At a Glance
- Complete planting tender vegetables like peppers, courgettes and tomatoes.
- Feed fruit and vegetables regularly for strong crops and healthy fruit.
- Watch for pests in houseplants and garden plants as temperatures rise.
- Thin aquatic plants to maintain pond health and reduce algae naturally.
- Keep bird feeders topped and be aware of nesting birds before pruning.
- Organic tip: use nasturtiums to deter cabbage white butterflies.
On the Plot
June is the perfect time to finish planting tender vegetables such as peppers, courgettes and tomatoes. Keep pumpkins, courgettes, tomatoes and strawberries well fed with suitable liquid fertilisers to encourage strong crops and healthy fruit. Continue sowing succession crops including beetroot, pak choi, radishes and lettuce for regular harvests throughout summer. Sweetcorn should be planted in square groups to improve pollination. Early potatoes may now be ready for lifting once flowering has finished. Keep an eye out for aphids, which become more active during warmer weather.
In the Garden
Complete summer bedding displays with colourful favourites including lobelias, petunias and marigolds. Tender annuals such as cosmos, sunflowers and zinnias can now be sown outdoors. Feed hanging baskets and containers regularly, support taller perennials with canes or stakes, and deadhead roses to encourage repeat flowering. Cannas, lilies and autumn-flowering anemones can also be planted this month. Remember to shade greenhouses during hot weather and protect plants from slugs where necessary.
By the Pond
Pond plants can become overcrowded at this time of year, so thinning out aquatic growth will help maintain a healthy balance. Adding barley straw to both the pond and filter system can help reduce algae naturally, while marginal plants around the pond edge will soften the appearance and encourage wildlife.
About the House
As temperatures rise, many conservatory plants can now enjoy a summer outdoors in sheltered spots. Houseplants should be checked regularly for pests, as warmer conditions often encourage unwanted bugs to appear. June is also the time to begin feeding houseplants weekly with liquid fertiliser, continuing through until autumn.
Family & Friends
Morley Thymes will be welcoming the NSPCC on 5th and 6th June as part of National Childhood Day celebrations. Gardeners are also reminded to keep bird feeders and water stations topped up during the warmer weather and to always check for nesting birds before pruning trees or shrubs. Rabbit Awareness Week takes place from 22nd to 26th June.
Gardening Tips
Top Tip: If you notice ants marching up your fruit trees, it is often a sign of an aphid infestation, as ants are attracted to the honeydew aphids produce.
Organic Tip: Try planting a hanging basket filled with nasturtiums near your cabbages. Cabbage white butterflies are often more attracted to nasturtiums, helping to protect your crops naturally while reducing the need to spray edible plants.
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