June in Ohio Valley gardens heralds the start of summer weather. The threat of late-spring frost is gone and nighttime temps are on the rise. By now, most of the vegetable garden is planted, and annuals fill the flower beds. This may leave gardeners wondering what to plant in June. To find out, check out the regional planting guide below.
June Planting in the Ohio Valley
Late springs coupled with cool temperatures or copious amounts of rain can delay Ohio Valley planting. If these vegetable crops didn't make it into the ground in May, there's still time to add them to Ohio Valley gardens in early June:
- Beans
- Brussels Sprouts
- Cabbage (Late varieties)
- Celery
- Corn
- Eggplant
- New Zealand Spinach
- Okra
- Peppers
- Tomatillos
- Tomatoes
In areas where squash bugs and cucumber beetles are problematic, delaying Ohio Valley planting of cucurbits can curb destructive populations of these insects. To use this natural method of pest control, transplant these cucurbit veggies into Ohio Valley gardens in early to mid-June:
Mid to late June is also the time to plant Jack-o-lantern type pumpkins in Ohio Valley gardens. To ensure an early October harvest, use the “days to maturity” information found on the seed packet. When counting backwards to obtain a planting date, be sure to add time for germination. Make your Halloween spookier with these popular carving varieties:
- Connecticut Field – 110 days
- Howden – 115 days
- Jack-o-lantern – 105 days
- White lumina – 80 to 90 days
Cool-season fall crops are ideal for late June planting. In the Ohio Valley, early spring crops of spinach, lettuce, carrots and beets have now matured. Pull the remnants of these plants and use the space for these fall veggies: