
Your Monthly Planting Guide
June
It may be winter but…
There is still plenty to do in the garden this month, even if a chilly breeze is blowing and the sun isn’t giving much warmth. Early morning may be frosty but that soon burns off after sunrise. The days are often near-perfect for getting stuck into some of the many chores that need to be done now.
Gardening In June
Spring Onion
Spring onions (also known as green shallots and green bunching or salad onions) are a delicious addition to a whole...
Runner beans
Runner beans, or more correctly scarlet runner beans, (Phaseolus coccineus) are among the easiest and most rewarding...
Salad leaves
Bags of salad leaves are quite expensive to buy and have a fairly short lifespan in the fridge. Grow your own and you...
Sweet Corn
Sweet Corn, or maize, won't really grow as high as an elephant's eye, but it will be sweet, tender and delicious -...
Cauliflower
Drizzled with olive oil and baked whole or sliced into steaks, cut into individual florets and wok-tossed in a stir fry...
Blueberries
Eaten fresh, baked in muffins or as the star attraction in jams or desserts, blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) are...
Strawberries
Who doesn’t love strawberries? If you’re a strawberry fan, the many varieties of Fragaria × ananassa are easy to grow at...
Raspberries
What could be better than a bowl of sweet, fresh-picked raspberries in summer? These delicious fruits are easy to grow...
Sunflowers
If you want to grow something spectacular, plant sunflowers. They come in a whole range of sizes from dwarf to giant and...
Sweet peas
The sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus) is an incredibly popular flowering climbing plant that produces masses of flowers from...
Fiddle Leaf Figs
With their lush, upright stature and huge, glossy leaves, the Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) is one of the most popular...
Peace Lily
With their dark green foliage and pure white flowers, Peace Lilies are a stunning addition indoors. Being just as...
Philodendron
There’s a reason why Philodendrons make such great indoor plants… well several actually! They look good, aren’t fussy...
Buffalo Grass
A popular stalwart in Australian gardens for good reason, buffalo grass makes for an incredibly resilient lawn. It is...
Kikuyu Grass
Kikuya grass, or Pennisetum Clandestinum, is a vigorous plant often used in Australian lawns and common in public...
Vegetables
What to harvest now:
Some of the early Autumn veggie plantings may be starting to crop now in cool climate gardens – look for tender Brussels Sprouts, Cabbages, Kale and Cauliflowers. Silver Beet and other “cut and come again” leafy greens may also be ready to pick.

What to plant now:
Continue planting certified virus-free strawberry plants and runners. Protect young plants from cold with a straw, lucerne or sugarcane mulch that will help keep the soil warm and weed-free. Rhubarb and asparagus crowns will be available now from garden centres and some produce stores. Look for sturdy, firm crowns.
In temperate areas, a late planting of seedlings of:
- Silver beet
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Chinese cabbage
- Kale (including Tuscan kale or cavallo nero)
- Leek
- Spinach
- Spring onion

In warm regions, sow seeds or plant seedlings of:
- Beetroot
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Carrot
- Cauliflower
- Peas
- Silver beet
- Spinach
- Soft herbs – parsley, coriander, basil
Veggie patch tips for June:
- Keep veggie crops healthy and growing well with applications of liquid fertiliser for vegetables and herbs such as Osmocote Boost+Feed Vegetables, Tomatoes & Herbs or a certified organic fertiliser once a month.
- Water deeply at least once a week if the weather is dry.
- In cold areas, add a layer of mulch over the soil to keep it warm and minimise effects of frost.
- If a severe frost occurs, hose plants off before sunrise to prevent burning of leaves.
- Hand pull or hoe out weeds as they appear – they compete for nutrients and moisture and may also harbour pests that could attack your crops.
- Use snail and slug traps or baits to protect plants and crops as they develop.
Fruit
Fruits to harvest now:
In cool and cold climates, most fruits are now in their dormant season, apart perhaps from a few late limes or lemons. In warm areas, however, there should still be some tropical fruits to harvest – custard apples, carambola, breadfruit, avocados, guavas, paw paws (papayas) to name a few.

