What to plant in June in Maine
In Maine (ME), June comes about 5 weeks after the average last frost (May 14). The state averages 134 frost-free days a year (last frost May 14, first frost September 25; USDA zones 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a).
61 crops have a sowing or planting window this month, including amaranth (leaf), bush bean, edamame (soybean), new zealand spinach, pole bean, pumpkin - and 41 of those windows close during June.
Dates here come from Maine frost dates (last frost May 14, first frost Sep 25). For one crop in detail, see when to plant bush bean, pole bean or pumpkin in Maine.
Maine: planting activity through the year
Last chance in June
Amaranth (Leaf) (direct sow (spring), by Jun 4) · Bush Bean (direct sow (spring), by Jun 4) · Edamame (Soybean) (direct sow (spring), by Jun 4) · New Zealand Spinach (direct sow (spring), by Jun 4) · Pole Bean (direct sow (spring), by Jun 4) · Pumpkin (direct sow (spring), by Jun 4) · Shiso (Perilla) (direct sow (spring), by Jun 4) · Summer Savory (direct sow (spring), by Jun 4) · Sweet Corn (direct sow (spring), by Jun 4) · Sweet Marjoram (direct sow (spring), by Jun 4) · Winter Squash (direct sow (spring), by Jun 4) · Zucchini / Summer Squash (direct sow (spring), by Jun 4) · Basil (transplant outdoors, by Jun 7) · Bell Pepper (transplant outdoors, by Jun 7) · Bitter Melon (transplant outdoors, by Jun 7) · Cantaloupe / Muskmelon (transplant outdoors, by Jun 7) · Chili Pepper (transplant outdoors, by Jun 7) · Cucamelon (transplant outdoors, by Jun 7) · Cucumber (transplant outdoors, by Jun 7) · Luffa (Loofah Gourd) (transplant outdoors, by Jun 7) · Malabar Spinach (transplant outdoors, by Jun 7) · Okra (transplant outdoors, by Jun 7) · Watermelon (transplant outdoors, by Jun 7) · Basil (direct sow (spring), by Jun 11) · Bitter Melon (direct sow (spring), by Jun 11) · Cantaloupe / Muskmelon (direct sow (spring), by Jun 11) · Chayote (direct sow (spring), by Jun 11) · Cucamelon (direct sow (spring), by Jun 11) · Cucumber (direct sow (spring), by Jun 11) · Lima Bean (direct sow (spring), by Jun 11) · Luffa (Loofah Gourd) (direct sow (spring), by Jun 11) · Malabar Spinach (direct sow (spring), by Jun 11) · Okra (direct sow (spring), by Jun 11) · Peanut (direct sow (spring), by Jun 11) · Southern Pea (Cowpea) (direct sow (spring), by Jun 11) · Watermelon (direct sow (spring), by Jun 11) · Eggplant (transplant outdoors, by Jun 14) · Ginger (transplant outdoors, by Jun 14) · Sweet Potato (transplant outdoors, by Jun 14) · Turmeric (transplant outdoors, by Jun 14) · Brussels Sprouts (start transplants for fall, by Jun 12)
Sow or plant outdoors in June (40)
Direct sowing and transplanting windows that fall in June, most urgent first. Windows are one-to-two-week bands around the ideal date.
