Episode 18: What to do in your Central Texas garden (June 1-15): Harvest Veggies & Plant Fast

Written By Colleen Dieter

Early June in Central Texas is a busy transition period in the garden. Spring vegetables are wrapping up, summer crops are getting established, weeds are going to seed, and the heat and humidity are starting to settle in. In this episode, Colleen shares what gardeners should focus on right now, including weed control, managing garden pests naturally, harvesting vegetables, preventing soil erosion, and preparing landscapes for summer stress.

🌿 Weed Control Before Seeds Spread

This is peak weed season in Central Texas.

Cool-season weeds like:

  • Hedge parsley

  • Clover burrs

  • False dandelions

  • Rescue brome

…are now producing seeds and burrs that will become next year’s problem if left in place.

✔️ Best Strategy:

  • Pull or cut weeds before seeds fall

  • Dispose of seed heads in municipal compost or trash

  • Avoid adding weed seeds to home compost piles

💡 Clever Tip:

Drag an old blanket across burr weeds to collect seeds before they spread around the yard.

🐛 Summer Garden Pest Prevention

Hot, humid weather brings an increase in:

  • Whiteflies

  • Aphids

  • Spider mites

  • Scale insects

  • Thrips

🌱 Natural Ways to Prevent Pest Outbreaks:

  • Plant pollinator-friendly perennials near vegetable gardens

  • Increase airflow through pruning

  • Use hard sprays of water to knock insects off plants

  • Use neem oil sparingly

  • Encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings

🌿 Soil Drenching Tips:

  • Liquid humate may help reduce pest pressure

⚠️ Watch for Signs of Infestation:

  • Sticky leaves

  • Ants harvesting honeydew

  • Black sooty mold on foliage

🏡 Solving Soil Erosion Problems

With heavy spring rains this year, many Central Texas gardeners are dealing with erosion and muddy runoff around homes.

✔️ Colleen’s Erosion Control Tip:

  • Add river rock along the house foundation

  • Extend the rock slightly past the roof drip line

  • Avoid planting directly under roof runoff areas

🚫 Skip the Landscape Fabric

Weeds grow through it and it becomes difficult to maintain over time.

🌳 Tree & Shrub Care in Early June

🚫 Avoid Planting Trees & Shrubs Now

Woody plants struggle when planted in summer heat.

🌳 Oak Wilt Reminder:

  • Do NOT prune oak trees yet

  • Wait until after June 30

Light trimming for clearance and safety is okay on non-oak trees if needed.

🌹 Rose Care Tips

✔️ To Encourage More Blooms:

  • Deadhead reblooming roses

  • Add compost or fertilizer if needed

  • Use liquid humate to help lower soil pH in alkaline soils

🍑 Fruit Tree Harvest Time

Early June is harvest season for many Central Texas fruit trees.

🍑 Harvesting Now:

  • Peaches

  • Plums

  • Nectarines

  • Blackberries

  • Dewberries

🍎 Pro Tip:

Pick fruit slightly early if wildlife or storms are damaging crops, then ripen indoors in a paper bag.

🌿 Perennials, Bulbs & Tropical Plants

Because rain is still in the forecast, it’s still possible to:

  • Plant perennials

  • Transplant ornamental grasses

  • Divide tropical plants like canna lilies

  • Plant succulents

⏳ But Don’t Wait Too Long

By mid-to-late June, summer planting becomes much riskier.

🥕 What to Harvest & Plant in June

🌱 Time to Harvest:

  • Potatoes

  • Onions

  • Garlic

  • Artichokes

  • Green beans

  • Fresh herbs

🌞 Heat-Loving Summer Crops to Plant Now:

  • Okra

  • Black-eyed peas

  • Cowpeas

  • Sweet potatoes

  • Eggplant

  • Peppers

  • Melons

  • Pumpkins

  • Winter squash

🌿 Garden Maintenance Tips:

  • Prune indeterminate tomatoes for airflow

  • Stake peppers and eggplants before they get too large

  • Train and trellis vining plants

🌱 Herb Garden Harvest Season

This is one of the best times of year for harvesting herbs.

🌿 Harvest & Preserve:

  • Mint

  • Lemon balm

  • Basil

  • Other culinary herbs

Dry larger harvests now to enjoy through the summer months.

🌍 Gardening, Seed Saving & Protecting Biodiversity

This episode also highlights organizations preserving culturally important heirloom seeds threatened by war and displacement.

🌱 Organizations Mentioned:

  • Iraqi Seed Collective

  • Palestinian Heirloom Seed Library

  • Central Texas Seed Savers

Saving seeds helps preserve biodiversity, food culture, and rare plant genetics for future generations.

🌺 Upcoming Event: Austin Pond & Garden Tour

📅 June 6–7
📍 Austin, TX

Explore:

  • Beautiful ponds & water gardens

  • Wildlife habitats

  • Garden art

  • Landscaping inspiration

  • Evening garden tours and water features

🎟️ Tickets available online

🔗 Resources & Products Mentioned

🌼 Stay Connected

For more Central Texas gardening advice, seasonal planting tips, and sustainable landscaping guidance, visit http://ATXGardens.com and follow Colleen on Instagram @‌ATXGardens_.

Colleen Dieter
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What to Do in Your Central Texas Garden (June 15–30): Train Blackberries & Plan for Fall
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Episode 17: What to Do in Your Central Texas Garden (May 15–31): Soil Testing Tips, Watch Out for Oak Wilt, and Summer Vegetables