What to plant in June in the South

Worked out for 46 cities from their own weather and frost dates, by zone.

What to sow and plant in June in the South, by zone: frost-free, highs above 82 °F (Washington, D.C., Atlanta and 38 more): tomato, bell pepper, zucchini, green beans, cucumber and 20 more; frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F (Baltimore, Dover and 4 more): tomato, bell pepper, zucchini, green beans, cucumber and 20 more.

In the South, June is summer.

Frost-free, highs above 82 °F: Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Nashville, Charlotte and 36 more

In June, on average, these cities have highs of 83 to 91 °F and lows of 63 to 75 °F, 2.7 to 8.5 in of rain on 8 to 21 days; the day lasts 14 h 04 min to 14 h 57 min (on the 15th).

No frost in June in 10 years of data: frost-tender crops can go in too, if it is warm enough for them.

How	What	Where
start indoors, plant out in August	Tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, chili pepper	Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Nashville and 36 more
sow direct	Zucchini, green beans, watermelon, pumpkin, sweet corn, basil, bok choy, borage, chayote, corn, Florence fennel, kiwano, luffa, moringa, Napa cabbage, okra, peanut, soybean	Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Nashville and 36 more
start indoors, plant out in July	Cucumber, melon, achocha	Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Nashville and 36 more
start indoors, plant out in September	Celeriac, celery	New Orleans, Savannah, Charleston and 7 more

Compared with May: no longer sown — arugula.

Not starting in June: lettuce (October, started indoors), peas (October, sown direct) and spinach (November, started indoors) — dates for Savannah.

Ready to harvest in June in Savannah, if sown in the right month: cabbage (February), zucchini (April), green beans (April), sweet corn (March), basil (April), bok choy (April), borage (April) and corn (March).

Frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F: Baltimore, Dover, Annapolis, Charleston, West Virginia and 2 more

In June, on average, these cities have highs of 79 to 82 °F and lows of 60 to 67 °F, 2.8 to 5.5 in of rain on 11 to 14 days; the day lasts 14 h 33 min to 14 h 57 min (on the 15th).

No frost in June in 10 years of data: frost-tender crops can go in too, if it is warm enough for them.

How	What	Where
start indoors, plant out in August	Tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, chili pepper	all
sow direct	Zucchini, green beans, watermelon, pumpkin, sweet corn, basil, bok choy, borage, chayote, corn, Florence fennel, kiwano, luffa, moringa, Napa cabbage, okra, peanut, soybean	all
start indoors, plant out in July	Cucumber, melon, achocha	all
sow direct	Arugula	Morgantown

Compared with May: no longer sown — peas, beet, parsley, cilantro, celeriac, celery, chamomile, dill and 1 more.

Not starting in June: lettuce (September, started indoors), peas (September, sown direct) and spinach (October, started indoors) — dates for Dover.

Ready to harvest in June in Dover, if sown in the right month: broad bean (March), peas (April), lettuce (April), broccoli (March), Swiss chard (April), beet (April), parsley (April) and cilantro (April).

How we work it out

For each city we use its average weather in June and the months after (highs, lows and rain for 2016–2025, ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo) and its average frost dates. A crop starts in June if the month's mean temperature reaches the minimum soil temperature for germination on its card (we use the mean air temperature as a stand-in for the soil's) and if, over its first months (up to three), the average highs stay within its group's range, with no frost for crops that cannot take it. Crops started indoors count from the month they are planted out.

Temperature groups from Colorado State University Extension: cool-season crops prefer 60–80 °F and lose quality in heat; hardy ones grow in days as cool as 40 °F, semi-hardy ones from 40–50 °F (we use 50 °F); warm-season crops need days above 55 °F, and the most tender (tomato, pepper, eggplant, melon, watermelon, squash) above 60 °F, up to 95 °F. Crops the guide does not name go into the stricter group by their frost hardiness. Fava (broad) beans, which the guide does not name, count as hardy: hardy varieties are sown in fall and overwinter (RHS). Garlic and bulbs: a month before the first frost, and later only while the ground is not frozen (as on each city's page).

This is a general rule from averages: your garden can be a week or two earlier or later, and a greenhouse or a cold frame brings the season forward. Greenly works out the dates for your location.

What to plant in June in the South

Frost-free, highs above 82 °F: Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Nashville, Charlotte and 36 more

Frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F: Baltimore, Dover, Annapolis, Charleston, West Virginia and 2 more

How we work it out

Other months in the South