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Gardening is an ongoing process, and, while timing is important,
don't be overwhelmed by a sense of being too late to plant by some
arbitrary date. All too often, I hear gardeners use a day of a
particular month as though it was written in stone--for example, Northwesterners
think sweet peas must be sown by Valentine's Day and
New Englanders consider Memorial Day the "do or die"
critical garden planting day. In truth, each season is different and
garden planting dates have been even harder to peg
down than the traditional wisdom would lead one to believe! I
want to emphasize that it's not too late to plant a great
garden, even in June and July.
 What to plant:
While it is true that fruiting plants like tomatoes, peppers, and
eggplants need to be set out now, many, if not most,
summer producers will grow even more quickly from seed planted in
early summer when the soil is well warmed up and teeming with
life. You'll be surprised how fast seeds will come up and explode
with growth. Don't
hesitate to plant seeds for
beans,
summer squash, beets,
carrots,
and chard. Start a crop of "cut and come
again"
salad mix in a spot with bright light but
out of the full, hot sun. Plant heat- and sun-loving herbs like
basil, oregano, thyme and
sage with abandon, keeping the seed beds well moistened. Don't neglect to
plant some fragrant
scented basils
in containers to heighten summer afternoon gardening pleasure.
 Second crops:
Even if you already have beans, squash, chard, carrots and basil in the ground, and your plants are growing well, June is a fine time
to start a second crop to have ready for another bounteous late
summer harvest when the first crops of these staples have finished
up. I usually start seeds every month, finishing sowing
summer-producing vegetables in late June. In July and August, I
start seeds for fall crops like all kinds of
lettuces,
spinach,
radishes,
kale,
leeks
and carrots,
and asian delicacies like
pakchoi.
 You
can still plant flowers, too!
Planting later crops in June also applies to flowers! Plant more
sunflowers,
cosmos,
zinnias,
etc.--all of the annuals that usually burn out by late summer. This way, you'll
have a marvelous second flush of bloom and can cut armfuls for Labor Day!
June
and July are also good times to start seeds for perennials and biennials to
bloom next spring. I sow seeds in a protected seed bed and then transplant
seedlings in fall to overwinter, then bloom, ensuring me a wonderful spring
greeting in the garden next year.
For a seasonal chart of "When to Plant Renee's Garden Seeds",
click here |
Renee's
Garden
Seeds
shopping list
Try these rainbow varieties:
Tri-color bush beans feature gold, yellow, and green beans
Tri-color zucchini includes 'Clarimore, 'Raven,' and 'Golden
Dawn'
Jewel-toned
beets, a mixture of burgundy, golden and candy-striped
Rainbow
chard 'Bright Lights', highly ornamental and
delicious
Carrots 'Sunshine Blend' -
bright yellow and deep orange
Mesclun Salad - "Cut and Come Again",
a blend of gourmet varieties
To purchase these and other Renee's Garden Seeds, click here
Try
these great recipes from
Renee's cookbooks:
Rosy
Radish Dip
Chocolate
Chip Carrot Cake
Sesame Spinach
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