June Gardening Checklist for San Francisco & the Bay Area
June is here, and summer is just around the corner. If you live close to the water, there’s still time to plant; if you’re farther from the bay (in Walnut Creek or up toward Sonoma), your growing season is in full swing already.
1. Plant Warm-Season Crops
Though the ideal time to plant warm-season crops is late April and May, you can still get them in the ground through June. Plant tomatoes, squash, eggplant, cucumbers, peppers, beans, and corn. If you’re still unsure about what to plant, we recommend ‘Sungold’ tomatoes for delicious cherry tomatoes all through summer. All these crops will perform especially well with the extra heat the early summer brings. Just be sure to give them plenty of water.
2. Plant Pumpkins
If you want pumpkins for cooking, carving, or decorating in fall, you’ll want to get pumpkin seeds into the ground in June. Many varieties take 90 to 120 days to mature, so as long as the pumpkins are planted before July you’re sure to have ripe pumpkins come October. Some of the most flavorful varieties for cooking include ‘Winter Luxury’, ‘Cinnamon Girl’, and ‘New England Pie’. There are also great varieties for carving: ‘Jack O’ Lantern’, ‘Early Giant’, or ‘Wolf’. And if you’re looking for unique-looking pumpkins to set out on your porch or use as a centerpiece: ‘Cinderella’s Carriage’, ‘Mini Jack’, ‘Polar Bear’, ‘Casperita’, ‘Jarrahdale Large’, ‘Marina Di Chioggia’, or Porcelain Doll’ are fun varieties to try. Buy pumpkin seeds at Johnny’s Selected Seed, Renee’s Garden, or Harris Seeds.
3. Feed Tomato Plants with Balanced Fertilizer
Tomatoes are often heavy feeders, but don’t just give them any food—be selective. If they get too much nitrogen, the plants will be encouraged to produce lots of foliage instead of fruit. A balanced fertilizer such as 8-8-8 or 10-10-10 will provide enough nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium for all stages of plant growth and fruit production. Another great way to give your tomatoes what they need is to use compost teas—pour it directly into the soil or spray it onto the foliage. We recommend using Bu's Brew Biodynamic Compost Tea from Malibu Compost.
4. Get Cactus and Succulent Inspiration
If you’re interested in learning more about cactus or succulents, the Ruth Bancroft Garden will be your Disneyland—no FastPass required. This garden, started over 60 years ago, is a tribute to plants from the world’s deserts and Mediterranean climates. Ruth Bancroft, the founder of the garden, passed away in 2017 but her vast and diverse plant collection lives on. Visit now before the weather gets really warm because you’ll want to take your time.
5. Visit an Inspirational Edible Garden
One of the best edible gardens in the country is housed across the street from the three Michelin Star restaurant, The French Laundry. This garden is made up of around 50 garden planting beds, one greenhouse (which houses microgreen, tomatoes, and more), bee hives, and chickens for fresh eggs. The garden is quite efficient because each bed is planted with one variety of plant, such as strawberries all planted in one of the 25 foot by 25 foot planting beds. If the crop is an annual such as tomatoes, then the entire bed is turned over. It’s a sight to see and you can walk right into the garden. Visit Yountville in June and you’re sure to be delighted and inspired.
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6. Check Your Irrigation Systems
Be sure all your hard work doesn’t go to waste this summer due to lack of water. It’s worth it to take the time to turn on your irrigation and observe how it’s operating. Even if they worked last year, emitters still need to be checked. They often need to be unclogged or adjusted. If you’ve replaced any plants, be sure to adjust for any different water requirements.
7. Fertilize Containers Regularly
Container plants are often forgotten when it comes to fertilizing, but they need food, too! In fact, container plants often need fertilizer more frequently than plants in the ground-about every two weeks (they often use up nutrients faster because there’s limited space in a container). Frequent watering also tends to wash nutrients out of containers, as well. Liquid fertilizers such as fish emulsions or seaweed concentrates are some of the best ways to feed container plants because the liquids are easier for plant roots to absorb quickly. Use organic fish emulsion from Dramm, seaweed concentrate from Dr. Earth, or a liquid fertilizer from Fox Farm.
8. Resolve Pest Problems
Pests in an edible garden can be extremely frustrating. You’ve put in countless hours preparing planting beds, planting seeds or growing sprouts, and now pests are eating your treasured produce. To keep pests of your edible crops in an organic and natural way, we recommend using neem oil, oil extracted from the neem tree. Try this one from Gardener’s Supply.
9. Plant Semi-Dwarf Fruit Trees
Semi-dwarf fruit trees offer a nice balance of moderate size along with ample fruit production. Typically, these trees grow 12 to 15 feet tall, so they are manageable in most residential gardens. They also make harvesting fruit easier because upper branches can be reached without the use of large orchard ladders. Buy semi-dwarf trees from Stark Bros. or Four Winds Growers. Make sure you give your trees a deep watering every 3 to 5 days for the first few months after planting.
10. Take a Shopping Trip to Annie’s Annuals & Perennials
Annie’s Annuals & Perennials is filled with incredible display beds that showcase what can be done with well-grown plants, proper gardening techniques, and a little imagination. Make it a point to visit this nursery to get ideas—trust us, you’ll want to go back every year. Along with all the ideas you’ll get while you’re there, there are several acres of interesting plants for purchase. The expert staff will answer any questions and make recommendations specific for your garden. If you can’t make the trip, take a look at their website which is also full of great ideas and detailed plant information.
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