Fastest Growing Vegetables to plant in June
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Q: What vegetables can I plant in June that will give me a harvest yet this summer.
A: You can still plant quite a bit in June here in the Front Range area and get a good harvest before fall. In fact, warm soil in June often gives faster germination and stronger growth than cold spring planting soil of this year’s May. The key is choosing crops that mature quickly enough for our shorter high-altitude growing season.
Fast-Growing Summer Crops you can still direct sow from seed:
Beans - Bush beans are one of the best late starters. They germinate fast in warm soil and produce heavily in about 50–60 days.
Cucumbers - actually prefer warm soil and usually catch up quickly.
Summer Squash & Zucchini - These grow incredibly fast in June heat. You’ll often harvest within 45–55 days.
Corn - You still have time for shorter-season varieties. Look for 70–85 day sweet corn varieties.
Other Vegetables you can still direct sow from seed include Beets, Carrots, Swiss Chard, and Kale.
Best crops to purchase as plants in June.
June is perfect for herbs that hate cold soil. Good choices would be Basil, Dill, Cilantro, Parsley, Thyme, Rosemary and Sage.
Also consider Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant, Tomatillos. It’s later than ideal, but healthy nursery plants can still produce well through September.
Garden Wise Guy Tip
Warm soil is your friend now. Seeds planted in chilly May soil often sulk. June-planted beans, squash, and cucumbers can explode with growth and sometimes outperform earlier plantings. Be sure to mulch this year as always to conserve water. A 1-2” layer of straw, dried grass clippings, or shredded leaves can dramatically reduce watering needs and help prevent blossom drop during hot spells.
Read our Q & As with Keith Funk answering common Colorado gardening questions here. See his website: gardenwiseguy.com and hear him on the
