I don’t know about you, but when life gets busy (which is most weeks), I often find myself looking at the garden thinking, “What should I be doing out here right now?”
That’s exactly why I started keeping a little monthly list — nothing long or fussy, just a handful of gentle reminders to keep things ticking over.
A nudge to sow something new, snip back what’s gone wild, or simply stop and notice what’s growing.
This monthly guide is written with Northern Hemisphere gardeners in mind, but don’t worry if your weather’s a little ahead or behind — you can tweak it to suit your space. Whether you’ve got raised beds, a few pots by the kitchen door, or just a windowsill with herbs, there’s always something small you can do to stay connected to the season.
Think of this series as your friendly tap on the shoulder: “Hey, your garden’s calling. Let’s see what needs a little love this month.”
Plant Now (If You’re in the Northern Hemisphere)
June’s one of those sweet-spot months where it’s not too late to plant, and the soil’s warm enough to get things moving quickly.
If you’ve been meaning to start something — this is your moment.
Here’s what you can still sow or plant now:
From seed outdoors:
- Rocket (it grows fast — perfect for quick salads)
- Lettuce, spinach, and chard (go for heat-tolerant types if it’s hot)
- Beans — French, runner, or climbing
- Beetroot and carrots (get a second round in for later summer harvests)
- Courgette and squash (yes, even now — they’ll catch up fast in warm weather)
From seed indoors or undercover:
- Basil
- Coriander
- Autumn cabbages and sprouting broccoli (if you’re thinking ahead)
Plant out now (young plants):
- Tomatoes (if you haven’t already — just harden them off first)
- Peppers and chillies
- Sweetcorn
- Herbs like parsley, oregano, and thyme
Top tip: “If I’m running late with planting (and I often am), I just pick up a few healthy young plants from the garden centre and pop them straight into pots or gaps in the beds. Job done.”
Even sowing one or two things now can keep the garden feeling fresh and productive right through the summer.
Harvest or Pick
June might still feel like the start of the season, but there’s plenty to gather if you’ve had a few things growing already — and if not, don’t worry.
Even a handful of herbs or a bowl of early salad leaves counts as a win.
Here’s what you might be picking now:
If you started early or bought plugs:
- Radishes (they grow fast — don’t let them linger too long or they get woody)
- Lettuce and mixed salad leaves
- Spinach or chard (pick the outer leaves and let the centre keep growing)
- Strawberries (if the birds haven’t got to them first)
- Broad beans and early peas
From your herb pots or patch:
- Basil
- Chives (you can eat the flowers too — they’re lovely on potato salad)
- Parsley
- Coriander
- Mint (snip often to stop it flowering too early)
Top tip: “I try to pick something from the garden most days in June — even if it’s just a sprig of thyme or a few lettuce leaves for lunch. It keeps me in the habit and reminds me to appreciate what’s already growing.”
And if nothing’s ready just yet? That’s okay too. Everything’s gathering pace — your time is coming.
Jobs to Tackle
The garden’s bursting with energy in June — and while it’s tempting to just sit back and enjoy it (and you absolutely should), a little upkeep now will go a long way later.
Here’s what I’m usually pottering away at this month:
1. Watering (but not too often)
Give plants a good soak every few days rather than a daily sprinkle — it encourages deeper roots. Pots dry out quicker, so check them in the morning when it’s cooler.
2. Mulch if you haven’t already
A layer of compost, leaf mould helps keep the moisture in and the weeds down. I mulch around tomatoes and courgettes once they’ve settled in.
3. Tie in tall growers
Beans, tomatoes, and climbing things tend to take off now. Use soft twine or plant clips to gently tie them to supports — they’ll thank you when the wind picks up.
4. Deadhead flowers
Keep bedding plants and perennials blooming by snipping off faded flowers. It takes five minutes and makes everything look fresh again.
5. Sow for succession
If you’ve already picked your first lettuce or radishes, pop in a second round now. I do little gaps here and there — it keeps things ticking over without needing a full replant.
Top tip: “I keep a pair of snips and a ball of string close to hand — it means I can tie, snip, or tidy as I pass through the garden without turning it into a big job.”
Small, regular jobs like these keep the garden feeling manageable — even if life gets a bit hectic.
