What to plant in June — zone 4a
Zone 4a averages its last spring frost around May 20 and its first fall frost around September 20. Everything below is timed from those two dates, so it stays useful whether you're planting for summer or for a fall harvest.
Transplant out
- Tomatoaround Jun 3
Safe to set out 2 weeks after last frost. Bury 2/3 of the transplant stem — roots form along the buried stem for a stronger plant.
- Pepperaround Jun 3
Safe to set out 2 weeks after last frost. Pinch first flowers on transplants so the plant invests in roots before setting fruit.
- Cucumberaround Jun 3
Safe to set out 2 weeks after last frost. Trellis vertically to double yield in the same footprint and cut mildew.
- Zucchiniaround Jun 3
Safe to set out 2 weeks after last frost. One plant feeds a family. Pick at 6-8 in for the sweetest fruit.
- Basilaround Jun 3
Safe to set out 2 weeks after last frost. Pinch tips weekly. Once flowers open, leaves lose flavor — snip them fast.
- Winter squasharound Jun 3
Safe to set out 2 weeks after last frost. Cure 10 days in a warm dry spot after harvest — the skin toughens and storage doubles.
- Basilaround Jun 3
Safe to set out 2 weeks after last frost. Pinch flower spikes the moment you see them — leaves stay sweet all season.
- Watermelonaround Jun 3
Safe to set out 2 weeks after last frost. Ripe = tendril nearest the fruit is brown and the ground spot has turned buttery yellow.
- Cantaloupe / Melonaround Jun 3
Safe to set out 2 weeks after last frost. Ripe fruit slips off the vine with a gentle tug — the smell alone tells you.
Direct sow
- Zucchiniaround Jun 3
Soil is ready 2 weeks after last frost.
- Basilaround Jun 3
Soil is ready 2 weeks after last frost.
- Sweet cornaround Jun 3
Soil is ready 2 weeks after last frost.
- Winter squasharound Jun 3
Soil is ready 2 weeks after last frost.
- Basilaround Jun 3
Soil is ready 2 weeks after last frost.
- Watermelonaround Jun 3
Soil is ready 2 weeks after last frost.
- Cantaloupe / Melonaround Jun 3
Soil is ready 2 weeks after last frost.
- Bush beanaround Jun 3
Warm soil — first summer sowing of bush bean.
- Cucumberaround Jun 3
Warm soil — first summer sowing of cucumber.
- Zucchiniaround Jun 3
Warm soil — first summer sowing of zucchini.
- Sweet cornaround Jun 3
Warm soil — first summer sowing of sweet corn.
- Basilaround Jun 3
Warm soil — first summer sowing of basil.
- Winter squasharound Jun 10
Warm soil — first summer sowing of winter squash.
- Beetaround Jun 17
Warm soil — first summer sowing of beet.
- Carrotaround Jun 17
Warm soil — first summer sowing of carrot.
Garden care
- Mulch every bedaround Jun 10
3-4 in of straw or leaves now holds water, blocks weeds, and cools roots for the whole summer.
- Set up deep wateringaround Jun 17
Switch to fewer, longer soaks (1-1.5 in/week at the root) instead of daily sprinkles.
Start indoors for fall
Direct sow for fall
- Parsleyaround Jun 14
Fall parsley window opens — sowing now beats the last-minute date by a month of growth.
- Bush beanaround Jun 19
Fall bush bean window opens — sowing now beats the last-minute date by a month of growth.
- Lettucearound Jun 20
Succession sowing 3 of 3 — sow every 21 days for a steady cut.
- Peaaround Jun 24
Fall pea window opens — sowing now beats the last-minute date by a month of growth.
- Cilantroaround Jun 25
Succession sowing 3 of 3 — sow every 21 days for a steady cut.
- Carrotaround Jun 25
Fall carrot window opens — sowing now beats the last-minute date by a month of growth.
- Beetaround Jun 29
Fall beet window opens — sowing now beats the last-minute date by a month of growth.
- Dillaround Jun 29
Fall dill window opens — sowing now beats the last-minute date by a month of growth.
Succession sow
- Bush beanaround Jun 17
Sowing 2: replant every 14 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Sweet cornaround Jun 17
Sowing 2: replant every 14 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Cucumberaround Jun 24
Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Zucchiniaround Jun 24
Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Basilaround Jun 24
Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
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