June is the heart of the planting season in cold-winter zones, but it carries a double assignment. The main job is getting every warm-season crop established outdoors. The secondary job — easy to miss — is starting the first wave of fall crops indoors. Leeks, pansies, and violas all have long enough lead times that, if you want them before the October frost, you should sow the seeds now.
Indoors (fresh harvests):
- Microgreens: peas, broccoli, sunflowers, arugula
- Sprouts: alfalfa, broccoli, radish, mung
- Herbs & greens under lights: chives, parsley, mint
Start indoors now for fall: leek, pansy, viola
Transplants to move outdoors (harden first): tomato, pepper, eggplant, basil, sweet potato slips — get anything still waiting indoors out now.
Crops that can be directly sown outdoors in June: beans, corn, cucumber, squash, melons, okra, sunflower, basil, dill, beets, carrots, chard, and nasturtium. Succession-sow radishes and salad greens early in the month while temperatures are still moderate.
Cover crops: buckwheat, cowpeas, red clover — good for any gaps or unplanted beds
Tip: This zone group covers a lot of territory. Nothing replaces talking with experienced gardeners in your area and, of course, watching the weather closely.
Use your USDA zone as a guide. Microclimates matter—coastal/urban spots run warmer; high elevation runs colder.
