What to Plant in New Jersey in June
A Guide for Gardeners in Hunterdon County and Beyond
June is a non stop month on the homestead. Between keeping the animals alive and thriving, our busy class schedules and the constant planting, I sometimes feel like its nonstop work. But this is the type of work I love. The weather is beautiful and I get to get my hands dirty in the soil. Some crops have been growing for weeks already but whether you're filling empty garden beds, replacing spring crops, or starting a new garden from scratch, there are still plenty of vegetables and herbs you can plant throughout June in New Jersey. At Haxton Homestead, June is when we see our gardens really begin to thrive. Here are some of our favorite crops to plant this month.
Vegetables to Plant in June
Tomatoes
If you haven't planted tomatoes yet, don't worry! June is still a great time to get them in the ground. Choose healthy transplants and provide support with cages, stakes, or trellises. Tomatoes love full sun and consistent watering.
Peppers
Both sweet and hot peppers thrive in the warm temperatures of June. The warmer the weather, the happier your pepper plants will be. We have a lot of pepper plants in thr ground that are starting to produce peppers. The problem is we discovered our dog Rusty also like peppers and has been stealing them right off the plants when he thinks we aren’t looking.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers grow quickly and can produce an abundant harvest throughout the summer. Plant them near a fence or trellis to save space and improve airflow. I am getting out transplants in the ground this week
Squash and Zucchini
Summer squash and zucchini are among the easiest vegetables to grow. Just be prepared, they often produce more than one family can eat! Always plant less than what you think you need
Beans
Bush beans and pole beans can be planted directly into the garden throughout June. They germinate quickly in warm soil and provide continuous harvests. We chose a bush variety this year to save some trellis space.
Corn
There's still time to plant sweet corn in early June. Corn should not be grown in a row. They need multiple rows next to each other in order to pollinate. So start with a square and would your way out.
Pumpkins and Winter Squash
If you're hoping for pumpkins by fall, June is the perfect time to plant them. Right now we have pumpkin vines growing in the front goat/sheep pasture. We always feed our goats leftover pumpkins in the fall and the dropped seeds always sprout with no help from us.
Herbs to Plant
Basil
Basil loves warm weather and pairs perfectly with summer tomatoes. Plant several successions throughout the season for a continuous supply.
Dill
Dill grows quickly and attracts beneficial pollinators to the garden.
Parsley
Parsley can be planted throughout June and often continues producing well into fall.
June Gardening Tips
Mulch around plants to conserve moisture and reduce weeds. This year we chose a weed barrier cloth. Its saving me so much time in weeding. If you are interested in using what we do, you ca find it on our amazon storefront www.amazon.com/shop/haxtonhomestead.
Water deeply rather than frequently.
Watch for pests before they become a major problem.
Harvest herbs regularly to encourage new growth.
Add compost around heavy feeders like tomatoes and peppers.
Happy Planting!
What are you planting this month? We'd love to hear what's growing in your garden!