Your June Planting Guide
Gardening Experts Recommend June Warm-Season Planting for Summer Harvests with Watering Tips
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For carrots specifically, GardeningExpress’s Chris Bonnett says carrot seeds can be sown in June in “well-drained, moisture-retentive soil,” and that seedlings should be placed about “5cm apart.”
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Phostrogen notes soil type isn’t just about general moisture capacity: it depends on both “the texture of your soil” and whether it is “compacted or not,” because this affects how much water it can hold and how it “seeps down to the roots.”
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The watering guidance also stresses there are “four principal soil types to keep in mind,” and gardeners should identify theirs before watering rather than following a one-size-fits-all routine.
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On rain-gauge readings, Phostrogen adds that you may be “surprised”: “heavy rainfall lasting a few minutes often brings less saturation than a fine drizzle that lasts for several hours.”
June is shaping up to be one of the best months to get plants in the ground, despite recent wet weather across the UK. GardeningExpress founder Chris Bonnett says the warming soil and longer daylight hours make this a "great month" where "gardeners will find they are able to plant most things."
The guidance comes as the UK navigates a volatile 2026 growing season — a record-breaking hot May gave way to a wet, unsettled June, with low-pressure systems steering rain across the country since June 4. Experts say that rather than being a setback, the combination of moisture and warmth is a "secret weapon" for garden growth. Devon Live reports that June is now considered the primary window for establishing warm-season crops before the increasingly common July and August heatwaves.
Best Vegetables and Flowers to Plant This June
Bonnett singles out carrots and cucumbers as "beginner-friendly" crops that can go in now for a summer harvest. For carrots specifically, he says seeds should be sown in "well-drained, moisture-retentive soil" with seedlings spaced exactly 5cm apart to give roots room to develop. Both crops respond well to the warmth that June soil now holds, according to Devon Live.
On the ornamental side, experts recommend hebe, cosmos, and marigolds — all plants that thrive in warmer conditions and longer days. These options suit gardeners looking to add colour without specialist knowledge. Head Topics notes that the longer days and milder temperatures are actively encouraging more people to start gardening for the first time this season.
Why Soil Type Determines How Much Water Your Garden Really Needs
Watering is not one-size-fits-all. Phostrogen specialists warn that how much water your soil can hold depends on "the texture of your soil and whether it is compacted or not." There are "four principal soil types to keep in mind," and gardeners should identify theirs before setting any watering routine. Compacted soil sheds water quickly, meaning less of it reaches the roots where it matters, according to Express.
The timing of watering also shifts with the season. In spring and autumn, experts advise watering before 8am. But in summer, they say wait until the evening. Morning sun can scorch wet leaves and increase evaporation. Evening watering sends moisture directly to the roots and keeps more of it in the soil overnight. Always direct water at the base of the plant, not the leaves.
The Rain Gauge Trick That Stops You Overwatering
One of the most practical tools experts recommend is a rain gauge. Every 1 millimetre of rainfall equals 1 litre of water per square metre of garden. That number makes it easy to track what nature is already providing and adjust your own watering accordingly. Without one, it is easy to either underwater or waste water on soil that is already saturated.
Phostrogen adds a surprising warning: heavy rain lasting a few minutes often delivers less moisture to soil than a fine drizzle lasting several hours. The reason is absorption speed. Hard rain hits faster than soil can absorb it, causing runoff. Fine drizzle allows the soil to "sip" slowly, pushing water deeper toward the roots. This "drizzle paradox" means a seemingly dry June day with light showers can be more beneficial than a brief downpour, as Moorlands Radio and Radio News Hub have highlighted in their coverage of RHS June garden findings.
Beneath the Puddles, UK Gardens Face a Hidden Moisture Deficit
Not everyone shares the optimism about June rain. Ellen Fletcher, a gardening expert at MyBuilder, warns that recent showers are "not anywhere near enough to meet the needs of our chronically dehydrated gardens." This follows a record-dry 2025 and an early 2026 where Reading recorded 141mm of rain in 31 days — more than double its 58mm 30-year average — yet deep aquifers remain depleted.
The Environment Agency flagged this risk as early as November 2025, warning that England could face severe drought in 2026 without a sufficiently wet winter. Despite the June puddles, experts say the visible surface moisture masks a deeper deficit in subsoils. Hosepipe bans remain a real possibility for late July if deep watering practices do not replenish moisture below the surface, according to Devon Live.
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