A list of monthly chores and checks needed for vegetable, fruit and herb gardens in the month of June.
This list of garden chores and checks are generally taken care of in the month of June in areas where the weather is warm to hot most of the year. There are exceptions to this. Depending on the climate or microclimate, these tasks will need to be adjusted. In the United States check with the local Cooperative Extension Office for a more detailed list of what is needed in each zone.
Vegetable Garden
- Pick okra, squash, tomatoes and other mature produce daily. Okra, especially, should be cut daily in order for plants to continue to produce throughout the season.
- Cucumber vines which are still producing should be kept well watered to prevent bitter-tasting fruits.
- Spring gardens in the hottest climates should be producing the final vegetables by now, pull out finished plants and add them to the compost pile.
- Continue harvesting tomatoes this month. Pull and compost all tomato plants which have finished producing. Sow seeds for fall tomato plants.
- Check plants often for signs of pests such as caterpillars, mites and stinkbugs. Stinkbugs begin to show up in droves in June in hot humid climates.
- Look for signs of powdery mildew on plant leaves. After removing infected leaves, treat with a commercial bicarbonate mix or make on at home by adding 1 ½ teaspoon of baking soda to 1 quart of water. Spray plants with mixture early in the morning.
- Using a light touch, cultivate between plants and renew mulch as needed.
- Clip bushy plants for culinary and or storage uses throughout the month.
- Roots can dry out quickly in June so, check moisture content of soil throughout the month and keep soil evenly moist.
- Fertilize plants with a weak compost tea solution around mid-month and again at the end of the month.
- June is an especially important month to check for pests in the herb garden where the weather warms up quickly. Walk through daily checking plants for any sign of pests.
Fruit Garden
- In warm climates, grapes should be getting close to harvest. Watch vines for bird and squirrel activity because they may strip fruits from vines. Faux grapes may be placed on the vine as fruit is setting to in attempt to fool potential pests before they can damage the real fruit.
- Check fruit bearing trees for signs of pest infestations. This includes raking the mulch back and checking for any signs of rodent activity near tree trunks.
- Hang pie tins, rubber snakes, onion slices or other deterrents from tree branches to discourage birds from stripping young fruits.
- Pick off and destroy caterpillars and other pests from fruiting trees and bushes.
Vegetables grown in containers should be checked daily for moisture content. The soil in containers will dry out quickly depriving plants of much needed water.
Garden tasks for cold to moderate climates can be found in the article; “Garden Tasks for June.”
The copyright of the article Garden Tasks for June in Hot to Warm Climates in Vegetable Gardens is owned by Jacqueline Cross. Permission to republish Garden Tasks for June in Hot to Warm Climates in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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