| Crop | What to do | Window | This month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amaranth (Leaf) | Direct sow (spring) | May 16 – Jun 4 | Last chance - ends Jun 4 |
| Bush Bean | Direct sow (spring) | May 16 – Jun 4 | Last chance - ends Jun 4 |
| Edamame (Soybean) | Direct sow (spring) | May 16 – Jun 4 | Last chance - ends Jun 4 |
| New Zealand Spinach | Direct sow (spring) | May 16 – Jun 4 | Last chance - ends Jun 4 |
| Pole Bean | Direct sow (spring) | May 16 – Jun 4 | Last chance - ends Jun 4 |
| Pumpkin | Direct sow (spring) | May 16 – Jun 4 | Last chance - ends Jun 4 |
| Shiso (Perilla) | Direct sow (spring) | May 16 – Jun 4 | Last chance - ends Jun 4 |
| Summer Savory | Direct sow (spring) | May 16 – Jun 4 | Last chance - ends Jun 4 |
| Sweet Corn | Direct sow (spring) | May 16 – Jun 4 | Last chance - ends Jun 4 |
| Sweet Marjoram | Direct sow (spring) | May 16 – Jun 4 | Last chance - ends Jun 4 |
| Winter Squash | Direct sow (spring) | May 16 – Jun 4 | Last chance - ends Jun 4 |
| Zucchini / Summer Squash | Direct sow (spring) | May 16 – Jun 4 | Last chance - ends Jun 4 |
| Basil | Transplant outdoors | May 21 – Jun 7 | Last chance - ends Jun 7 |
| Bell Pepper | Transplant outdoors | May 21 – Jun 7 | Last chance - ends Jun 7 |
| Bitter Melon | Transplant outdoors | May 21 – Jun 7 | Last chance - ends Jun 7 |
| Cantaloupe / Muskmelon | Transplant outdoors | May 21 – Jun 7 | Last chance - ends Jun 7 |
| Chili Pepper | Transplant outdoors | May 21 – Jun 7 | Last chance - ends Jun 7 |
| Cucamelon | Transplant outdoors | May 21 – Jun 7 | Last chance - ends Jun 7 |
| Cucumber | Transplant outdoors | May 21 – Jun 7 | Last chance - ends Jun 7 |
| Luffa (Loofah Gourd) | Transplant outdoors | May 21 – Jun 7 | Last chance - ends Jun 7 |
| Malabar Spinach | Transplant outdoors | May 21 – Jun 7 | Last chance - ends Jun 7 |
| Okra | Transplant outdoors | May 21 – Jun 7 | Last chance - ends Jun 7 |
| Watermelon | Transplant outdoors | May 21 – Jun 7 | Last chance - ends Jun 7 |
| Basil | Direct sow (spring) | May 23 – Jun 11 | Last chance - ends Jun 11 |
| Bitter Melon | Direct sow (spring) | May 23 – Jun 11 | Last chance - ends Jun 11 |
| Cantaloupe / Muskmelon | Direct sow (spring) | May 23 – Jun 11 | Last chance - ends Jun 11 |
| Chayote | Direct sow (spring) | May 23 – Jun 11 | Last chance - ends Jun 11 |
| Cucamelon | Direct sow (spring) | May 23 – Jun 11 | Last chance - ends Jun 11 |
| Cucumber | Direct sow (spring) | May 23 – Jun 11 | Last chance - ends Jun 11 |
| Lima Bean | Direct sow (spring) | May 23 – Jun 11 | Last chance - ends Jun 11 |
| Luffa (Loofah Gourd) | Direct sow (spring) | May 23 – Jun 11 | Last chance - ends Jun 11 |
| Malabar Spinach | Direct sow (spring) | May 23 – Jun 11 | Last chance - ends Jun 11 |
| Okra | Direct sow (spring) | May 23 – Jun 11 | Last chance - ends Jun 11 |
| Peanut | Direct sow (spring) | May 23 – Jun 11 | Last chance - ends Jun 11 |
| Southern Pea (Cowpea) | Direct sow (spring) | May 23 – Jun 11 | Last chance - ends Jun 11 |
| Watermelon | Direct sow (spring) | May 23 – Jun 11 | Last chance - ends Jun 11 |
| Eggplant | Transplant outdoors | May 28 – Jun 14 | Last chance - ends Jun 14 |
| Ginger | Transplant outdoors | May 28 – Jun 14 | Last chance - ends Jun 14 |
| Sweet Potato | Transplant outdoors | May 28 – Jun 14 | Last chance - ends Jun 14 |
| Turmeric | Transplant outdoors | May 28 – Jun 14 | Last chance - ends Jun 14 |
For fall and winter harvests (12)
Sowings counted back from Maine's first fall frost, so the crop matures before the cold - or, for garlic and similar, planted after it.
