🌿 June on the Allotment – Summer’s Here and It’s Glorious! 🌞

Welcome to June on the allotment – the month where everything seems to explode with life! The days are long, the sun (hopefully) is shining, and the plot is buzzing with bees, butterflies, and busy gardeners. Whether you're a seasoned grower or a budding green thumb, June is a fabulous month to be down at the plot. There’s so much to do, sow, and – best of all – harvest!

Here’s your cheerful guide to what’s happening this month:

🌱 Jobs to Crack On With

1. Water, water, water!
Southern England can get pretty dry in June, so regular watering is key – especially for anything in containers or newly planted crops. Early mornings or evenings are best to reduce evaporation.

2. Hoeing and weeding
With all this sunshine, weeds are growing as fast as your crops! A quick hoe across the beds every few days keeps them in check – and saves your back later.

3. Mulching
Lock in moisture and keep weeds at bay by mulching around thirsty plants like courgettes, tomatoes, and sweetcorn.

4. Pinch out side shoots on tomatoes
If you're growing cordon tomatoes, don’t forget to pinch out those cheeky side shoots to keep the energy focused on fruiting.

5. Support your plants
Tie in tall growers like peas, beans, and tomatoes. Make sure climbing frames and canes are sturdy – especially if there's wind about.

6. Keep an eye out for pests
Watch for aphids, slugs, and cabbage white butterflies. Net brassicas, use organic deterrents, and encourage natural predators like ladybirds and frogs.

🌿 Seeds to Sow Now

Yes, it’s still sowing season! June is brilliant for a second wave of crops:

  • French and runner beans – direct sow for a late summer harvest.

  • Beetroot – perfect for salads, pickling, or roasting.

  • Carrots – sow now for autumn digging.

  • Spring onions – quick-growing and endlessly useful.

  • Lettuces & salad leaves – stagger sowings every couple of weeks to keep the salad bowl full.

  • Pak choi & chard – great for late summer and early autumn crops.

  • Courgettes & pumpkins – just about time for final sowings if you’re a bit behind (we’ve all been there!).

🥕 Harvest Time – What’s Ready Now?

Now comes the really fun bit – filling your trug with delicious goodies:

  • Strawberries – bursting with flavour, pick them regularly and they’ll keep coming.

  • Broad beans – harvest young for tenderness, or leave them a bit longer for a starchier bite.

  • New potatoes – start lifting those early varieties when the flowers appear.

  • Lettuce and salad leaves – pick as needed, and they’ll keep giving.

  • Spinach and chard – harvest little and often.

  • Peas – nothing beats fresh-from-the-pod sweetness.

  • Radishes – fast and fiery, perfect for crunchy salads.

And if you've been really on the ball this year, you might even have some early courgettes or garlic coming up. Jealous!

🐝 Plot Life Extras

  • Add a bee hotel or some wildflower pots to help pollinators – they’ll thank you by boosting your harvests.

  • Have a go at companion planting – marigolds near tomatoes, nasturtiums by beans – it’s pretty and practical.

  • Take a moment to just sit, breathe, and take it all in. June is the allotment at its finest – lush, alive, and full of promise.

✨ Final Thoughts

June is one of the most rewarding months on the plot – a time of beauty, bounty, and a fair bit of bending and watering! Stay on top of the basics and you’ll be reaping the rewards all summer long.

So grab your sunhat, fill up your watering can, and enjoy every muddy, magical moment. Happy growing! 🌱🌞🧺

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