Summer Gardening in Scotland: What to Plant in June

Ah, June in a Scottish garden – where the weather can’t decide between drizzle and sunshine, but fear not! With all that extra daylight, now’s the time to get those hands dirty and make the most of your summer garden in Scotland. Think of June as a garden sprint: it’s almost too late to be chicken about planting. (Don’t worry – even if it’s raining, there’s a decent chance it might stop before your tea gets cold.) We’ll look at what to plant in June for both veggies and blooms, and share handy gardening tips for Scotland.

Vegetables to Plant in June

By now the soil has warmed a bit, so a variety of vegetables for Scottish gardens can go into the ground. Here are some top picks:

• Salad leaves and radishes: Sow lettuce, spinach, rocket and radish now for a steady supply of crunchy salad. These are fast-growing “quick crops” that handle the cooler Scottish summer well. Successional sowings every few weeks mean you’ll always have fresh greens on hand.

  
  

• Peas and beans: Peas (snow peas or shelling) and broad beans are likely already flowering if you planted early; if not, get them in the ground now. This is also the last call to sow runner beans or dwarf French beans outdoors – don’t delay, or an early autumn frost might nip your harvest. (Pro tip: give peas a net or wigwam to climb!)

  
  

• Courgettes (zucchini) and pumpkins: If you’ve got a sunny corner or a greenhouse, sow courgettes and pumpkins by early June to ensure they have a long enough season. In cooler spots, plant out hardened seedlings now. They need warmth and plenty of water. Remember: large ‘Halloween’ pumpkins can be tempting, but for eating choose sweeter culinary varieties.

  
  

• Root crops: Sow carrots, beetroots and kohl rabi this month for autumn digging. The long daylight helps root development, but check soil for stones and keep pests (like carrot fly) away with fine mesh covers if needed.

  
  

• Spring onions and leeks: You can sow spring onion seed in drills outdoors now for a mild onion-onion flavor year-round. Plant leeks and winter brassicas (cabbage, kale, purple-sprouting broccoli, Brussels sprouts) into their final positions – these will bulk up over summer and overwinter. (Net the brassicas to stop hungry pigeons.)

  
  

• Herbs: After frost risk passes, plant herbs such as basil, dill and parsley – they’ll perk up salads and stir-fries. Even if it gets chilly, most herbs forgive a little nip if they’re in sun.

Keep these tips in mind: hoe or weed your vegetable beds every week during June, because Scotland’s warm, showery weather lets weeds go mad. And if your back’s feeling twitchy, remember Blooming Scotland’s garden maintenance packages can help keep those weeds at bay.

Flowers to Plant in June

June is blooming time – literally! Planting the right flowers will keep your garden colourful even if the sun plays hide-and-seek. Try these flowers for Scottish gardens:

• Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum): Easy, edible and cheerful, nasturtiums love our northern climate. Sow their seed 1–2 cm deep, 10–15 cm apart. They trail happily along borders or climb up supports, and even act as companion plants for beans and brassicas. Plus, the peppery leaves and blossoms make a fun salad garnish.

  
  

• Poached egg plant (Limnanthes douglasii): This whimsical annual has white-and-yellow daisy-ish blooms that “poach” themselves in the lawn. Sow seeds shallowly in a sunny, well-drained spot – it will self-seed if happy.

  
  

• Cosmos: Those lacy-leaved beauties (‘Sonata’ or ‘Purity’ varieties) can be sown or planted out after all danger of frost. They’ll reward you with clouds of daisy-like flowers through summer. (Choose shorter types for containers; tall ones make great summer cut-flowers.)

  
  

• Lobelia: For hanging baskets and the edges of containers, plant out lobelia now. These trailing, tiny-blue or white blooms will carpet a basket in colour all summer. They love part-shade, so pop them into spots where your sun-worshippers (like petunias) start to wilt.

