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The Independent
6 days ago
- General
- The Independent
The best fruits and vegetables to plant in June – according to an expert
As spring blooms fade, June offers the perfect opportunity to sow the seeds for a bountiful autumn harvest. Whether you have a small urban balcony or a large country plot, there are a variety of fast-growing crops and summer staples that can be planted now for enjoyment later in the year. Leafy greens and late-season courgettes are among the many options to consider. By June, the soil is warm and the risk of frost has passed, making it an excellent window to plant tender crops outdoors. 'June is a good time to plant out the last of the tender crops, such as courgettes and squashes, with successional sowing of beetroot, lettuce and radish,' says Joe Lotfhouse, the edibles and nursery team leader at RHS Garden Harlow Carr. 'These are very good to fill any gaps you may have in your vegetable bed.' Quick-turnaround vegetables like radishes and lettuce can mature in as little as four to six weeks. Successional sowing of fast growers like beetroot means you can maintain a steady supply throughout the summer. 'I always do a second sowing of beans in June, planting them directly into the beds and there are a number of other vegetables that can be planted this month, such as celeriac and celery,' says Mr Lofthouse. Longer-term harvests like celery and celeriac benefit from this warmer planting window, although they will need consistent watering to thrive. And don't forget climbers like runner or French beans, which can still be sown directly into beds or large containers and will yield abundantly by late summer. Good options for beginner gardeners If you're new to gardening, the key is to keep it manageable. Stick to crops that grow quickly and don't require much fuss. 'I would suggest starting small and only growing what you like to eat,' says Mr Lofthouse. 'Buying vegetable plants from a garden centre is a good option to start with as they will have a root system ready to be transferred into your vegetable garden. Root veg such as beetroots, turnips and radish are very easy to grow.' As well as these, herbs are a great low-maintenance option for smaller spaces, as they can often be grown in pots or window boxes. 'Sowing brassicas – cruciferous vegetables – such as broccoli direct into a bed in rows is also a good option,' explains Mr Lofthouse. 'Once they are large enough to handle, dig up and plant into their final position.' Brassicas like broccoli, kale and cauliflower can be started from seed this month too – just keep an eye out for slugs, which love nibbling on young plants. You can also companion plant with marigolds to deter pests organically. The gardening techniques you should be changing Heat and water stress are two major pitfalls for summer planting. 'Avoid planting at the hottest part of the day,' advises Mr Lotfhouse. 'I prefer to plant early morning or in the evening when it is a bit cooler. 'If sowing directly, I would always water the drills before seed sowing, or water the planting holes before planting, especially for crops like courgettes, squash and cucumbers, which require a lot of water.' Watering the plants and soil thoroughly before and after sowing helps keep the plant nourished, and mulching around young plants can help retain moisture. 'I would also recommend growing bolt-resistant varieties, as crops tend to bolt [prematurely go to seed] if under stress by warm, dry conditions,' explains Mr Lofthouse. 'It is best to avoid planting fruit in June as they would require a lot of water.' For leafy greens like spinach or coriander, look for bolt-resistant varieties, which are bred to withstand hot weather without prematurely flowering. And while fruits like strawberries are best planted earlier in the year or in autumn, focus now on crops that will mature before the first frost. The best plants for small spaces If you don't have much space to try out gardening, don't be discouraged. Many crops thrive in pots or window boxes, as long as they receive enough sunlight and consistent watering. 'Most veg and fruit can be grown in containers, although in June onwards they will require a lot of watering,' explains Mr Lofthouse. 'Herbs are good to grow in containers as they require less water. I also like to grow carrots and salad leaves in containers.' Salad leaves, spring onions, dwarf carrots and patio tomatoes are ideal for containers and can be harvested in stages. Herbs like thyme, parsley and chives are particularly suited to pot life and can be snipped as needed, offering fresh flavour at your fingertips. It's best to use multipurpose compost and opt for terracotta or glazed ceramic pots, which help retain moisture better than plastic. Overwintering plants to consider at this stage Mr Lofthouse says it is best to think long-term by planting overwintering crops now. Winter brassicas such as sprouts, winter cabbage and kale need a head start during the warmer months to establish strong roots before temperatures drop. 'June is a good time of the year to plant out winter brassicas,' says Mr Lofthouse. 'I like to sow leeks into a seedbed outdoors and harvest baby leeks throughout the winter.' Sow your brassicas in a seedbed or small nursery area, then transplant once the seedlings are sturdy. Leeks sown now can be harvested young or left to mature until early spring. Try and keep their rows weed-free and mound soil around their bases to encourage long white stems. Mistakes to avoid when planting later in the season There are a couple of common mistakes you should try and avoid when planting later in the season. 'The biggest mistakes are planting and then not watering, or growing a large amount of one vegetable and not being able to eat it all,' says Mr Lofthouse. 'The plants will bolt.' It's easy to get carried away with sowing, but think practically – how much of one vegetable will you really eat? Avoid food waste and plant in small, manageable batches with succession sowing in mind to keep your harvest spread out.
Irish Times
17-05-2025
- General
- Irish Times
What are the best vegetables and fruits to grow in a polytunnel?
I've very recently purchased a polytunnel for my garden that I plan to use for growing vegetables and maybe a little fruit. I already have some outdoor vegetable beds, so I'm not short of growing space. But I'd really appreciate some advice on what kinds of crops you'd recommend for growing under cover. – Mary Heffernan, Co Dublin Congratulations on your new polytunnel. These kinds of covered growing spaces give Irish gardeners what often feels like a magical advantage when it comes to greatly extending the growing season as well as growing tender or heat-loving species that can otherwise struggle in our cool, damp climate. My first piece of advice is to grow only what you love. There's little point, for example, in growing a bumper harvest of courgettes if you and your family don't much like eating them. Also try to prioritise the space-efficient crops that are productive over a relatively long time (examples include tomatoes, cucumbers, climbing French beans, and leafy salad crops) over those that occupy a lot of growing space but only offer a relatively brief harvest window (examples include sweetcorn, squash and melons). Ease of purchase versus difficulty of cultivation is another consideration. Aubergines and peppers, for example, are relatively difficult to grow well in Ireland, even in a polytunnel, so I'd suggest giving them a miss unless you can't resist the challenge. On the other hand, a wide variety of salad crops can be grown quickly and exceptionally well in that same protected microclimate, soon saving you a small fortune, particularly if you successionally sow small amounts over the following months. These kinds of cut-and-come-again leafy crops will also be juicier and more tender, as well as less vulnerable to damage from slugs and snails than their counterparts grown outdoors. READ MORE Other popular kitchen crops, such as carrots, onions, Swiss chard, potatoes, beetroot, mange tout, sugar snap and kohlrabi will do just fine outdoors in the average Irish summer but are potentially worth planting under cover next spring to give you an early crop. The trick here lies in making sure that you don't then find yourself with no free growing space available in late spring to plant your summer crops. As for fruit, possibilities to consider include a small fig tree and strawberries (both in containers) as well – if your polytunnel is large enough – a grape vine, or even a peach tree. Discovering what works best for you is a delicate dance that gets easier with experience. In the meantime, I'd highly recommend getting your hands on a copy of The Polytunnel: Fruit & Vegetables All Year Round by Joyce Russell, written specifically with the Irish climate in mind. The Dublin-based organic gardener Nicky Kyle's monthly blog ( ) is another treasure trove of expert, timely advice for polytunnel kitchen gardeners.
