June is not the month to close the garden gate and wait for spring. In fact, June is one of the best months to get your winter veggie garden going properly, especially if you love peas, beetroot, carrots, brassicas, kale and lettuce.

The garden may feel slower now. The mornings are colder, the days are shorter, and in many parts of South Africa the soil is wet and heavy. But underneath it all, this is a beautiful growing season for cool-weather crops. The trick is to plant the right crops in the right way.

Peas

Peas are one of my favourite crops to plant in winter. They love the cooler weather and they reward you with those beautiful green pods later in the season. Peas are best direct sown where they are going to grow. They don’t love having their roots disturbed, so I prefer sowing them straight into the bed, close to a trellis, fence or support. If your soil is very cold and wet, you can start them in toilet rolls or deep seedling plugs and transplant them very gently.

Don’t plant peas in soggy soil. They need moisture, but if the soil is waterlogged, the seed can rot before it germinates. I like to sow them in well-prepared soil with compost and a little organic fertiliser worked into the bed. Get your support in before they start climbing, because once peas grab onto everything, they are not interested in your late garden planning.

Beetroot

Beetroot is a brilliant June crop because you get two harvests from one plant. You can harvest the leaves while the root is developing, and later you get the beetroot itself. Beetroot is best direct sown. You can grow it from seedlings, but I find direct sowing gives better roots. Each beetroot “seed” is actually a little cluster, so don’t panic when more than one seedling pops up in the same spot. Thin them out early so the strongest plant has space to grow.

The biggest secret with beetroot is consistent moisture. If they grow dry, wet, dry, wet, they can become woody or split. Keep the soil evenly moist and mulch lightly once the seedlings are strong enough.

Carrots

Carrots must be direct sown. This is not negotiable in my garden. They hate being transplanted, and once that tiny root is disturbed, you often end up with twisted, forked or strange-looking carrots.

June is a good time for carrots in many parts of South Africa, especially where the weather is cool. The most important part of carrot growing is soil preparation. Carrots need loose, fine soil without stones, hard clumps or fresh manure. If the soil is heavy, compacted or full of obstacles, your carrots will tell you all about it when you harvest them. Sow them shallowly, keep the soil moist, and be patient. Carrots can take their sweet time to germinate. I like covering the row lightly with shade cloth, hessian or a plank for the first few days to help keep moisture in the soil. As soon as they germinate, remove the cover.

Brassicas

June is brassica season. This is the time for cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and similar crops. For most home gardeners, brassicas are easiest from seedlings in June. You can still sow seeds in trays, but seedlings give you a head start, especially in colder areas. Plant them into rich soil with compost and a good slow-release organic fertiliser because brassicas are hungry plants.

Give them space. I know it is tempting to squeeze in just one more cabbage, but overcrowded brassicas struggle with airflow, disease and smaller heads. Also keep an eye out for cabbage white butterflies and aphids. Even in winter, pests do not always read the gardening calendar.

Kale

Kale is one of the easiest and most generous winter crops to grow. It handles cold weather well and keeps producing leaves over a long period. You can plant kale from seedlings in June, or you can sow it in seed trays and transplant it later. Seedlings are the quickest option if you want to harvest sooner.

Plant kale in compost-rich soil and keep picking the outer leaves instead of pulling up the whole plant. This way, one plant can feed you for months. Kale also works well in containers, as long as the pot is deep enough and the plant is fed regularly.

Lettuce

Lettuce is a lovely June crop because it grows quickly and doesn’t need huge amounts of space. It is perfect for containers, raised beds and gaps between slower-growing winter crops. You can direct sow lettuce, but I often prefer planting seedlings in winter because they establish faster. If you direct sow, don’t bury the seed too deeply. Lettuce seed is small and needs a gentle hand.

The best way to grow lettuce is to plant little and often. Rather than planting twenty lettuce plants at once, plant a few every two or three weeks. That way you get a steady harvest instead of suddenly living inside a salad factory.

Other Good Crops To Plant In June

June is also a good month for Swiss chard, spinach, radish, turnips, leeks, onions, spring onions, parsley, coriander and rocket. Radishes are one of the quickest crops you can direct sow now, and they are wonderful for filling small gaps. Onions and leeks are usually better planted as seedlings. Rocket and coriander can be sown directly, especially if you want quick winter greens.

Direct Sow Or Seedlings?

As a simple rule, direct sow root crops like carrots, beetroot, radish and turnips. These crops grow best when their roots are not disturbed. Use seedlings for brassicas, kale, lettuce, leeks and onions if you want a quicker, easier start. You can sow many of them from seed too, but in June, seedlings often help you get ahead.

Peas sit somewhere in the middle. I prefer direct sowing them, but if your soil is very wet or you struggle with birds and mice stealing seed, start them carefully in deep plugs or toilet rolls.

A Few June Planting Tips

• Don’t plant into waterlogged soil. If your bed is too wet, wait a few days or plant into raised beds and containers where drainage is better.
• Feed before you plant. Winter crops still need food, especially brassicas, kale and lettuce. Add compost and a slow-release organic fertiliser before planting.
• Mulch lightly once seedlings are established. Mulch protects the soil, reduces mud splash and keeps moisture more even, but don’t bury tiny seedlings under a thick blanket.
• And most importantly, don’t leave June beds empty. Even if growth feels slow, every seed and seedling you plant now is preparing your garden for the months ahead.

June is not a dead month in the veggie garden. It is a soil-building, soup-growing, pea-climbing, beetroot-staining, carrot-waiting kind of month. And honestly, that sounds like my kind of winter.

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Stay warm Friends

Tash en die Familie