June Gardening Guide:
Sowing and Growing Flowers, Vegetables, and Herbs

As the seasons change, it's time to get your hands dirty and embrace the joys of gardening. Whether you have a spacious garden or a cozy balcony, growing flowers, vegetables, and herbs can bring beauty and freshness to your surroundings. In this blog post, we'll provide you with a comprehensive guide on what to sow and grow, both indoors and outdoors, to create a vibrant and productive garden.

Flowers to Sow and Grow:

Indoor/Greenhouse: In your greenhouse or indoors, start by sowing winter-flowering pansies in seed trays. These beautiful blooms will be ready for your winter containers, adding a touch of colour during the colder months. Additionally, consider growing petunias by visiting our petunia hub page for expert tips and advice.

To prepare for next year's spring display, sow perennial seeds like aquilegia, bellis, Canterbury bells, delphiniums, and lupins indoors. These plants will reward you with stunning flowers when spring arrives. For bee and butterfly-friendly flowers, sow perennial scabiosa in pots or trays.

To bridge the gap between spring and summer, sow forget-me-nots, foxgloves, Dianthus plants (sweet Williams), and wallflowers in seed trays now. These will provide you with bursts of colour in the garden next year. Don't forget to make use of the available windowsills by sowing biennials for future blooms.

Direct Sow Outdoors:

Take advantage of the outdoor space by direct sowing various flowers. Calendula, Candytuft 'Dwarf Fairyland Mixed', clarkia (Godetia), larkspur, and limnanthes can still be sown to yield a beautiful display of summer flowers. Nasturtiums, with their vibrant colours, are perfect for containers, baskets, beds, and vegetable plots.

For late-summer blue flowers, scatter nigella seeds in your borders. Engage the whole family by growing the tallest sunflower from direct sowings.

Plant Outdoors:

Now that the frost risk has passed, it's time to plant out your remaining summer annual bedding plants and scented annuals. Their blossoms will add charm and fragrance to your garden. Fill any gaps with ground cover annuals like lobelia and nicotiana, creating a visually pleasing and weed-suppressing landscape.

Consider planting patio shrubs and plants such as hardy fuchsias and arums for an appealing outdoor setting. Enhance the texture and colour of your garden by adding foliage bedding. And if you have a pond, now is the perfect time to plant floating pond plants and pond side perennials.

Vegetables and Herbs to Sow and Grow:

Indoor/Greenhouse:

For a bountiful vegetable harvest, start by sowing cucumber and gherkin seeds in individual pots or modules. Get a head start on next year's winter cabbage by sowing the seeds in a greenhouse or cold frame.

Direct Sow Outdoors:

Make the most of your outdoor space by directly sowing a variety of vegetables and herbs. Runner beans and French beans can still be sown to provide a delicious crop later in the season. Sow beetroot thinly directly into the soil, and sow broccoli and calabrese in a nursery bed or your vegetable plot.

Protect your carrots from carrot fly attacks by sowing them in rows and covering them with fleece. Add a touch of colour and flavour to your dishes by sowing Radicchio 'Rossa di Treviso precoce' (chicory) directly into the soil. Sow fast-growing herb seeds such as coriander 'Calypso,' dill, and parsley