What to Plant in your Vegetable Garden in June in the USA or December in NZ | Summer Vegetable Garden

This post was most recently updated on December 9th, 2019

How do you know what to plant in your vegetable garden in the beginning of Summer ? Gardening information sure can get a bit confusing at times!

You may have a book to follow along with what to plant in the garden week by week. But unless it is written for your specific area, you and your plants will probably struggle if you follow it.

If you are a newbie to gardening, or if you want to learn a lot more, check out our very in depth course – The Productive Gardener.

Below I show you what to plant in your vegetable garden in June if you are in the Northern Hemisphere and what to plant in your vegetable garden in December if you are in the Southern Hemisphere.

This list is split into USDA Zones. So the first thing you need to find out is roughly what USDA Zone you live in.

USDA Zones are divided up based on your area’s average temperatures over the last 30 or so years.

Knowing what zone you are in will ensure you are planting the right plants at the right time of year for optimal success.

Here is a map that you might find useful. You can find another more detailed US map here.

As with many things, zones are a generalization. Your specific site, and even different spots on your site will have their own microclimates that may increase or decrease your zone numbers significantly.

Shady exposed or damp areas will lower your zone number, sunny sheltered spots against brick walls can increase it.

The lists below will give you a starting place to work out what you can plant in your garden in June (or December) but I suggest you start your own garden diary and keep track of what varieties you plant and when.

Keeping track of what you plant and when and what works well for you is an important key to success.

Different varieties of plants have different heat and cold tolerances, as well as different lengths of time to maturity. Read the descriptions that are on the seed packets carefully.

I recommend using heritage seed varieties when possible – they are often disease resistant and contain more nutrients than commercial varieties which are grown for looks and transportability. Seeds for Generations have a great range of such seeds.

If you live in colder areas, choose varieties named “early” as they tend to have shorter growing seasons and you are more likely to have a mature crop before the weather gets too cold again.

Colder areas will also do better with early tunnels and a glass house or greenhouse for hot weather foods like tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, eggplants, sweet potatoes and peppers.

We recommend that you get your seeds from Seeds for Generations as they are a homegrown, US family business specializing in heirloom seeds.

What to Plant in Your Vegetable Garden in June (or December)

Zone 1-3

Asparagus
Endive
Parsley
Beets
Horseradish
Peas
Broccoli
Kale
Potatoes
Cabbage
Kohlrabi
Radish
Carrots
Lettuce (leaf)
Rhubarb
Cauliflower
Lettuce (head)
Spinach
Collard greens
Onions
Turnip
Zucchini
Pumpkin

Zone 4-5

Beans (bush)
Endive
Parsley
Beets
Horseradish
Eggplant
Squash (bush)
Beans (pole)
Okra
Squash (winter)
Beans (lima)
Peas
Tomato
Corn
Pepper
Watermelon
Cucumber
Potato (sweet)
Pumpkin
Zucchini

Zone 6-7

Beans (bush)
Cucumbers
Potato (sweet)
Beans (pole)
Eggplant
Pumpkin
Beans (lima)
Mustard
Squash (summer)
Cantaloupe
Okra
Tomatoes
Collard greens
Peas
Turnip
Corn (sweet)
Peppers
Watermelon
Pumpkin
Zucchini

Zone 8-9

Beans (bush)
Beans (pole)
Beans (lima)
Peas
Potato (Sweet)
Okra
Eggplant

Zone 10

Sweet potato
Most other things it is getting too hot or dry for them to do well for the next month or two.

What plants grow well in your zone at this time of year? Let me know in the comments below!

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