Garden Tasks — June 2021
Welcome to summer. Those luxurious hot days we were longing for way back in the February cold snap have arrived. My garden is almost blindingly green. The grass, trees, veggies, and flower foliage are all loving the sun and they seem to put on another flush of growth each time we get one of those big rainstorms. In July, we will get hotter and drier, so make the most of this month by spending time in your garden in the tasks below. Or just sipping a cold drink and appreciating the view.
Planning and Projects: Take It Easy
I always recommend paying attention to what your friends and neighbors are growing and making a note if you might like to try it next year, but otherwise don’t take on any major projects in June. You likely have enough to do with the regular tasks of watering, harvesting, protecting, and supporting, so don’t put pressure on yourself to add another big project to the list. Unless of course, you haven’t installed your garden yet, in which case, let’s do it!
Food: Harvest and Hang On
Harvest your cool weather crops as soon as they are ready… peas, broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots won’t do well in the heat.
To grow lettuce in the hot months, get a heat resistant variety and place it in a partially shaded area. You might do better with arugula, kale, mustards, or collards.
You can still plant seedlings of tomatoes, eggplant, peppers and sow seeds of okra, cucumbers, squash, melons, and beans.
Continue to support tomatoes, cucumbers and other large, vining plants by attaching them to a trellis, stake, or cage. If they are getting too unwieldy, you can cut a few stems off near the bottom, removing up to 1/3 of the plant.
Fertilize eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes when they set their first fruit — try GardenTone or TomatoTone.
If you start to harvest more than you can eat fresh that day, consider drying some herbs, freezing veggies like broccoli, kale, and peas, or making a quick pickle with cucumbers and tomatoes.
It’s time to fertilize tomato plants when they get their first tiny fruit.
Flowers: Buzzing Around the Blooms
Many more flowers will start to bloom this month, especially those that draw bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to your garden. Sit for a while and enjoy watching the insects collect pollen and nectar.
Stay on top of watering as it starts to get hotter.
Start to fertilize annual plants at least once a month — you can use the same fertilizer as you’re adding to the soil around tomatoes or one like FlowerTone that’s more specifically formulated for flowers. There are so many different options, get experimental and see what works best for you. . . if you’re into that kind of thing.
Deadheading — cut the spent blooms from marigolds, petunias, geraniums, cosmos, zinnias, and snapdragons.
Plant a few more zinnias, marigolds, or sunflowers if you have space.
You can also plant dahlia and gladiolus tubers for blooms at the end of summer.
Flowers need support too! If they are getting big, tie them to a stake so they don’t topple over in a thunderstorm.
You can now cut back the yellow or floppy foliage of your tulips and daffodils. They should’ve already stored up all the energy in their bulbs they’ll need to bloom next spring.
Speaking of bulbs, fall-planted bulbs are now offered for sale online. They will be shipped to you at the right time for planting. Would you like to have some tulips, daffodils, or alliums in your garden next year? Now is the time to place your order.
Feelings: Steady On and Celebrate
June could be one of the busiest months in your garden, but don’t let it get you overwhelmed. Create a task list and try to do a little every day (Feel free to copy mine).
Take a moment to appreciate every harvest. Take a picture and post it with pride. YOU GREW THAT!
