Don’t Forget Second-Wave Planting this Month – What to Sow for a Sequel of Veg, Herbs and Flowers

You may be feeling that you have sown more than enough seeds already, and since most of what you have grown is now planted out and thriving, there is nothing else to do. If so, you can look forward to enjoying your hard work over the rest of the summer, but what if you want to still be harvesting in the fall?

With long daylight hours and warm nights, June is a busy time of planting, watering and weeding. However, if you can find the time for a second wave of sowing, you can extend the growing season into the fall and even winter.

If you are wondering what you can plant in June, I share my favorite vegetables and flowers to sow in this second-wave of planting, so you can harvest your own veg and freshly cut flowers.

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Bok Choy

A brassica, known by many names, pak choi or bok choy, is a fast-growing vegetable cultivated for its stalks and leaves. Also known as Chinese cabbage, bok choy (Brassica rapa (Chinensis Group), is a flavorful vegetable commonly used in Asian recipes.

A cool-season crop, it is often sown in the spring and fall. However, if given some shade against the harsh summer sun, you can also grow it in June.

Sowable both indoors and outdoors, if sowing in June, you can plant it directly into a weed-free bed with the soil raked to a fine tilth. Sow thinly in rows, protect from slugs and snails, and keep moist. Once germinated, thin the seedlings to 12 inches apart.

Harvest when required, either as baby leaves or when mature. You can purchase White Stem Pak Choi seeds from True Leaf Market.

Kale

June is an ideal time to start your fall and winter vegetables, which are often slow-growing. Sowing kale now means that you will have a harvestable crop in the fall and even into the winter months.

Kale (Brassica oleracea Acephala Group) seeds germinate reliably both indoors and outdoors, but in my experience, they are easier to protect from slugs when grown undercover or in a greenhouse. To avoid pricking out later, cell trays are ideal for sowing kale, as once they are large enough, you can plant them out directly. You can purchase Burpee SuperSeed Starting Trays from Amazon.

Once they are growing outdoors, you will want to net your kale and any other brassicas to protect them from caterpillar damage.

Mizuna

Producing attractive, serrated leaves that can be eaten raw or cooked, mizuna (Brassica rapa var. niposinica) is a great, easy-to-grow crop. Delivering a slightly peppery taste, mizuna is ideal for adding some bite to a salad or stir-fry, and is a variety I often choose to grow.

Germinating readily in warm temperatures, mizuna is perfect for succession sowing and supplying a continuous crop. However, in hot temperatures, mizuna can bolt and run to seed and generally does best in the spring or fall or in milder conditions. If growing it in warmer areas, planting it in partial or dappled shade can help prevent it from bolting.

Suitable for growing in a vegetable patch or a container, sow thinly, one quarter to half an inch deep and keep moist.

You can purchase Mizuna Mustard Seeds from Botanical Interests.

Chives

A mainstay of herb gardens, chives (Allium schoenoprasum) are a useful, simple-to-grow, low-maintenance herb.

Commonly propagated through division, chives can also be grown from seed. Germinating readily at a temperature of 65-70F, June is a perfect time to grow chives, whether in the ground or in a container.

To grow in a pot, thinly sprinkle a few seeds on the soil surface and cover lightly. Keep the soil moist and seedlings should appear within 1-2 weeks. Harvest as and when you need and use to jazz up a summer salad or add to a sauce.

Common Chives Seeds are available to purchase from Botanical Interests.

Basil

Another herb you can grow from a second wave of sowing is basil (Ocimum basilicum). Suitable for cultivating in a greenhouse, conservatory, or on a sunny windowsill, basil is a versatile herb with a unique flavor.

Germinating best at temperatures above 65°F, in colder areas you can use a propagator, like this AC Infinity Humidity Dome available from Amazon.

Sow thinly in a pot, or 2 seeds per cell in a module tray, quarter of an inch deep, and keep moist until seedlings appear.

Harvest as needed and enjoy on a wide array of dishes, including pasta and pizza.

Ammi Majus

One of the best umbellifer plants, Ammi majus, or the Bishop's flower, as it is also known, produces whimsical white umbels and finely toothed foliage.

Considered hardy in USDA zones 5–9, Ammi are commonly sown in the spring, or in late summer for blooms the following year. However, if sown in June, you will still get to enjoy their soft domes of tiny white flower clusters later this summer.

With a tap root, Ammi Majus does not like to be transplanted, so where possible, sow direct in their final position. Sow thinly in rows, just beneath the surface of the soil and cover lightly. Once the seedlings have germinated, you can thin them to 18 inches apart.

Sowing in rows not only gives a tidy, organized feel to your veg or flower patch but also makes weed identification and subsequent removal more straightforward. To help you sow straight rows, you can use a planting guide line like this Esschert Design Garden Twine Guide with Twine available from Amazon.

Tolerating both full sun and partial shade, you can purchase Laceflower Ammi Majus Seeds from Burpee.

Nasturtium

Fuss-free and easy to grow, nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus) make a perfect introduction to gardening. A fast-growing annual, you can plant them in June and still enjoy their tasty and attractive flowers and leaves this summer.

With colors ranging from pastel yellows to vibrant reds, there is a nasturtium variety for every garden palette.

Nasturtiums have large seeds, so are ideal for sowing directly outdoors where you want them to grow. Plant them half an inch deep, keep the soil moist and protect from pests.

Growing to around 12 inches tall, Butterscotch Nasturtium Seeds available from Botanical Interests could soon adorn your garden with its cream, yellow, and orange flowers.

If all this talk of homegrown produce has inspired you to keep sowing, there are many other crops you can plant now for a harvest later this year.

Having managed kitchen and community gardens for over a decade, I share my top vegetables to sow in June for you to take your pick from.

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