It's Not Too Late to Plant!

By the time June arrives, it can feel like the planting window has passed. Spring flowers are winding down, the weeds are growing faster than anyone invited them to, and the garden starts to feel a little less dreamy and a little more demanding with weeding, trellising, watering, and keeping everything upright.

Feel like you missed out? Worry no more! Early summer still has plenty of planting potential.

This is the time of year when I’m scouring garden stores so I can find good deals on perennials, organize planting plans for later blooms, and make sure the plants already in the ground have what they need to handle the heat. The rhythm is different than spring planting, but the garden is far from finished.

If you’re hoping for more flowers this summer, you still have options! Heat-loving annuals like zinnias, cosmos, sunflowers, marigolds, basil, celosia, gomphrena, and amaranth can still be planted in summer. Look for direct-sow options that can mature within 90 days. These are the kinds of flowers that don’t just tolerate warm weather — they usually hit their stride once the days are long and the soil is warm.

Want something for your plate? The vegetable garden has options, too! Beans, cucumbers, summer squash, basil, dill, and additional successions of herbs can still be direct sown. Don't feel like direct sowing? Peppers and tomatoes can still be transplanted. Summer tomatoes are one of my all-time favorite foods, nothing matches their texture and sweetness. 

While it’s not too late to plant, summer planting does ask for a little extra care. I like to plant in the evening when I can, water deeply, and mulch well so the soil holds moisture longer. It's also the time of year when I start preventive treatments for pest and disease pressure. I release beneficial insects like minute pirate bugs, predatory mites, and lacewings to attack spider mites, aphids, and thrips. I use foliar sprays with blackstrap molasses to support BRIX levels and calcium to help strengthen plant tissue and improve overall resilience. 

So if your spring got away from you, don’t worry. The garden isn’t done yet!