  
  

• Hardy geraniums (Cranesbills): Varieties like Geranium ‘Rozanne’ keep flowering from June right into autumn. Plant a potted hardy geranium in a sunny or semi-shade bed now – they’re virtually carefree and deer-resistant.

  
  

• Coreopsis (Tickseed): June is your last chance to sow this dwarf annual/perennial outdoors. ‘Incredible Dwarf Mix’ (golden daisy flowers) is a winner. Sprinkle seed on a prepared bed and enjoy blooms from mid-summer on. Coreopsis also makes a cheery container plant.

  
  

• Night-scented stock (Matthiola longipetala): For fragrant twilight flowers, sow this now. It’s an easy annual that keeps flowering into autumn.

  
  

• Summer bulbs: Plant summer-blooming bulbs like lilies, gladioli or dahlias now for late-summer splashes (or, if you can find them, bulb packs labelled for “June planting”). Even autumn bulbs like nerines can go in now for next Autumn’s blooms.

Other June bloomers: tie up sweet peas if you sowed them earlier, and you can still stick annual marigolds, zinnias or cornflowers into small gaps (they’ll cheer up after later-blooming perennials fade). And don’t forget you can slip perennials (like phlox or sedum) into bare patches – a little compost and water around the rootball is all they need. (For a real pollinator party, scatter wildflower seed around the edges – bees love it.)

Need more color ideas? Blooming Scotland’s planting services include pretty wildflower and bulb schemes – or experiment on a small scale.

Tips for Care, Watering, and Weather Protection

By June your garden is a busy place. Here are some Scottish climate gardening tips to keep everything thriving:

• Water wisely: Even in Scotland, June can have dry spells. Water new plants deeply at the roots, ideally early morning or late evening to minimise evaporation. Use a watering can or gentle hose to avoid washing compost away, and focus on the soil (not the foliage). Collect rainwater in a barrel if you can – even small showers add up. A good mulch (compost, bark or even grass clippings) around vegetables and flowerbeds will help retain moisture.

  
  

• Mind the weather: “High chance of rain” is good news for Scotland’s gardens – just don’t forget a support for tall plants. Stake tomatoes and runner beans to prevent wind flop, and tie or net tall blooms (like delphiniums or dahlias) so they don’t snap in a squall. If a late cold snap is forecast (rare, but not unheard of), keep some old fleece or cloches ready to cover tender seedlings overnight.

  
  

• Weeding and feeding: June weeds grow as fast as turnips, so hoe between rows regularly. Pull garden weeds while they’re small, or mulch to suppress them. Keep an eye on hungry caterpillars (net brassicas to deter cabbage whites) and slugs (deter them from young lettuce and hostas with grit or beer traps). Apply a balanced organic feed to heavy feeders like tomatoes and potatoes every couple of weeks once they start swelling.

  
  

• Soil health: Many Central Scotland soils tend to be heavy and acidic, so strengthen yours by digging in plenty of homemade compost or well-rotted manure. This improves drainage and adds nutrients. If clay feels like concrete, consider raised beds (easy on the back and the soil) or a no-dig layer of mulch for easier growing. On the bright side, Scottish soil’s high organic matter means it stays fertile – just keep topping it up!

  
  

• Lawn and edges: Mow lawns regularly (a short cut brings out the green stripes). Edge borders and paths – a neat edge stops grass creeping in. If your lawn looks peaky, one application of lawn feed in June can boost growth.

If all this sounds like too much hard work, remember you can tag in pro help: Blooming Scotland offers garden maintenance to take care of mowing, weeding and seasonal planting, and even garden design advice for tricky plots. That leaves you more time to sip tea on the patio.

Conclusion

There you have it – a bumper checklist for your Scotland gardening in June. The weather might be fickle, but you’ll sleep better knowing your veggies are in, your flowers are planted, and your plants are sipping their morning dew. Turn over that rich Scottish soil with a smile, layer on compost like it’s cake icing, and get growing! Before you know it you’ll be harvesting homegrown carrots and admiring a riot of blooms. Now grab your wellies and trowel, and happy planting!