June feels like prime gardening time. The sun’s out. The soil’s warm. You’ve finally banished the last of the frost-paranoia. It should be the perfect moment to grow just about anything, right?
Well, sort of. Some plants will still thrive if you chuck them in the ground now. Others? They’re already giving you the side-eye. Because for certain vegetables and flowers, June is what polite gardeners call “pushing it” and what the plants themselves call “a trap.”
If you’ve got a shovel in one hand and a seed packet in the other, hold up for a second. This list will save you from wasting your time, your money, and your last ounce of gardening optimism.
Leafy Greens That Hate the Heat
- Too late for: Spinach, lettuce, arugula, mustard greens
- Why: These greens prefer cool soil and mild temps. Once it gets hot, they bolt (send up a flower stalk) and turn bitter fast.
- Risk of planting in June: Short lifespan, poor flavor, and lots of frustration. You’ll water like a maniac and still end up with salad that tastes like lawn clippings.
- Better options: Wait for a fall planting, or try heat-tolerant greens like Malabar spinach or New Zealand spinach if you’re feeling adventurous.
Root Veggies That Need More Time
- Too late for: Carrots, beets, turnips, parsnips
- Why: These crops need a long, steady growing period and cooler soil to develop properly. By June, the soil is already heating up and the clock is ticking.
- Risk of planting in June: Stunted roots, split or bitter harvests, and a lot of waiting around for nothing. They might grow, but they won’t thrive.
- Better options: Save these for a late summer planting to harvest in fall. Or switch to fast growers like radishes that can still squeak by in early June if you’re quick.
Brassicas That Prefer a Spring Debut
- Too late for: Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts
- Why: These plants need cool temps to form properly. Heat makes them panic. Broccoli heads get loose, cabbage cracks, cauliflower throws in the towel entirely.
- Risk of planting in June: You’ll end up with scraggly plants, pest problems, and harvests that make you question your life choices.
- Better options: Start seedlings in mid to late summer for a fall crop. They actually get sweeter after a light frost, so you’re not missing out — you’re just playing the long game.
Peas That Have Already Peaced Out
- Too late for: Garden peas, snap peas, snow peas
- Why: Peas are cool-season plants that thrive in spring’s mild temps. Once the heat rolls in, they stop flowering and sulk until they wither.
- Risk of planting in June: You might get a few stringy vines and no pods. The heat short-circuits their entire growing cycle.
- Better options: If you’re desperate, try a fall crop — sow in late summer and hope for a gentle autumn. Otherwise, swap to beans, which love the heat and don’t judge your timing.
Flowers That Needed a Head Start
- Too late for: Sweet peas, poppies, larkspur, nigella
- Why: These cool-season annuals prefer to be direct-sown in early spring or even late fall in milder climates. They bloom best before the serious heat kicks in.
- Risk of planting in June: Poor germination, leggy growth, or they’ll just skip the flowers and go straight to seed like they’ve got somewhere else to be.
- Better options: Switch to summer-loving bloomers like zinnias, cosmos, or ma
Herbs That Bolt Before You Blink
- Too late for: Cilantro, dill, chervil
- Why: These herbs are cool-season drama queens. Once the heat hits, they go straight to seed. Cilantro in particular has zero chill — it bolts the second you look away.
- Risk of planting in June: Spindly plants, bitter leaves, and a whole lot of flower stalks where your herb garden should be.
- Better options: Grow heat-tolerant herbs like basil, oregano, thyme, and rosemary. They love the sun and won’t bolt at the first sign of summer.
What I’ve Stopped Pretending
I used to think I could outsmart the seasons. Toss in a few seeds, water like a champion, and everything would work out. It didn’t. Not with bolting herbs, bitter greens, or cabbage that cracked wide open like a dropped watermelon.
Now I plan a little better. I grow what actually wants to grow when I plant it. And I’ve made peace with skipping a few crops if the timing’s off. The garden is a lot less stressful when you stop trying to bend nature to your schedule and just meet it where it is.
Daniel has been a plant enthusiast for over 20 years. He owns hundreds of houseplants and prepares for the chili growing seasons yearly with great anticipation. His favorite plants are plant species in the Araceae family, such as Monstera, Philodendron, and Anthurium. He also loves gardening and is growing hot peppers, tomatoes, and many more vegetables.