If you’re looking at your garden beds in early June and feeling behind — you are not alone. I’ve been there too, thinking I missed out on growing anything for the summer. The reality is, there’s still plenty of time to plant a productive garden, even in Zones 5 and 6. Whether you’re just starting a garden or you’ve simply been too busy with life, don’t give up on your garden this summer. June is still a perfect time to plant a range of fast-growing summer crops that will absolutely thrive in the warmth!.
Why June Planting in Zones 5 and 6 Matters
When I started gardening, I wanted to get everything planted throughout May. Even when our family life wasn’t hectic, sometimes the weather didn’t cooperate, and we were still getting frost advisories around Memorial Day!
I’ve learned over the years that starting my garden in June doesn’t mean that I’m late, especially because there are a lot of fast-growing summer crops that I can get multiple harvests out of before the fall comes.
The key to starting a garden in June is to plant summer crops that not only grow fast but also produce abundant harvests. Best of all, these 10 fast-growing crops don’t require a ton of experience, making them perfect for beginners as well!
Tips For Planning Fast-Growing Summer Crops
When it comes to planting in the summer, most people think it’s too late. There are some advantages to starting your garden in June, if you work with your climate.
- Use the warmer temperatures to your advantage. Seeds will germinate much faster, which means that you will start seeing things sprout faster than in the spring.
- Since the summer can dry things out fast, make sure you’re consistently watering your garden.
- To mitigate having an entire crop come in all at once, plant in succession. Plant a little now, and in two weeks, plant some more.
- With the warm weather comes bugs. Keep an eye out for pests that can do damage to your garden.
Crops You Can Still Plant In June
These fast-growing summer plants are some of my favorites to grow, even if I’m starting in June. They will help you make the most of your summer growing season, whether you’re just trying to fill in gaps within your garden, starting late from scratch, or are looking to keep a continual harvest.
1 – Bush Beans
Bush beans are one of my favorite crops to direct sow in June since they only take 50 – 60 days until they’re ready to harvest. They’re great for eating fresh, freezing, or even canning if you’re up for it. Bush beans love the heat, sprout quickly, and don’t need trellising like pole beans do.
I like to plant mine every two weeks through mid-July to keep the harvests coming without being overwhelmed. If you want to can or freeze a lot of beans, you can plant yours all at the same time.
Bonus: They fix nitrogen in the soil, making your soil better for the next crop.
Varieties I’ve had success with in the past include: ^^^^^
2 – Zucchini & Summer Squash
If you have an empty space in your garden and want something prolific, plant zucchini. They only take 45 – 60 days until harvest. One or two plants will create a lot of produce for you, and they don’t require a ton of work. As long as the soil is warm and there is enough space for their big leaves to spread, zucchini will reward you with a continual harvest.
Zucchini and summer squash are the best choice if you’re a beginner, since they’re very forgiving and satisfy that urge to “see something growing fast.”
Varieties I love to grow include:
3 – Cucumbers
Whether you love them fresh in salads or want to try your hand at pickling, cucumbers have got you covered! They take about 50-65 days until harvest, making them a great crop to plant in June.
If space is tight, look for compact or bush varieties, or even trellis vining types to keep your garden tidy. Cucumbers germinate quickly and explode with growth in the summer heat. You will even get a continual harvest before the first frost in Zones 5 and 6 if you get them in now.
Cucumber varieties I love to plant include:
4 – Radishes
If you are looking for something that won’t take long until they’re ready to harvest, radishes are the way to go. They take 25-35 minutes until they’re ready to be picked, making them perfect for filling in little open patches in the garden or container gardening.
In Zone 5, I’ve planted radishes all summer long in the partial shade of other plants as they grow, and they still do well. I also like to plant some heat-tolerant varieties in case summer warms up faster than I’d like it to. For beginners, they’re a great way to get that quick win in and enjoy harvesting something edible just a few weeks after planting.
For radishes, I like to plant:
5 – Leaf Lettuce
While lettuce is usually associated with cooler weather, there are some heat-tolerant leaf lettuce varieties you can plant. Simply give them some shade, or grow under shade cloth, and within 30-45 days, you can enjoy fresh salads even in the summer. Much like radishes, I like to tuck lettuce in between taller plants like tomatoes for natural shade.
Bonus: Simply harvesting young leaves helps to keep the plant going longer without bolting quickly.
6 – Swiss Chard
Swiss chard is a powerhouse green that thrives in cool and warm weather, and takes 50-60 days before the larger leaves are ready to harvest. I like to plant a fresh round in early June and harvest the baby leaves in just a month. Chard is one of the easiest leafy greens to grow in a Zone 5 garden since it won’t bolt the first year it is grown, and it’s pretty enough to double as an ornamental if you have limited space.
I love to plant rainbow chard, but other varieties I’ve had success with include:
7 – Scallions (Green Onions)
These little guys take 50-60 days and are a must for fresh summer meals. They don’t take up much space, can be grown in containers, and are incredibly beginner-friendly. I’ve even grown them in the corners of my raised beds just to squeeze in a bit more homegrown flavor. You can direct sow them, or but I prefer to plant starts that I find locally since our spring is incredibly unpredictable.
8 – Turnips
Turnips are underrated, especially because this group gives you both roots and greens. Turnips should be on your list since they grow fast, and you can start to harvest the greens while the roots are maturing. Since they take 40-60 days, they’re also great for second plantings in mid to late summer as you prep for a fall garden.
9 – Basil
No summer is ever complete without fresh basil! This herb is a fast grower in warm weather, and perfect for beginners. Just grab a transplant from your local nursery, and harvest the leaves continually throughout the summer. When I have the time and space, I like to plant new basil every couple of weeks through mid-July to keep enough fresh basil going for cooking and canning.
10 – Bok Choy
If you’re feeling adventurous or want something other than the standard summer fare, try the shorter day varieties of bok choy. These varieties grow incredibly fast (ready to harvest in 30-45 days), and do well even when started in early summer. Plant them where they can stay shaded in hot afternoons, or grow them in containers you can move. These greens are quick, nutritious, and perfect for summer stir-fries.
June isn’t too late to start your summer garden!
If you feel like you missed your gardening window, I want you to know that you haven’t! There are so many amazing crops you can still grow successfully in June in Zones 5 and 6, even if you’re starting your first garden.
Gardening as a beginner doesn’t have to be complicated, and planting fast growers now will give you an abundance of crops in a few weeks.
Your garden is not behind—it’s just getting started. So grab your seeds, shake off the guilt of missed timelines, and get those crops in the ground.
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