What fruit to plant:
Evergreen fruiting plants such as passionfruit vines and citrus may still be planted in warm to tropical areas. From mid-month onwards, deciduous fruit and nut trees will start appearing in garden centres and other gardening outlets. These include:
- Fig
- Apple
- Pear
- Cherry
- Plum
- Apricot
- Plumcot
- Nectarine
- Peach
- Persimmon
- Almond
- Walnut
- Mulberry
- Pomegranate
- Quince
- Raspberry
- Blackberry
Flowers
What flowers to plant:
Bare-root roses are available this month. Prepare planting holes with a slight mound in the centre over which the roots should be spread. Check plants are put in no deeper than the soil mark on the stem - graft or bud unions should be well clear of the soil. Back-fill and water in well to settle soil around the roots. Don’t add fertiliser while the plants are dormant. Some further pruning after planting is recommended, despite having already been cut back.

Winter and spring flowering annual seedlings in warmer climates only:
- Alyssum
- Aquilegia (granny’s bonnet)
- Cornflower
- Dianthus
- Gaillardia
- Geum
- Gypsophila
- Impatiens
- Iceland poppy
- Polyanthus
- Snapdragon
- Viola

Indoor Plants
Tips for Indoor Plants:
- Plants inside the home assist in purifying the air as well as lending a touch of greenery to your living areas.
- Keep plants out of draughts and away from heaters and air conditioners that can dry the atmosphere.
- If your house is at a comfortable temperature for you, then it will be perfect for your plants too. Place a saucer or bowl of water near your plants to humidify the air.
- Keep leaves clean by wiping occasionally with a damp cloth (no detergents or oils, please!) to remove dust and dirt that can affect photosynthesis.
- Keep them growing well with ready to use Osmocote Pour+Feed Indoor Plants – no mixing required.
Lawn
Maintenance tips:
Over winter, in southern areas, the lawn will benefit from a bit of TLC.
- If grassed areas stay wet after moderate to heavy rain, you may need to install a drainage system. See May’s notes for detail.
- Watch for moss in shady, moist areas of lawn. A solution of iron sulfate (30 grams in 4.5L of water) applied as a spray or with the watering will help control it. Re-apply if necessary.
- Apply a generous handful of garden lime per square metre a week or so after mowing, and allow rainfall to take it down into the soil. Don’t mow for at least a week or two after liming.
- Eradicate broadleaf weeds with Lawn Builder Bindii, Clover & Broadleaf hose-on, safe to use on ALL lawns.
In the warmer north:
- De-thatch with a garden rake to remove build-up of dead grass in buffalo, kikuyu and couch lawns.
- Remove weeds either by hand or with Lawn Builder Bindii, Clover & Broadleaf hose-on.
- Top dress with Lawn Builder Organic Lawn Soil – Topdress Mix & Underlay.
- Fertilise with Lawn Builder All Purpose Slow Release Lawn Fertiliser, Lawn Builder Buffalo, Lawn Builder Extreme Green Granular or one of the Lawn Builder hose-on equivalents.
Garden Tasks
Things to look out for and do during the month:
- Keep flower seedlings growing well with regular applications of Osmocote Boost+Feed All Plant Types.
- Clean and sharpen your garden tools, especially secateurs, loppers and pruning saws so they are ready for action in winter.
- Clean out the garden pond – remove leaf debris, repot water plants (waterlilies, iris, etc), add a water conditioner (remove fish first!) and tidy up the plants around the edges. Add a good handful of garden lime per square metre to empty garden beds to “sweeten” the soil. DO NOT add lime around acid-loving plants like azaleas, camellias, rhododendrons or magnolias – they will react badly!
- Sow a “green manure” crop of oats, peas and field lupins in empty vegetable beds; dig it in to add nitrogen to the soil when about 300-400mm in height.
- Check garden beds under the eaves or in other protected spots to ensure they have not become too dry; water if required.

Pest Control:
- Chewing pests can destroy your plants overnight if not controlled. Use a general garden insecticide like Defender Pyrethrum Insect Spray to control them. Don’t forget to spray the undersides of leaves too.
- Watch for the caterpillars of the White Cabbage Butterfly on cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and other brassicas. Pyrethrum will assist or try a cabbage dust
- Slugs and snails can be active over Winter – Defender Snail & Slug Pellets in a bait trap will protect your plants and keep your pets safe.

Find your local store and start growing your garden.
Find your local store and start growing your garden.