Planting Seeds in June: Job Tasks Involved
Sweet Williams, with their rich colour and scent, are bringing life to gardens in late spring and summer. But the blooming season doesn't have to end there. Here's a guide to some additional flowers that can be sown in summer, providing a variety of colours, sun/shade preferences, and bloom durations.
Ageratum is an easy-to-grow flower with blooms lasting from after the last spring frost until the first winter freeze. Twinspur, a snapdragon relative, offers lipped-petal flowers in red, pink, white, and purple that bloom best in cooler temperatures but can last through summer with proper care.
Verbena produces vibrant clusters of blooms in pink, purple, and red, blooming continuously from after frost till winter if given full sun and well-drained soil. Vinca (Periwinkle) thrives in warm weather with red, purple, pink, or white flowers; drought-tolerant once established and blooms till first frost.
Dusty Miller is grown mainly for its silvery foliage but blooms in summer and pairs well with bright flowers. Sweet Alyssum is known for its honey scent and attracting beneficial insects, blooming from spring through fall in full sun to part shade. Browallia is shade-tolerant with violet-blue flowers, blooming in summer under partial to full shade.
Torenia (Wishbone flower) is a compact annual with bicolor flowers in purple, blue, or pink, blooming summer to fall in part shade. Cosmos offers daisy-like blooms in many colours, easy to grow from seed and bloom all summer. Marigolds are classic, easy-to-grow annuals with bright orange or yellow flowers that bloom all summer.
Moss Rose (Portulaca) is a succulent-like, heat-tolerant flower in bright shades, continuously blooming through summer. Lantana is heat and drought tolerant, with bright clustered flowers in pink, red, peach, and white, loved by pollinators.
Impatiens (New Guinea and SunPatiens varieties) are bright-coloured, suitable for shady or partly shady areas, summer bloomers resistant to fungal mildew. Petunias thrive in full sun with moderate water, blooming from late spring to fall with low maintenance.
Salvia and Celosia are summer bloomers recommended for adding colour and texture to garden beds. Sunflowers are bold summer bloomers growing well in full sun.
'Tom Thumb', a butterhead lettuce, is ideal for container growing, with small green heads that can be picked around 10-12 weeks from sowing. Forget-me-nots thrive in moist, but well-drained soil in sun or partial shade and make a great addition to spring container displays. They can be sown in-situ this month and will readily self-seed once established.
Spring onions, such as 'Apache', 'North Holland Blood Red', 'Guardsman', and 'White Lisbon', can be sown outdoors this month in small batches to provide continuous harvests throughout summer and into autumn. 'Lollo Rossa', a loose-leaf lettuce with frilled red leaves, looks attractive in the garden as well as on the plate.
Zinnias can also be sown outside this month and prefer a sheltered, sunny spot. Cornflowers can be sown direct into well-prepared soil in a sheltered, sunny spot at a depth of 12mm. Sown early in June, cornflowers should be flowering around mid- to late-summer.
'Centaurea 'Black Ball' has deep crimson button-blooms, while 'Classic Magic' offers a mix of white, deep purple, and smoky mauve flowerheads. 'Sunset' has unusual salmon-pink blooms, 'Black Knight' combines red flowers with eye-catching pods that mature to a deep purple, and 'Painted Lady' has red and white flowers.
'Romaine Ballon' is a bolt-resistant cos variety of lettuce that produces large heads with sweet and crunchy salad or braising leaves. 'Hestia' and 'Jackpot' are compact runner bean varieties that only grow to 45-50cm in height and produce bumper harvests in containers. Runner beans can be transplanted into the garden now, and seeds can be sown outside this month too. 'Snowstorm' and 'White Lady' have pure white flowers and produce delicious beans.
Forget-me-nots, cornflowers, zinnias, and this variety of annuals provide a colourful and diverse selection for your summer garden. Happy planting!
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- With the variety of flowers like Ageratum, Twinspur, Verbena, Vinca, Dusty Miller, Sweet Alyssum, Browallia, Torenia, Cosmos, Marigolds, Moss Rose, Lantana, Impatiens, Petunias, Salvia, Celosia, and Sunflowers, home-and-garden enthusiasts have a wealth of options to enhance their raised beds and cultivate a vibrant summer lifestyle through gardening.
- For those seeking shade-tolerant options, Browallia, Torenia, Impatiens, and Lettuce like 'Tom Thumb' can bring life and colour to summer garden beds, while spring onions, such as 'Apache', 'North Holland Blood Red', 'Guardsman', and 'White Lisbon', can be sown outdoors this month to provide continuous harvests throughout the summer and into autumn.
