June in South Central Texas
As the mercury rises in South Central Texas, June ushers in a new phase for gardeners. While the intense heat might make you want to retreat indoors, there are still plenty of rewarding tasks and opportunities to keep your garden thriving and beautiful. This month is all about adapting to the heat, focusing on heat-tolerant varieties, and maintaining the health of your existing plants.
What to Plant: Heat-Loving Heroes
Don’t hang up your gardening gloves just yet! June is prime time for a variety of heat-loving vegetables, herbs, and flowers that truly shine in our Texas summers.
Vegetables:
- Southern Peas: Black-eyed peas, purple hull peas, and other southern peas are fantastic choices that thrive in the heat and are relatively low-maintenance.
- Okra: A quintessential Southern crop, okra loves the sun and will produce abundantly if harvested regularly.
- Sweet Potatoes: Plant sweet potato slips now for a delicious fall harvest. Their vigorous vines also make for attractive groundcover.
- Melons: Cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon can still be planted in early June. Give them plenty of space to sprawl or provide trellises for vertical growth.
- Squash: Summer and winter squash varieties can be planted, though be vigilant for squash vine borers. Some gardeners find success planting squash later in June or July when vine borer activity might lessen.
- Hot Peppers: Many pepper varieties, especially hot ones, revel in the heat and will produce prolifically.
- Malabar Spinach & New Zealand Spinach: These aren’t true spinaches but offer excellent leafy green alternatives that tolerate the heat and can be harvested throughout the summer. Malabar spinach is a vining plant that needs support, while New Zealand spinach grows more like a succulent.
Herbs:
- Basil: This aromatic herb thrives in the heat. Plant various types for different culinary uses.
- Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano, Bay Laurel, Catnip, Lemongrass, Lemon Verbena: These Mediterranean and tropical herbs generally do well in our warm climate.
Flowers:
- Gomphrena, Gaillardia, Marigolds, Petunias, Vinca Cora, Zinnias, Sunflowers: These flowers add vibrant color to your summer landscape and are known for their heat tolerance. Sunflowers also provide seeds for birds and can be a cheerful addition.
- Crinum lilies, Cannas, Caladiums, Ginger: These bulbs and rhizomes bring a tropical feel and can handle the Texas heat.
Essential June Maintenance Tasks
June is less about frantic planting and more about diligent care to ensure your garden weathers the summer gracefully.
- Water, Water, Water (Deeply!): This is paramount. Irrigate deeply and as infrequently as possible to encourage strong, deep root systems. Early morning is the best time to water to minimize evaporation. Container plants may need daily watering as temperatures soar. Adhere to any local watering restrictions.
- Mulch is Your Best Friend: Maintain a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around all your plants. Mulch conserves soil moisture, regulates soil temperature, and suppresses weeds, all crucial in the South Central Texas heat.
- Fertilize Mindfully: While plants need nutrients, avoid over-fertilizing in extreme heat, as it can stress them. For annuals and vegetables, add compost or use a liquid foliar feed. For lawns, stop fertilizing to prevent brown patch and take-all root rot. If needed, apply supplemental iron before temperatures exceed 80°F.
- Weed Control: Weeds compete for precious water and nutrients. Pull them regularly, especially when they are small, to prevent them from going to seed and creating more problems.
- Pruning and Deadheading:
- Deadhead flowers to encourage continuous blooming.
- Remove spent foliage from annuals and vegetables.
- Prune fruiting canes from blackberries after harvest.
- Lightly prune summer-flowering trees and shrubs (like crape myrtles and oleanders) for shape, removing any dead or diseased wood. Avoid heavy pruning.
- Do NOT prune red oaks and live oaks unless damaged, and if so, spray immediately with clear varnish to prevent Oak Wilt spread.
- Pest and Disease Monitoring:
- Inspect plants regularly for signs of pests like aphids, spider mites, chinch bugs (on lawns), stink bugs, and largus bugs.
- For aphids and spider mites, a strong blast of water from the hose can often dislodge them. Horticultural oils, insecticidal soaps, and sulfur dust are organic options for spider mites.
- Remove any severely damaged or diseased leaves and dispose of them in the trash, not your compost pile, to prevent spread.
- Watch for squash vine borers on squash plants. Row covers can offer protection.
- Harvest Regularly: For fruiting vegetables like okra, peppers, and cucumbers, consistent harvesting encourages more production and ensures the best flavor and tenderness. Pick produce in the early morning before the heat stresses the plant.
- Lawn Care: Raise your mower settings to leave the grass longer, which helps keep the roots cooler and reduces turf stress. Water lawns deeply in the morning. Avoid weed killers once temperatures exceed 85°F.
- Protect New Transplants: If you must plant new perennials, grasses, or trees, wait until fall for better success. If you do transplant, do so in the early morning or late afternoon and provide extra water and temporary shade.
- Collect Seeds: Collect seeds from spring-blooming plants once they are fully dry for planting next year.
Opportunities and Enjoyment
Even with the challenges of summer, June in South Central Texas offers unique gardening opportunities:
- Embrace Heat-Tolerant Varieties: This is the perfect time to explore the diverse world of plants that thrive in our specific climate, including many beautiful Texas natives and adapted varieties.
- Focus on Raised Beds: Raised beds are particularly beneficial in South Central Texas as they allow for better soil control and drainage, crucial for managing the heat.
- Extend Your Harvest: With strategic planting and consistent care, you can continue to enjoy fresh produce from your garden throughout the summer.
- Observe and Learn: Use this time to observe how different plants react to the heat and adjust your strategies for future seasons. Keep a garden journal to note bloom times, pest patterns, and successful plants.
- Enjoy the Fruits of Your Labor: Despite the heat, the abundance of summer harvests like juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and earthy okra makes all the effort worthwhile. Enjoy the beauty and bounty your garden provides.
June in South Central Texas gardening is a dance with the sun. By choosing the right plants and dedicating yourself to consistent care, you can ensure your garden flourishes even in the heart of summer. Happy gardening!