June is a very quiet month in the garden indeed. Although all your hard work done during April and May is settling in quite nicely and growing well, you still have time to do a bit of maintenance or DIY projects that I know you have saved on your mobile device. Do it now!

Things to do in June

Perennials can be divided to bring new life to old plants. This is also the most sustainable method of propagating new plants. Take cuttings of your grape vine prunings, reseed your lawn and apply lime. The minerals in lime retain their value until the grass is ready to grow again.

Turn your compost bins and add mulch your garden before winter sets in to keep the weeds down and retain moisture in the soil. Check on your wormeries and make sure your worms are warm this winter with an old towel or brown bags. Dig up old and dying plants and add them to your wormeries and compost heaps.

Be on the lookout for pests and diseases as these critters will be looking for new homes to lay their eggs for the next season. These are what to look for:

Aphids, slugs and snails, caterpillars, fungal diseases, Black spot, Powdery mildew, Plant rust are just to name a few of the most common problems. You can read in more depth about these problems and their solutions here….

Give all trees and shrubs plenty of water and check trees around your house for weak branches that should be removed by you now.

Sow all your winter vegetable and herbs seeds.

Here’s a list of the most common vegetables and herbs to sow during the month of June:

Broccoli

A cool weather vegetable that is grown for harvest of large, tight, terminal heads of green flower buds at the ends of thick edible stems. Best grown in organically rich, consistently moist, well-composted, well-drained loams in full sun. Broccoli is typically grown in the cool temperatures of spring and/or autumn.

Cabbage

Grown for the harvesting of its edible leaves. It produces a dense 1.4-1.8 kilogram head of cabbage in 80 days during the first year of its biennial life. Easily grown in organically rich, consistently moist, well-drained loams in full sun. It needs cool temperatures to produce the best crop.

Cauliflower

A vegetable that is grown for the harvesting of large tight heads of aborted white flower buds (curds). Best grown in organically rich, fertile (high in nitrogen), consistently moist, well-composted, well-drained loams in full sun.

Kale

Kale is grown for harvesting of its edible leaves. Although very similar to cabbage, kale is distinguished by having loose, upright, wavy-edged leaves that do not form a head. Leaves typically acquire their best flavour after the first fall frost. It may also be grown in early spring.

Kohlrabi

Kohlrabi is a vegetable that produces fat, rounded, turnip-like enlargements of the stem just above the soil surface. Tastes like broccoli and turnips combined. If you love those two veggies then this one is definitely for you. Easily grown in organically rich, consistently moist, well-drained loams in full sun. Soil pH should be between 6 and 7.

Lettuce

Lettuce types include romaine, butter head, iceberg, and loose leaf. All are at their best if grown quickly. Easily grown in fertile, well-composted, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Leaves appreciate some light shade in the heat of the summer. Plants perform best with consistent watering throughout the growing season. Lettuce grows best in cool weather.

Beetroot

Best grown in moist, fertile, organically rich, light to sandy, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates light shade. For many of the plants in this species, seeds, dried “seed clusters”, each with 3 or 4 seeds, are typically sown in situ. Do not overfertilize with nitrogen as this will give you the most beautiful leaves at the expense of the root ball.

Spinach

Easily grown in moist, organically rich, fertile, well-drained soils in full sun to light shade. Spinach is a cool weather vegetable that produces an excellent crop in the cool temperatures of spring and/or autumn, but does poorly in the heat of the summer when plants bolt (send up flower spikes) with resulting deterioration of the leaves.

Swiss Chard

Swiss Chard which is grown for the harvesting of the leaves. They are typically grown as annuals in moist, light, fertile, organically-rich, well-drained soils in full sun to light shade. Plants thrive in cool summer temperatures, but are tolerant of heat and humidity.

Carrots

Best grown in a loose, fertile, well-drained soil that is free of rocks or heavy clumps of clay that may distort root development. Best in full sun, but tolerates some light shade. Avoid unamended clay soils. Raised beds may be used.

Radishes

Best grown in full sun in loamy or sandy soils. Can be seeded directly in two-week intervals for a steady supply. Radishes become tough and develop a hotter taste as they become older. Harvest when young before radishes bolt and become woody.

You can source your gmo free vegetable and herb seeds from Simply African Seed Company . (Disclaimer, I do not receive any monies for affiliated links to any companies).