JUNE 2025

Flowers

Stake and tie the taller herbaceous plants before wind and rain flattens them. If you wish to increase your plants, now is a good time to take softwood cuttings of Argranthemum, Fuchsias and Pelargonium together with shrubs such as Buddleja, Hydrangea and Lavandula.

Sow winter flowering Pansies, ornamental cabbages, Wallflowers and Bellis for a spring display. Tie in the shoots of Climbing and Rambling Roses as horizontal as possible to encourage better flowering.

Hanging baskets, tubs, etc

It is from now on that regular feeding and watering must be undertaken to all hanging baskets, tubs and troughs planted up last month if you are to get the full rewards for your efforts. 

At this time of year the emphasis should be on getting good growth so that the plants can produce the maximum number of flowers from mid-summer onwards. I  would recommend Miracle Grow or Maxicrop Seaweed fertilizers up to mid-July. These fertilizers have a higher nitrogen content to achieve maximum flowers. 

After mid-July change to a higher potash feed which will see the plants through until the autumn giving you the very best display. Recommended feeds for this time of year would be specific Tomato feeds such as Tomorite.

Always feed at the makers directions. However I have found over the years that feeding at every watering at half the recommended dose will work very well. 

Never be tempted to feed at full recommended strength at every watering, just once a week or 10 days, again following directions on the product label.

Fruit

Thin fruit especially Apple and Plum trees for bigger fruit and less broken branches.

Vegetables

Harvest early Peas and make additional sowings until the end of June for a late crop. Finish planting out tender vegetables raised under cover, such as Peppers, Tomatoes, Cucumbers and Squashes.

Continue to sow Runner Beans, French Beans, Sweet Corn and Pumpkin directly into the open ground.

Grow catch crops between slower maturing vegetables such as Brassicas. Suitable catch crops would be Lettuce and Radish. 

Hang yellow sticky traps up in the greenhouse to indicate the presence of Whitefly on Tomatoes and Cucumbers. If they are seen either use an insecticide suitable for vegetables or use biological control before an infestation develops.

General

Trim topiary, especially Buxus this month.

Remember that most composts bought today only have enough fertilizer included in them for a maximum of six weeks, so liquid feeding is essential after this time has elapsed.

Damp down the paths of the greenhouse if the weather is hot to create a satisfactory atmosphere for the plants, but remember to do this between midmorning and mid afternoon, never in the evening.