What to plant in June: zone 4b
Zone 4b averages its last spring frost around May 15 and its first fall frost around September 25. 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
- Sweet Potatoaround Jun 5
Safe to set out 3 weeks after last frost. Plant rooted slips, not seed. Wait until soil holds 65F, then let vines sprawl and cure roots at 80F for 10 days before storage: that curing step is what makes them sweet.
- Eggplantaround Jun 5
Safe to set out 3 weeks after last frost. Eggplant sulks in cold soil. Transplant 3 weeks after last frost, not on it. Harvest while skin is glossy: dull skin means bitter, seedy flesh.
- Okraaround Jun 5
Safe to set out 3 weeks after last frost. Okra wants hot soil, 70F+, or seed rots. Pick pods at 3-4 in every other day: one pod left to toughen tells the plant to stop producing.
Direct sow
- Okraaround Jun 5
Soil is ready 3 weeks after last frost.
- Winter squasharound Jun 5
Warm soil: first summer sowing of winter squash.
- Beetaround Jun 12
Warm soil: first summer sowing of beet.
- Carrotaround Jun 12
Warm soil: first summer sowing of carrot.
Garden care
- Mulch every bedaround Jun 5
3-4 in of straw or leaves now holds water, blocks weeds, and cools roots for the whole summer.
- Set up deep wateringaround Jun 12
Switch to fewer, longer soaks (1-1.5 in/week at the root) instead of daily sprinkles.
- Side-dress heavy feedersaround Jun 26
Tomatoes, peppers, corn and squash get compost or fish emulsion once fruit sets.
Succession sow
- Bush beanaround Jun 12
Sowing 2: replant every 14 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Sweet cornaround Jun 12
Sowing 2: replant every 14 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Cucumberaround Jun 19
Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Zucchiniaround Jun 19
Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Basilaround Jun 19
Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Bush beanaround Jun 26
Sowing 3: replant every 14 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Winter squasharound Jun 26
Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Sweet cornaround Jun 26
Sowing 3: replant every 14 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
Start indoors for fall
Direct sow for fall
- Parsleyaround Jun 19
Fall parsley window opens. Sowing now beats the last-minute date by a month of growth.
- Bush beanaround Jun 24
Fall bush bean window opens. Sowing now beats the last-minute date by a month of growth.
- Lettucearound Jun 25
Succession sowing 3 of 3. Sow every 21 days for a steady cut.
- Peaaround Jun 29
Fall pea window opens. Sowing now beats the last-minute date by a month of growth.
- Cilantroaround Jun 30
Succession sowing 3 of 3. Sow every 21 days for a steady cut.
- Carrotaround Jun 30
Fall carrot window opens. Sowing now beats the last-minute date by a month of growth.
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