“The month of June trembled like a butterfly”

What seeds to sow in June

This recent hot dry weather has brought some plants on quickly so they have already flowered and gone over or just shrivelled in the dry conditions having not set down roots. I delayed sowing my courgettes as I was not around to water them. I have sown these now edgeways 2.5 cm deep in large containers. Pumpkins, squashes and marrows can similarly be sown either directly on top of a mound of well-rotted compost (helps prevents rotting) or started off in modules or pots. However I am sowing some more runner beans directly as these are my favourite and also look pretty with the various coloured flowers – red of Scarlet Emperor or Enorma, white Moonlight or bicoloured St George. There is also a pink flowered variety too Celebration. 

Climbing French beans are another dual purpose climber with not only pretty flowers but various coloured pods from green, yellow or purple through to spotted Borlotti. Peas, sugarsnaps and mangetout can be sown directly until mid June. As you harvest lettuces, spring onions and radishes from early sowings keep sowing short rows or patches for a constant supply. Sow swedes, beetroot, kohl rabi and carrots but cover sown carrot seeds with insect proof mesh to prevent carrot fly. You could still sow sweetcorn early this month to give another crop of cobs.  

Planning ahead

Beguiled by the sunshine it’s also time to think ahead to winter cropping. Crinkly endive and crunchy chicory (either ‘Witloof’ type for forcing or leaf type) provide winter salad leaves or use as cooked vegetable. Hold off sowing Florence fennel until late June /July as it tends to bolt (run to seed) in the heat. Late purple sprouting broccoli such as Claret sown late June will be ready for planting out in late summer to give a harvest next spring

My sweet peas have already started into flower scenting the air. The longer warmer evenings encourage sitting out in the garden so I am sowing night scented stock and nicotiana sylvestris to add to the perfume. Other flowers seeds you might sow outside are the popular border flowers erigeron, sunflowers, cosmos and ammi majus for blooms in late summer or alstroemeria, foxgloves, sweet williams, wallflowers  and lupins to overwinter for next year. Annuals such as nasturtium, marigolds, calendula and poached egg plant are quick growers to attract the pollinating insects and pest predators which benefit our vegetables and fruit.

Culinary Herbs 

I will be sowing my herb seeds this month both direct outside and indoors in pots. Amongst the best herbs to grow for summer are basil, chervil, coriander, dill, fenugreek, oregano, parsley, sage, savory, rosemary and thyme. More on these and others next week!