells, and mulch beds to lock in moisture. Remember to mow lawns weekly, stake tall or floppy plants, and prune spring-flowering shrubs once they’ve finished blooming.
Top 10 Jobs This Month
- Hoe borders regularly to keep down weeds.
- Be water-wise — use rainwater where possible and water deeply rather than frequently.
- Pinch out sideshoots on tomatoes.
- Harvest lettuce, radish, and early potatoes.
- Position summer hanging baskets and containers outside.
- Mow lawns at least once a week.
- Plant out summer bedding for vibrant displays.
- Stake tall or top-heavy plants to prevent wind damage.
- Prune spring-flowering shrubs.
- Shade greenhouses to protect plants from scorching sun.
What’s in Stock This Month 🌿
At Newquay Garden Centre, June is a celebration of summer colour and homegrown produce! Find everything you need for a thriving garden:
- Strawberry plants, vegetable seedlings, and herbs ready to plant
- Hanging baskets and patio planters bursting with blooms
- Tomato feed, compost, and watering accessories for healthy growth
- Mulch, lawn care, and pest control products to keep your garden in balance
- Shrubs, perennials, and ornamental grasses to add lasting texture and colour
Pop in and let our friendly team help you make the most of these long, sunny days — your garden will thank you!
Cornwall Gardening Tip
Cornwall’s long, mild summers make June one of the best months for growing — but the sea breeze can quickly dry soil and pots. Water early or late in the day, and use mulch or water-retaining compost for hanging baskets and containers. If you’re near the coast, staking tall plants and using windbreaks will help protect blooms from blustery days.
