June is when the Santa Cruz County garden hits its stride. Your early plantings are starting to produce, warm-season crops are thriving, and there's still time to squeeze in a few more summer vegetables.

This is also the month when many gardeners make a critical mistake: they stop planting. Don't! June is still prime planting time for many crops - especially if you're practicing succession planting for continuous harvests.

Why June Still Matters for Planting

Yes, we're well into the growing season. But beans, cucumbers, squash, and many herbs can still go in the ground and produce abundantly before fall. And if you're smart about it, you can start planning and planting for your fall garden while your summer crops are still growing.

June is also the last good month for planting basil, the first good month for starting certain fall crops, and an excellent time to fill any gaps in your summer garden.

Direct Seed These in June

Warm-Season Crops

Beans (bush and pole-succession plant every 2-3 weeks)
Cucumbers
Summer squash
Zucchini
Corn (early June only)
Sunflowers

Herbs

Basil (last chance for summer harvest)
Cilantro (will bolt quickly-try bolt-resistant varieties)
Dill

Fall Crops to Start

Beets (for fall harvest)
Carrots (for fall harvest)
Lettuce (heat-tolerant varieties)

Transplant These in June

For most areas:

Tomatoes (early June only for most microclimates)
Peppers (early June only - they take too long to establish/produce after this)
Eggplant (early June only)
Basil

For warm microclimates (sunny mountain ridges, Watsonville): You can push the season! Consider:

Fast-maturing tomatoes (like 'Early Girl', 'Stupice', 'Fourth of July') can be planted through early July for fall harvest
Winter squash (less frost-sensitive than cucumbers/melons)
Beans (succession plant through July/August)

Skip late planting:

Peppers (too slow to establish)
Melons (too frost-sensitive)
Cucumbers (too frost-sensitive, though squash is hardier)

Start Seeds Indoors in June

Yes, already! If you want a productive fall garden, start these indoors now:

Broccoli (for fall transplanting)
Cauliflower
Cabbage
Kale
Brussels sprouts

What to Harvest in June

This is harvest heaven:

Strawberries (still going strong)
Peas (last of the season)
Fava beans (finish harvesting)
Beets
Carrots
Summer squash and zucchini (just starting)
Cucumbers (just starting)
Early tomatoes (in warm areas)
Herbs (basil, cilantro, dill, parsley)
Berries (blackberries, blueberries, raspberries)

June Garden Tasks

Succession plant beans, cucumbers, and squash for continuous harvest
Start fall brassicas indoors
Mulch heavily-our dry season is here
Monitor water closely-June can be hot and dry
Stake and support growing tomatoes and cucumbers
Harvest regularly to encourage more production
Watch for pests (aphids, caterpillars, and gophers are active)
Side-dress heavy feeders with compost

Microclimate Adjustments

Coastal (Aptos, Capitola, Santa Cruz beaches, Live Oak): Your tomatoes are finally warming up! Keep succession planting beans and cucumbers through June. Early June is your deadline for tomato transplants. Start thinking about fall brassicas.

San Lorenzo Valley & Scotts Valley - Sunny Ridges/Chaparral (Boulder Creek mountains, Ben Lomond sunny exposures, Scotts Valley hills): You're in the sweet spot for warm-season crops. Everything thrives now. Your long season means you can plant fast-maturing tomatoes even into early July, succession plant corn through mid-July, and keep planting beans through August. This is your advantage!

San Lorenzo Valley & Scotts Valley - Under Redwoods (Felton canyons, Ben Lomond shaded areas): Focus on shade-tolerant crops and herbs. This is not your peak tomato zone, but greens, chard, cucumbers, and beans can work in partial sun (4-6 hours). Your cooler temps are good for extending spring crops.

Inland Valleys (Scotts Valley, Soquel): Excellent conditions for almost everything. Keep succession planting for continuous harvest. Similar season length to sunny mountain areas.

Watsonville/Pajaro Valley: Peak growing conditions. You can push the season and plant warm-season crops (including fast-maturing tomatoes) into early July. Succession plant beans, corn, and squash for extended harvests.

Common June Questions

Is it too late to plant tomatoes? It depends on your microclimate:

Coastal/cooler areas: Early June is your deadline for most varieties
Warm microclimates (sunny mountain ridges like Boulder Creek chaparral, Watsonville): You can plant fast-maturing varieties (60-70 days) through early July! They'll produce in September/October/November
Choose varieties like 'Early Girl', 'Stupice', 'Fourth of July', or 'Sungold' for late planting
Skip late planting: Peppers (too slow to establish), melons (frost-sensitive), cucumbers (frost-sensitive, though winter squash is hardier)

Why is my garden bolting? Cool-season crops like lettuce, arugula, cilantro, and broccoli bolt (flower) when temperatures rise and days get longer. This is natural. Pull them and plant warm-season crops instead.

Can I plant fall crops now? You should start fall brassicas indoors in June, but don't transplant them until August or September. Direct seeding carrots and beets for fall is fine.

How often should I water in June? Deeply and less frequently is better than shallow and daily. Most established plants need deep watering 2-3 times per week. Newly planted seeds and transplants need more frequent watering.

The June Pivot: Summer to Fall

June is the month when smart gardeners start planning for fall. While you're still harvesting and planting summer crops, you're also starting seeds indoors for fall brassicas and thinking about what you'll plant when the tomatoes and peppers wind down.

This is the overlap strategy: never let your garden sit empty.

Keep Planting!

The biggest mistake I see in June is gardeners who think planting season is over. It's not! You have weeks left to succession plant beans, squash, and cucumbers for extended harvests. And you should already be thinking about fall.

Don't coast-keep planting, keep harvesting, and keep your garden productive.

What to Plant in Santa Cruz & the Bay Area in June