What to sow and grow in June
What the hell - is it June already?
It’s hard to believe how quickly the garden has changed over the last few weeks. The recent mix of rain and sunshine has sent everything into overdrive - crops are growing fast, weeds are popping up everywhere, fruit is starting to ripen, and the daily to-do list seems to get longer each time we head out to the garden.
We’ve been busy here at Fat Tomato: potting up plants, sending our heritage tomato plants off to find new homes, sowing pumpkins and squash, and getting the first winter brassicas started. And yes, the pond project continues slowly, one stone at a time. The rain has helped - it’s filling naturally with rainwater now, so the next job is to add more stone around the edges as the pond starts to settle into the landscape and start thinking about which aquatic plants we want to introduce. It’s already becoming a lovely feature - even if it’s still a work in progress!
At this stage of the season, the garden is bursting with life. The polytunnel is full of lush growth - tomatoes and cucumbers are finally in their planting positions, the vines are growing everywhere, the peaches are fattening up nicely, and the scent of basil and herbs fills the air. Outdoors, the elephant garlic is shooting up with very long scapes, strawberries are ripening, and the first of the courgettes are nearly ready to pick.
The challenge this month? Keeping on top of everything - especially the slugs and snails which are appearing everywhere!
WHAT WE’RE SOWING AND GROWING IN JUNE
Tomatoes
The polytunnel tomatoes are in and growing fast - we’ve planted some outdoors again this year too.
We’ll have a variety of tomato plants at the Honesty Farm Shop for a few more weeks - big, small, yellow, purple, orange and a few weird and wonderful ones! Drop us a line if you are looking for something in particular.
Courgettes, Pumpkins and Squash
We’re sowing more courgettes this month for a staggered harvest through summer and autumn.
Now’s the time to sow pumpkins and winter squash for autumn harvest - for eating, seed saving, and for Samhain displays. We sow ours in potting compost as they are hunger things when they start to sprout.
Young summer squash plants will be planted out soon - plenty of compost and space needed. Fingers crossed for a better harvest than last year!
Runner Beans and Dwarf French Beans
Runner beans and climbing French beans are planted out on their supports. A family of rabbits keeps breaking into the netting around our runner beans - fingers crossed the beans recover!
Sweetcorn
Our first batch of sweetcorn is planted out in blocks - we’ll do another sowing this month. Sweet corn thrives in rich soil and requires ample water during dry spells.
Beetroot and Carrots
We’re direct sowing more beetroot and winter carrots this month making sure we will havve some for autumn / winter.
Salads and Leafy Greens
A great time to sow summer lettuce, endive, chicory, and heat-tolerant greens.
We’re sowing short rows every couple of weeks - always something fresh to pick.
Watering is key - salads bolt quickly if they dry out.
Cucumbers and Melons
Cucumbers in the polytunnel are thriving - we have eight varieties growing this year.
The melons were growing strongly in May but are looking a little stunted now - we have give them a good feed with some organic seaweed and are hoping for more heat and sunshine soon!
Herbs
We’re sowing more basil, parsley, coriander, dill, and chervil for summer harvests.
Perennial herbs, such as oregano, thyme, sage, and rosemary, are being trimmed and tidied.
Keep herbs well-watered and pick regularly to encourage fresh growth. Even if you are not using them, we give some to our feathered friends as they are so beneficial to their gut health.
Winter Brassicas
We’ve started sowing the first of the winter brassicas - kale, winter cabbage, and cauliflowers.
These will be planted out in July for harvests in autumn and winter.
Potatoes
The plants are well up now - we’re continuing to earth them as needed.
Ours are in big pots this year, so we’re mulching with grass clippings and homemade compost.
First earlies will be ready to harvest soon - always exciting to dig the first spuds!
Fruit
Strawberries are ripening nicely - we picked our first few last week, some of which are already in the freezer, ready to make the first batch of this season’s wild strawberry rose cordial.
Gooseberries and currants are swelling fast - we’re constantly checking the netting to keep the birds out!
The "June drop" will happen soon, when the apple and pear trees naturally drop some fruit.
Flowers for Pollinators
We’re still sowing quick-flowering annuals like nasturtiums, calendula, borage, cosmos, and cornflowers.
They’re brilliant for attracting bees and other beneficial insects.
Flowers are tucked between crops and along borders - a feast for pollinators, and our salads.
OTHER JOBS FOR JUNE
Weed and mulch - a never-ending job this month, but it makes a big difference if you stay on top of it.
Feed fruiting plants weekly with organic liquid feed - tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, and fruiting herbs will all benefit.
Water regularly - raised beds, pots, and polytunnels dry out quickly in warm, windy weather.
Harvest little and often - the more you pick, the more you get.
Don’t forget, we’ve got a full range of organically grown, open-pollinated heritage seeds ready to sow now - all selected for flavour, resilience, and success in Irish gardens. You’ll find them at our Honesty Farm Shop and in our online store.
Let us know how your garden is growing - tag us on Instagram or drop us a message.
Here’s to the joy (and the wild pace) of gardening in June.