| Crop | What to do | Window | This month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brussels Sprouts | Start transplants for fall | May 26 – Jun 12 | Last chance - ends Jun 12 |
| Rutabaga | Sow for a fall crop | Jun 9 – Jun 26 | Jun 9 – Jun 26 |
| Broccoli | Start transplants for fall | Jun 16 – Jul 3 | Opens Jun 16 |
| Cabbage | Start transplants for fall | Jun 16 – Jul 3 | Opens Jun 16 |
| Cauliflower | Start transplants for fall | Jun 16 – Jul 3 | Opens Jun 16 |
| Cucumber | Sow for a fall crop | Jun 23 – Jul 10 | Opens Jun 23 |
| Fennel (Bulb) | Sow for a fall crop | Jun 23 – Jul 10 | Opens Jun 23 |
| Zucchini / Summer Squash | Sow for a fall crop | Jun 23 – Jul 10 | Opens Jun 23 |
| Bush Bean | Sow for a fall crop | Jun 30 – Jul 17 | Opens Jun 30 |
| Carrot | Sow for a fall crop | Jun 30 – Jul 17 | Opens Jun 30 |
| Kale | Sow for a fall crop | Jun 30 – Jul 17 | Opens Jun 30 |
| Radicchio | Sow for a fall crop | Jun 30 – Jul 17 | Opens Jun 30 |
Keep sowing (succession)
Repeat sowings of crops already in the ground, for a steady harvest instead of a glut.
- Pea: sow again on Jun 8
- Lettuce: sow again on Jun 5 and Jun 17
- Spinach: sow again on Jun 8
- Carrot: sow again on Jun 16
- Beet: sow again on Jun 9
- Radish: sow again on Jun 5 and Jun 15
- Cilantro / Coriander: sow again on Jun 5
- Dill: sow again on Jun 4
- Arugula: sow again on Jun 3 and Jun 15
- Turnip: sow again on Jun 4 and Jun 18
- Kohlrabi: sow again on Jun 4 and Jun 18
- Bok Choy / Pak Choi: sow again on Jun 11
- Mustard Greens: sow again on Jun 4 and Jun 18
- Green Onion / Scallion: sow again on Jun 18
- Fennel (Bulb): sow again on Jun 18
- Endive & Escarole: sow again on Jun 11
- Mache (Corn Salad): sow again on Jun 4 and Jun 18
- Sunflower: sow again on Jun 4 and Jun 18
- Rapini (Broccoli Raab): sow again on Jun 4 and Jun 18
- Tatsoi: sow again on Jun 3 and Jun 15
- Mizuna: sow again on Jun 3 and Jun 15
- Chervil: sow again on Jun 4 and Jun 18
- Watercress: sow again on Jun 11
Harvesting in June
First harvests expected this month from crops sown or planted on time earlier in the season.
Planting dates for popular crops in Maine
Every crop has its own full-year dates for Maine: indoor start, transplant or direct sowing, and harvest.
Main planting month: June garden jobs in Maine
- With the average last frost on May 14, 31 crops can go in outdoors this month, including amaranth (leaf), bush bean, edamame (soybean), new zealand spinach.
- Transplant on a cloudy afternoon and water in well - see transplanting seedlings without shock.
- Once the soil has warmed, lay mulch around established plants to hold moisture and smother weeds.
- Sow quick crops little and often - lettuce, radish and beans every two to three weeks give a steady harvest instead of a glut (succession planting).
USDA zone chart for Maine
Maine spans USDA zones 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a. Colder zones, usually higher or further inland, have a later last spring frost and an earlier first fall frost than the state average.
Questions gardeners ask
What vegetables can I plant in Maine in June?
61 crops have a window in June: amaranth (leaf), bush bean, edamame (soybean), new zealand spinach, pole bean, pumpkin, shiso (perilla), summer savory, sweet corn, sweet marjoram and more. The tables above give the exact dates for each.
Is it too late to plant tomatoes in Maine in June?
For this year, yes - the tomato windows in Maine have closed. The next step is to start seeds indoors from about March 19.
Is it too late to plant lettuce in Maine in June?
Not too late - it's actually a little early. In Maine the next lettuce window opens around July 21: sow for a fall crop.
When is the first frost in Maine?
The statewide average first fall frost is around September 25 and the last spring frost around May 14. Your town can be a week or two either side - look yours up by ZIP code.
What can I harvest in Maine in June?
From plantings made on time: tatsoi, mustard greens, mache (corn salad), lettuce, turnip, rapini (broccoli raab), chervil, pea, bok choy / pak choi, beet.
What to plant in June in other states
Dates are computed from Maine’s statewide average frost dates (from NOAA/NCEI climate normals) and each crop’s timing in our crop database. Your garden may be a week or two either side - for dates tuned to your ZIP code, use the planting calendar.