My Tip of the Month
Every June, without fail, I forget just how fast everything grows. One week the courgettes are tiny, and the next I’ve got a marrow the size of a newborn sitting under a leaf.
So my tip this month is simple: don’t wait too long to pick.
Whether it’s herbs, lettuces, or strawberries, regular picking actually keeps most plants going longer. The more you pick, the more they give. I try to harvest little and often — a sprig here, a handful there. It keeps things light and joyful, not overwhelming.
And here’s something I started doing last year — keeping a small basket by the back door just for picking. Nothing fancy. Just something to remind me to go out and grab a few bits. It’s amazing how much more you notice (and harvest) when you make it part of the daily rhythm.
So this month, let yourself enjoy the garden as it is — slightly wild, a little weedy, but full of life.
What’s Blooming or Buzzing
June is the month when the garden really starts to sing.
The flowers are opening up faster than I can keep track, and the bees are busy from morning till evening. If you take five minutes with a cup of tea in hand and just watch, you’ll see it — the hoverflies on the thyme, the butterflies fluttering through the lavender, even the odd bumblebee dozing on a flower head.
Here’s what you might be noticing now:
- Roses starting their first big flush
- Lavender waking up in warm spots
- Foxgloves (if you planted them last year — worth it for the bees)
- Marigolds, cosmos, and calendula adding bright pops of colour
- Herbs like chives and oregano coming into flower
And with the blooms come the visitors:
- Bees, butterflies, and hoverflies
- Robins keeping an eye out for worms
- Even the odd frog or toad in a shady corner (especially near water or mulch)
Top tip: “I like to let one or two herbs go to flower — the bees love it, and it gives the garden a lovely soft look. Plus, the more wildlife you welcome in, the more balanced everything becomes.”
Let yourself enjoy the wildness a bit. Nature doesn’t do neat and tidy — and honestly, neither do I.
Inside the Veg Patch
June is when everything in the veg patch seems to explode overnight — the good, the wild, and sometimes the slightly alarming.
If your tomatoes are suddenly knee-high or your courgettes are plotting a takeover, you’re not alone.
Here’s what to focus on this month:
1. Tomatoes
If you’re growing cordon (upright) types, pinch out the side shoots regularly. It helps the plant focus on fruit, not leaves. Start feeding once the first truss (that’s the first set of flowers) has formed. I use a liquid tomato feed once a week.
2. Courgettes
Pick them small and often — the more you harvest, the more they produce. I aim for ones about finger-length. Any bigger, and they turn into dinner-party punchlines.
3. Salad Leaves
If you’re growing cut-and-come-again types, harvest a little every few days to keep them tender and tasty. Sow a fresh batch now to keep the supply going through summer.
4. Beans & Peas
Keep tying in climbing varieties and water well as they start flowering. Once peas are ready, pick them regularly — they go starchy fast if left too long.
5. Watch for Bolting
If the weather turns hot and dry, leafy crops like rocket and coriander may bolt (go to flower early). It’s not the end of the world — just pick what you can, let a few flower for the bees, and sow another batch in a cooler spot.
Top tip: “I never try to tame the whole veg patch in one go. I just walk around with a basket and deal with what’s shouting the loudest — a tomato that needs tying in, a lettuce that’s ready, or a weed trying to move in. One thing at a time.”
Want a Simple June Garden Checklist?
If you’d like a gentle reminder of what to do this month — without scrolling back through the post — I’ve put together a free printable June garden checklist.
It’s perfect for pinning to the fridge or tucking into your garden journal. Just the basics, no pressure. Think of it as a friendly nudge from me each time you pop outside with your cup of tea.
You’ll find it in our subscriber-only garden library, along with loads of other printables for time-poor growers — from herb guides to container planting plans.
Join our newsletter and get instant access. It’s completely free, and you’ll get a short, friendly note from me each month — just enough to keep you inspired, never overwhelmed.
Join the newsletter and get your June garden checklist →
See you in the garden,
—Tara 🌿
- About the Author
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Tara Cunningham is the green-thumbed half of Lawnmowerfixed.com, where she shares simple, no-fuss gardening tips for time-poor homeowners.
She’s a lifelong plant lover with a soft spot for cherry tomatoes, shady corners, and low-maintenance herbs.