Things to do on the plot June

Written by Behemoth

Tear yourself away from the World Cup and your fervent support to help Sven and the boys ‘go all the way’ and spend some long evenings in the garden or on the plot.

Outside

Sowing

Beetroot – for late summer early winter

Maincrop carrots such as Autumn King. Germination may be fast so sow thinly to avoid excessive thinning and attracting carrot fly.

Chicory – witloof for forcing and the salad type. Both provide winter pickings. Sow direct or in pots and plant out in July.

Endive – as for chicory

Courgettes, marrows and some squash can still be sown in June. They like to have the soil enriched with manure or compost. Speed germination with cloches.

French beans, runner beans – direct or in pots for planting out.

Basil, coriander and parsley can be sown outside.

Kohl rabi – cover with mesh or fleece immediately after sowing to avoid flea beetle attack.

Lettuces, radishes, salad onions.

Peas, sugarsnaps and mange-tout can be sown to mid-June. There is still time to sow a final crop of broad beans too.

Sprouting broccoli for an early spring crop.

Swedes – until mid-June

Chard

Sweet corn - until mid-June – covering with a cloche or fleece can aid germination. Best planted in a block about 12 to 15 inch apart each way.

Planting out and transplanting

Plant out tender crops that have been sown in pots under cover e.g. beans, courgettes, squash, sweet corn.

Plant out/transplant brassicas – early sowings in pots and cells can be transplanted to their growing positions when they are large enough. Firm the soil down where they are to be planted, walking over a plank on the soil is one way to do this.

Celeriac and sweet corn can be planted out as well but still give them some fleece protection. They need lots of water.

Cardoons and artichokes need a lot of space and will be in situ for three or four years so give them plenty of compost and manure in the soil before planting.

Leeks can go from the seed bed when they are about the size of a pencil or, if you delay a little bit, they can be grown on the site of your harvested early potatoes.

Thinning

Be ruthless - thin earlier sowings to the recommended intervals to speed growth. You can often eat these thinnings.

Pests

They’ll be on the march. Watch for them. Prevent them if you can with netting and other barrier methods and, if you are infested, treat as appropriate, quickly and without mercy. They are eating your food! Wahhahahhhahaaaaaaa….!

Watering and Weeding

Give your growing crops the best chance by keeping weeds at bay and watering as necessary. Use mulches if you haven’t already. Remember water is a finite resource, so be sensible.

Harvesting

Lettuces, radishes, spring onions, spring cabbage and chard (if it has already bolted, sow some more), early potatoes, if you’re lucky, and maybe carrots.

Under Cover

Sowing

PSB – sow under cover and plant out later when other crops are cleared.

Sweet corn – you should have planted out your first plants raised undercover in the spring. Make a second sowing now for a second harvest. Choose an early variety.

Watering is key.

Tomatoes - Spray early tomato flowers lightly to help first fruit set. Keep them well watered but watch drainage, they like lots of water, but hate sitting in wet soil. Mulch.

Cucumbers – keep adding soil or compost around the stem and keep this moist but not wet. You may have to water twice a day to keep up with them.

Aubergines – don’t get water on the leaves make sure you run it onto the ground.

Ventilation is vital

Don’t shut the doors and windows at night unless you are an early riser. Temperatures rise very quickly in the morning and could cause plants to wilt if they go too high. Keep ventilation constant.

Feed + Pests

Feed plants regularly to ensure good crops and watch for signs of pests.

Fruit

Pick fruit as soon as it’s ready – it won't wait for you

Train in new canes of blackberries, loganberries, tayberries etc.

Summer-prune gooseberries and red currants late in the month.

Protect strawberries with straw or other groundcover.

Put the netting back on your fruit cage.

Not sure about anything covered here? Ask your question on the forum.