Verdant View - June 2026 - El Ojo del Lago

The Summer Solstice

Reminder: Our next Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere will be on Sunday, June 21, 2026. The Summer Solstice marks the official start of astronomical summer and the longest day of the year. From this point on, the days start getting shorter. Why not celebrate the Summer Solstice in your gardens? Plant sunflowers as a symbol of tribute to the sun, without which life, as we know it, would not exist. Sunflowers embody this connection through heliotropism, a phenomenon where young plants turn their heads to track the sun’s journey across the sky, maximizing their exposure to its warmth. I believe that planting with intent always affects plants growth and health.

What to plant in June

Dahlias, all types of begonias, impatiens, verbenas. rudbeckia and flor amarilla are at the viveros. It’s a good time to put in ferns. Stag horns will be very happy if they are kept moist and out of direct sun. All types of lilies will be blooming now. Some flower seeds to plant in June are cosmos, marigolds, sunflowers and zinnias. Disbud dahlias for larger blooms. Stake tall plants before the rains begin. Plant beans, beets, peppers, okra, sweet corn and tomatoes. Water frequently, as the soil in pots dries out faster. If you have not been spraying for pests, now is a good time to start. As an effective spray for most insects a bit of dish soap in water in a spray bottle will do. It is a good deterrent for mild cases of white fly. Weeds are growing faster now so keep up with them. Keep deadheading regularly.

What to do in the garden in June

Garden growth shifts into high gear this month, with hot air temperatures and warm soil. Plants are settled in and well on their way toward strong growth, many blooms, and delicious harvests.

Transplant seedlings close enough so that the leaves of mature plants will shade the soil between the plants. This will keep plant roots cooler, and the sun won’t bake the soil. There’s less evaporation, so you’ll have to water less.

Sow or transplant lima and snap beans, celeriac, celery, chard, cucumbers, eggplants, oak leaf and other heat-tolerant and bolt-resistant lettuces, melons, okra, peppers, pumpkins, New Zealand spinach, summer and winter squash, and tomatoes. Sow beets, carrots, corn, sweet potato slips and radishes directly where they’ll mature.

Plant the last batch of corn this month, as later plantings will probably have smut problems (those big, grey and black puffs of fungus in place of kernels) when harvested in September. Or you may choose to inoculate your corn with the fungus. It’s a delicacy in Southwest and Mexican cuisine called Huitlacoche.

Pinch back herbs, especially fast-growing basil, to encourage bushy, more delicate flavored growth through the summer. Pinch off any blossoms that start to develop to keep the plants developing more fragrant foliage.

Mulch the soil with organic matter such as compost, leaves or grass clippings to temper the drying and heating effect of the sun. Irrigation will be more effective with less water frequency and quantity.

Container plants and hanging baskets need daily watering now that they have established themselves and the temperatures have risen. Water perennial plants, vegetable gardens, and shrubs deeply and frequently.

We are really feeling the heat, so plan to get out in the garden early and get your garden chores done before the sun becomes too intense.

Advice from a sunflower: “Be outstanding in your field. Hold your head high. Spread seeds of happiness.”

~Unknown