What to Plant in June: A Region-by-Region Guide

What to Plant in June: A Region-by-Region Guide

June is the month most American gardens hit their stride. Frost is a memory in nearly every zone. Soil is warm. Days are long. The crops that struggled in cool spring are finally happy. And — depending on where you live — June is also the last good window for warm-season planting before summer heat starts working against you.

The trouble with most June planting guides is that they treat the country like one big garden. June in Vermont and June in Phoenix have almost nothing in common. Below is what to plant in June broken down by region — what works, what to skip, and what to start indoors now if you want a fall harvest.

Northeast (Maine to Pennsylvania, USDA Zones 4–7)

You're past your last frost. Soil is warming. Cool spring crops are finishing up. Now is the time for the heat-lovers you've been holding back.

Plant in early June:

• Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant — Transplant now. The soil is finally warm enough that they'll take off instead of sulking.
• Beans (bush and pole) — Direct-sow. They want warm soil and grow fast.
• Cucumbers, summer squash, zucchini — Direct-sow once soil temp hits 65°F.
• Corn — Direct-sow in blocks (not rows) for proper pollination.
• Basil — Transplant or direct-sow. Hates cold, loves June.
• Cantaloupe and watermelon — In Zones 5–7, plant now if you want them to ripen by September.

Skip or wait until late summer:

• Spinach, lettuce, peas, radishes — They'll bolt in summer heat. Wait until late August for a fall round.

Start indoors for fall:

• Brussels sprouts (mid-June for September transplant)
• Broccoli and cauliflower (late June)

South (North Carolina to Texas, USDA Zones 7b–9)

You're already deep into summer conditions. June is the cutoff for spring's warm-season planting and the start of summer survival mode for cool-season crops.

Plant in early June:

• Okra — Loves heat. Direct-sow now for production through fall.
• Southern peas (black-eyed, crowder, purple hull) — Direct-sow. Improves your soil while it produces.
• Sweet potatoes — Plant slips now. Long, hot summer is exactly what they need.
• Heat-tolerant tomatoes only — 'Heatmaster', 'Solar Fire', cherry types. Standard slicers will struggle past mid-June.
• Hot peppers — Cayenne, jalapeño, habanero. They love June in the South.
• Sunflowers, zinnias, cosmos — Direct-sow. Heat-tolerant, fast, beautiful.

Skip or wait until fall:

• Lettuce, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower — Won't survive summer. Plant in October.
• Beans (snap) — Pollination drops above 90°F. Wait for late July.

Start indoors for fall:

• Tomatoes (for September transplant — yes, while your spring tomatoes are still alive)
• Peppers
• Broccoli, cabbage, kale (mid-to-late June)

Midwest (Ohio to Iowa, USDA Zones 5–6)

The sweet spot. Frost is gone, summer hasn't crushed you yet, and almost everything is plantable.

Plant in early June:

• All warm-season vegetables — Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, beans, corn, squash, melons, cucumbers, okra. Get them in the ground.
• Herbs — Basil, dill, parsley, oregano, thyme. Direct-sow or transplant.
• Sunflowers — Plant successively every 2–3 weeks for blooms all summer.

Skip or wait until late summer:

• Spinach, lettuce — Bolts in summer. Plant again in mid-August.
• Peas — Wait for fall.

Start indoors for fall:

• Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, kale (mid-to-late June)

Mountain West (Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Montana, USDA Zones 4–6)

High elevation means a short growing season. June is when it finally starts. Don't waste a day.

Plant in early June:

• Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant — Transplant immediately. Some areas don't see their last frost until late May or even early June.
• Beans — Direct-sow.
• Cucumbers, squash, zucchini — Direct-sow once soil hits 60°F.
• Cool-season crops will still work in June at higher elevations. Lettuce, spinach, peas, kale, cilantro all thrive in the cool nights.
• Herbs — Most direct-sow herbs do well now.

Skip:

• Long-season heat-lovers like watermelon and okra in Zones 4–5 — your season is too short.

Start indoors for fall:

• Cool-season fall crops (broccoli, cabbage, lettuce) starting late June for August transplant.

Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington, Northern California, USDA Zones 7–9)

Cool, wet spring is finally giving way to mild summer. Your warm-season crops have been waiting.

Plant in early June:

• Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant — Now that nights are reliably above 50°F, they'll grow.
• Beans, cucumbers, squash, zucchini — Direct-sow.
• Corn — Plant now for late summer harvest.
• Basil — Finally warm enough.
• Cool-season crops still work in the Pacific Northwest's mild summers — lettuce, spinach, kale, broccoli, peas can all be planted or succession-sown.

Watch for:

• Slugs. The PNW is slug paradise. Iron phosphate slug bait, beer traps, or copper barriers.

Start indoors for fall:

• Brussels sprouts, leeks (mid-June for fall harvest)

Universal June Tasks (Every Region)

• Mulch. 2–4 inches around every plant. Cuts watering by 30%, suppresses weeds, regulates soil temperature. The single highest-leverage hour you'll spend in June.
• Stake or cage tomatoes before they need it. Putting up a cage when the plant is 6 feet tall is a different experience than putting it up when the plant is 18 inches.
• Succession-sow beans, lettuce (in cool regions), cilantro, dill. Every 2–3 weeks gets you continuous harvest instead of feast-or-famine.
• Water deeply, less often. A long soak that wets the root zone twice a week beats a daily light sprinkle. Encourages deep roots.
• Walk the garden every morning. Catches pest problems, watering issues, and harvest-ready vegetables before any of them become real problems.

What If You're Not Sure What Zone You're In?

The above is structured by region, but USDA zones are what actually determine what works in your garden. Two cities in the same state can be different zones — and "the South" stretches from Zone 7 in Tennessee to Zone 11 in the Florida Keys.

Enter your zip on GreenPrint.garden and you'll get your exact zone, your local frost dates, and a personalized list of what to plant in your specific area in June. Takes 5 seconds, no signup required.

Want a Free 12-Month Planting Calendar for Your Zone?

Drop your email and zip and we'll send a personalized 12-month calendar — what to plant every month for your exact location — to your inbox right now. No spam.

Get your free calendar →

June is the month gardens go from "I hope this works" to "I can't keep up with the harvest." Plant well.