June is a month of abundance for gardeners in USDA Zone 7. As spring fades into summer, the garden bursts with vibrant growth and flavor. Whether you're tending raised beds, foraging your yard, or simply planning your next harvest, here’s a look at what’s thriving right now in Zone 7—and what you can do with it
🍅 In the Garden: What’s Ready or Almost There
1. Tomatoes (Early Varieties)
You’ll start to see fruit setting on early-maturing tomato varieties like Early Girl or Sun Gold. Pinch off suckers and water deeply to encourage healthy fruit.
2. Peppers
Both sweet and hot peppers are starting to flower and form small fruit. Keep an eye out for aphids and provide consistent watering to prevent blossom end rot.
3. Leafy Greens (Late Spring Holdovers)
If you planted Swiss chard, kale, or collards in early spring, they’re likely still producing—especially in shaded beds. Harvest in the morning for best flavor.
4. Herbs Galore
Basil, thyme, oregano, sage, lavender, and mint are all thriving now. Trim regularly to encourage bushy growth and dry any excess for winter use.
5. Strawberries (Late-Bearing Types)
June-bearing varieties are at their peak—perfect for fresh eating, jam, or freezing. Mulch with straw to keep berries clean and reduce rot.
🌼 In the Wild: What’s Blooming & Forage-Ready
1. Yarrow
This healing herb is flowering now. Harvest the blooms for tea or salves. Look for white or pale pink clusters growing in sunny meadows or garden edges.
2. Dandelion (Still Hanging On!)
Late-season dandelions may still pop up. Use the roots, leaves, and flowers in tonics, teas, and infused oils.
3. Wild Blackberry Flowers
Look for delicate white blooms along woodland edges and hedgerows. These will become sweet blackberries by July!
4. Echinacea (Coneflower)
This pollinator magnet is just beginning to bloom. Not only beautiful, it’s also a powerhouse for immune-supporting teas and tinctures.
🌱 Tips for This Month
- Succession Sow: It’s a great time to sow a second round of beans, zucchini, cucumbers, and carrots.
- Pinch & Prune: Encourage bushy herbs and productive veggies with regular trimming.
- Mulch Matters: Apply mulch now to retain moisture and beat the summer heat.
Celebrate the Growth 🌻
Zone 7 gardeners are lucky to have such a generous growing window. Take time this month to not only care for your garden, but to enjoy it—walk barefoot through the grass, sip tea with fresh mint, and breathe in the earthy scent of early summer.