We are now on summer break, instead of things slowing down there is much to do in the garden and kitchen. Now is the time to start dehydrating, freezing, preserving late spring garden harvests and farmers market finds!  I am sharing garden and kitchen tasks for early June to help you stay organized and productive in the garden and kitchen. Staying organized and keeping a do to list for both the kitchen and garden is a must to minimize stress and overwhelm as the garden starts to explode in growth. Soon countertops will be filled with daily harvests!

Garden Tasks

• Continue to harvest spring spring vegetables.
• Succession sow beans, beets, carrots, heat tolerant lettuce greens, spinach,  etc.
• Transplant warm season plants that haven’t already gone in to the garden.
• Add stakes, trellising systems, etc when transplanting starts to the garden to minimize root disruption. Tie plants to support systems when they are about 1 to 2 feet tall.
• Direct sow beans, beets, carrots, corn, cucumbers, pumpkins, squash, etc.
• Add shade cloth when temperatures rise above 75°F for spring plants and 85°F for warm season plants. (This can also be used as hail protection.)
• Thin any direct sown plants like beets and carrots.
• Water as needed to make sure each bed has approximately 1 inch of water per week. (Use the finger test to see if it’s time to water- poke the soil and see if it’s moist about 2 inches down, if it is, you can wait on watering. If it is dry, water deeply.)
• Continue to walk the garden daily looking for the first signs of pest pressure and disease. The sooner you spot an issue, the easier it will be to deal with. Use bug netting when needed.
• Harvest and dry herbs.
• Side dress with compost any plants that are starting to blossom.

Kitchen Tasks

• Assess your pantry and restock any nuts, seeds, flours, grains, vinegars, oils, etc.
• Clean and prep all dehydrator supplies.
• Prep all canning supplies.
• Wash/sanitize all storage containers.
• Sharpen knives.
• Continue to use last years harvests from to make room for new items.
• Shop farmers markets to supplement garden harvests. Process large/bulk purchases for later eating.
• Clean and prep your grill so it’s ready for a quick grilling session with fresh picked vegetables.

June is a busy time that can either be chaotic or organized. Taking steps to prepare for the rush of garden harvests and farmer’s market offerings really pays off. Just as taking the time to plan your garden leads to more success, taking steps to plan and conquer tasks will also bring more success and less stress as you work your way through the season. These tasks can change depending where you are at in your growing season. (If you are well into the warm season, you will more than likely be processing harvests much sooner. My last frost date was May 6th.) May your time in the garden and the kitchen be a joy!