8 Vegetables You Can Still Plant In June For A Late Summer And Fall Harvest

No, June is not too late to plant vegetables. Depending on where you garden, there are several options. Sow these fast-growing seeds now, or if you have access to them, use transplants for a head start. Either way, you still have time to get a late summer or fall harvest from these vegetables to plant in June.

The suggestions here will work for gardeners starting a vegetable garden in most areas, but there are some important considerations depending on location. One of the benefits of direct sowing seeds in June is that you can be certain the soil is warm enough, even in the coldest zones. The problem, of course, is having enough time for the plant to mature before it gets cold again.

You can work around this issue by choosing the right veggies. For example, if you live in a colder zone, sow seeds for greens, lettuces, and root vegetables. The former grows fast and prefers cool temperatures, while the latter will take longer but can be dug out of the ground well into fall.

In more moderate climates, you can also plant some fall classics like squash, beans, and pumpkins, and still get a decent harvest. In warmer climates, the heat of summer can be a challenge for planting seeds. Make sure your seeds, seedlings, and young plants sown in June get plenty of water.

You can find many of our recommended vegetable seeds, as well as growing kits and themed collections, in the Gardening Know How Shop. Happy planting!

1. Carrots

When growing carrots, the seeds need warm soil to germinate, so now is a good time to get them in the ground. As a bonus, carrots sweeten when they mature in cooler weather. Even in colder zones, seeding carrots now will give you a sweet fall harvest.

Carrots do need a lot of water to grow, so be vigilant and don’t let the soil dry out too much in summer. If it’s very hot, use a row cover to shade carrot seeds as they germinate.

Carrots are inexpensive to buy at the grocery store, so it's worth planting more unusual varieties to make it worthwhile, such as the Rainbow Blend Carrot Seeds in the Shop.

2. Corn

Believe it or not, gardeners in most zones can direct sow corn in June and get a fall harvest. Sweetcorn germinates readily and grows quickly in summer heat – some varieties mature in as little as 60 days.

With this timeline, you can even stagger sowing to get a more continuous harvest in fall. Sow seeds every ten days or so starting in early June.

3. Beans

Beans are a great choice for June sowing in most zones. Choose your favorite type: bush beans, pole beans, shelling beans, or green beans. They’ll all germinate readily in the heat of June soils. Green beans only take 50 to 60 days to mature, so you can sow some seeds in early June and again later in June for a continuous harvest.

There are so many bean varieties to choose from, but Endeavour Bush Beans, available in the Shop, are space-efficient, perfect for a variety of climates, disease-resistant, and heavy cropping.

4. Zucchini and Summer Squash

These summer staples grow fast and provide famously prolific harvests. Zucchinis and summer squashes need warm soil to germinate and thrive in the heat of summer, so now is a great time to start sowing their seeds.

Depending on your hardiness zone, you can choose varieties that mature faster or slower to ensure a late summer or early fall harvest. Enterprise Hybrid, over in the Shop, is a fantastic, high-yielding variety. Be sure to keep the soil moist and continue watering well when temperatures soar.

5. Melons

Melons are like zucchinis, another type of cucurbit, which thrive in the heat of summer. They need this warmer soil to germinate, so you can direct sow in June as long as you keep the soil moist.

One of the fun things about growing melons is that there are so many types and varieties. Choose a variety with a maturity time that matches the growing season in your zone.

6. Potatoes

June isn’t too late to sow seeds for fall potatoes. In fact, late spring or early summer is a great time for sowing this crop in many zones. Seed potatoes grow well in summer heat in most areas. If you are in a warmer climate, though, wait until fall.

For planting in June, you can choose faster-maturing varieties, which take about 100 days. You can still harvest potatoes after a frost, but not very long after, so know your first frost date and count the days.

7. Beets

If you live in a colder growing zone, June is an ideal time to start quick-growing beets. June might be too warm for beets in some areas, but in zones 2 through 4, they will grow fast and provide a harvest just as the frost hits. You can also enjoy the greens from this veggie.

Our top variety pick is Detroit Dark Red, available in the Shop. It's a heritage beet perfect for both fresh eating and canning.

8. Greens

Speaking of greens, colder growing zones are perfect for June sowing of many greens that grow well in cool temperatures: arugula, kale, chard, spinach, and lettuces. Many varieties grow quickly, and some greens, like kale, actually taste sweeter when a frost hits.

Head over the Shop to pick up our recommended greens – Tundra Hybrid Spinach and Lacinato Kale.

June is not too late to grow vegetables, even when starting from seeds. The key to success is knowing which veggies are appropriate for this time of year and your growing zone.

This article features products available from third party vendors on the Gardening Know How Shop.