At the turning of the seasons from spring to summer, many gardeners may find themselves wondering what they could be growing. Whether you are just getting started in the garden this June, or if you tried a few things that weren’t successful this spring, or if you’ve harvested some crops and now have open spaces in the garden, you might find yourself wondering, “Am I too late to keep planting?” Rest assured, you are not too late!

There are many vegetables and herbs that you can plant at this time of year for a mid-late summer harvest, or even to enjoy in the fall. If you’re interested in having something to enjoy during the summer, look for short season crops that mature in 30-60 days. Crops that have longer days to maturity, will likely be ready to harvest in the fall. 

Here are some ideas for growing at this time of year:

• Lettuce and Mustard Greens: many salad and tender leafy greens will mature between 40-60 days, and can often be eaten at any stage – enjoy baby greens or full size leaves.  It can be fun to succession plant these types of greens throughout the year. 
• Beans: pole beans will do well through the end of June and bush beans can be planted all the way through July. 
• Radishes and Turnips: these quick-growing roots often mature between 25-60 days. There are even some radishes that will mature in as little as 22 days! These can be great veggies to grow in the shade during the summer.
• Cucumbers and Squash: mid-late June is the tail-end of planting time for cucumbers and squash, but it’s not too late. Get them in the ground soon and be gentle if transplanting, as they don’t like their roots being disturbed.
• Cilantro and Dill: continue to plant these quick growing herbs throughout the early summer to compliment your summer vegetables in salsas, pickles and more!
• Nasturtiums, Sunflowers and Zinnias: these lovely companions will help bring beauty and attract beneficial insects to your garden habitat. 
• Beets and Carrots: Late June is an excellent time to start planting long-season root crops for the fall. Be sure to pay attention to watering when the roots are getting started growing, especially as we enter this dryer time of year.

Each growing season will be a little different, as our lives and weather patterns continue to shift. The plants that we are tending are affected by day length, temperature, water, soil health and our attention. Thankfully, in the maritime northwest, there is almost always something that we could be planting in the garden at any time of the year. It can be helpful to consult planting and harvest calendars for guidance and to take good notes as records for your future self. If you’re not sure, you can always try something and see what happens – note what went well and what was a challenge. Keep growing!