How It's Growing - June 16
Cucumbers and melons are FINALLY in the ground, my ongoing sweet potato failures, a simple tomato stake approach, and shelling pea harvests
June 16, 2025
It’s the middle of June already, and the garden is at its peak in terms of beauty. We are still getting rain, insect and disease pressure hasn’t kicked in yet, and the temperatures outside are still bearable.
What I’m Transplanting
Cucumbers, melons, and winter squash. On Monday, June 9, I finally transplanted the cucumbers, melons, and winter squash. I over-sowed, so I found myself tucking them throughout the garden rather than providing them with their own dedicated beds.
Last week was mostly warm and sunny, so the garden could have benefited from a deep watering at least one day, especially the transplants. However, I was sick with a cold, and my energy levels were just too low to get off the couch after work. Thankfully rain came on Friday.
Sweet potato slips. It’s been such a rocky start.
Check out my dedicated post to my sweet potato struggles, and gather some ideas on what NOT to do if you buy slips!
What I’m Sowing
The only thing I sowed this past week was Roma II green beans on June 9.
The broccoli in this bed was still producing side shoots, but I decided it wasn’t worth the tradeoff of waiting until they were done producing before planting green beans in their place.
How it’s Growing
I’ll spare you too many written updates. The garden looks too good to not update you with mostly pictures.
The big thing for me to share right now is that the cabbage white butterflies have started their invasion. I’ve seen them flying around and my plants are beginning to show damage from the caterpillars. They even found their way in a small hole in my insect netting. So much for avoiding that pest pressure!
This year I bought Bt which is an organic spray that will kill the caterpillars. Beyond smushing them as I find them, I will also try applying this spray. Here’s a full write up on this pesticide. Careful application will be required to limit its effects to just these caterpillars. I don’t want to harm other insects.
In full transparency, I wanted to share a messier view of my garden. You’re looking at two rows of plantings. I interplanted cabbages with lettuce (on the left) and carrots (on the right). Down the middle of the row you’ll see plenty of invading violets and grasses. If I added mulch, it would help suppress these weeds. Just add it to my to-do list!
The tomatoes, peppers and basil have taken off finally! The next big garden chore for me is to prune my tomato plants.
Check out my tomato post on my method for staking tomatoes. Simple, but it works for me.
What I’m Harvesting
Late last weekend, I was hit with a cold that has persisted all this week. While I tried to get plenty of rest after work every day, I just couldn’t let all garden tasks go. Especially harvesting.
On Monday June 9, I yanked out most of the peas since they were done producing. Those went into the compost. While I’m still working on pulling the rest of the plants, I’ve been busy shelling. I think my overall harvest has been about 5 cups.
I also harvested another Tiara cabbage. The amount of joy from harvesting a perfect little cabbage is hard to beat!
The potatoes produced leaves tall enough for me to cover with more soil, compost, and/or straw to encourage tuber growth.
My first sowing of green beans has sprouted and is looking good, even with some rabbit damage.
Throughout the week, I also popped outside to grab more ripening strawberries and lettuce for salads.
What to Sow in June in Indiana
If you need a little guidance on what seeds to start this month, here is a list!
Indoors:
Brussel Sprouts for a late fall harvest
Celery
Fall brassicas: broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower
Direct Sow
Beans - green beans, lima beans, soy beans, and dry beans
Beets
Corn
Carrots
Cucumbers
Squash
Melons
Herbs like basil and dill
Summer flowers like sunflowers
Bug of the Week
This is the second year of growing common milkweed. Last year, they looked terrible. This year, they doubled the number and size of plants. I’m sure I’ll rue the day I chose to plant milkweed so close to my vegetable garden, but for now, I’m enjoying my first Monarch visit!
You might notice other bugs and white “stuff” on my milkweed. These plants attract LOTS of aphids (at least in my garden). The ants that eat their honeydew AKA poop are very protective of their aphids. They are known to even attack other insects attracted to the blooms and aphids. The white stuff is the shed exoskeletons from the aphids. Do you see the lady bug (lady beetle) larvae? They’re chowing down on the aphids.
Nature is as brutal as it is beautiful!
Happy Gardening,
Calli