Which flowering plants and herbs are best to start growing in June, in Washington State?

Question

the flowers and herbs would be outdoors on a deck where there is equal amounts of sun and shade throughout the day. I'm an amatuer gardener and I would love to have some kind of garden on my deck...Whether it be vegetables, fruit, herbs or flowers...I just don't know whats best to start in summertime. Thanks!

Answer 1

'Equal amounts of sun and shade?" If you have midday or afternoon sun, pick sun-loving plants. Buy tomato starts, cucumbers, melons, peppers, lavender, rosemary. Plant new zealand spinach, sunflowers. Seattle Tilth has written THE best month-by-month garden guide for the region.

If you only have morning sun, you need shade plants. Impatiens, ferns, astilbe, etc.

Answer 2

Tomatoes, most herbs (cilantro, basil, oregano, rosemary), bell peppers and most kinds of hot peppers can be grown in pots- either start from seeds or buy small plants. I've grown all those in pots myself plus I have started carrots and radishes from seed in deeper pots. You can even sow a little loose leaf lettuce or mescalun mix in good sized pots for salad. You don't need a fancy pot. I've seen someone grow tomatoes by making a hole in the top of a bag of potting soil and sticking a tomato plant into the bag. Pots can dry put quickly so you will need to water often -probably every day when it is hot. Bigger pots stay moist longer. Sun for only part of the day is okay for many vegetables- you just get a little less yield. If you never have sun on the patio, then you might need to give then some sun elsewhere or use a grow lamp. We have grown all many of these on a sunny windowsill too, especially the herbs. Good luck.

Answer 3

You didn't say east or west side. I'm west so my suggestions may not be useful. It has been so warm and dry this year it is good you will be in control of the water. I would set up a drip system for ease of watering if possible. If not be sure there is an easy route to a water supply. Test soil moisture by sticking your finger into the soil three inches; if dry ie warm, water; if wet & cool, don't water." If it gets into the 90's set up a mister.
This late you will want to buy starts at your local nursery. With your description of half day sun put any herbs with the afternoon sun. Herbs are generally very vigorous growers so they need to be sheared, snipped, or nibbled down regularly. To maintain this a mid-season fertilization with a fish/kelp emulsion or other organic liquid fertilizer like Earth Juice will keep them healthy and growing.
Cooking with lavender is common in Europe and the Mediterranean. In France it is used in Herb Provence. It is a member of the mint family and is close to rosemary, sage, and thyme. It is best used with fennel, oregano, rosemary, thyme, sage, and savory.
http://whatscookingamerica.net/lavender....
Rosemary & lavender are not going to winter over in pots on the deck as they are easily frost damaged being from the hot Mediterranean.
Tarragon, savory are easy in pots and they shear into nice mounds.
Sweet basil, oregano, marjoram, thyme and the flat leaf Italian parsley can perfectly grow together in a pot. Parsley and basil are annuals. Also watch the oregano and marjoram don't just overgrow the thyme since it is much slower. Oreganos, lemon balm, bee balm, borage and mints are herbs that are more vigorous in growth.
Chives, burnet, and rocket look and do well together.
Look for Salvia officinalis (Dwarf Sage)
Lavandula 'Blue Cushion', 'Thumbelina', (Dwarf English Lavender)
Rosmarinus officinalis 'Pinkie', 'Golden Rain' (Dwarf Rosemary)

Besides herbs consider Heliotrope (Heliotropium arborescens) for the fragrant, blue flowers. Grow it with Chinese foxglove (Rehmannia elata) as the vertical element, combined with some variegated coleus for fill.
Cascade some cottage pinks (Dianthus) over the side of a container filled with a fuschia and perilla. These will not like afternoon sun only morning sun. If you are around Seattle go to Wells Medina for container plants. Their coleus, geranium, container selection is good and often very unusual.

If you have enough afternoon sun, at least 6 hours, consider a little rose as the center of a pot. This would be good for miniatures. Your could open up the range by growing a miniature climbing rose like 'Sequoia Ruby' on the trellis or railing. The vertical element in a pot could be a mini tree rose like 'Halo Sweetie' surrounded by a cascading Million Bells Calibracoa. I grow my patio roses in half barrels on casters. I drilled a hole in the bottom to ensure drainage since herbs and roses both dislike wet roots.
Two years ago I got a dark red Ruby Meidiland landscape rose that works well as a mini-cascader. It produces lavish clusters of very ruffled, double blossoms.
For a fragrant mini rose try one of the Scentsation series. These are small shrub types but are narrow so would look good with alyssum & thyme cascading over the rim and the midground filled with basil 'Oriental Breeze'.

Answer 4

Herbs are usually Mediterranean and LOVE lots of sun. They are great container subjects if you give them enough sun. Great ones are thyme, oregano, basil, tarragon, rosemary. Don't try to start these from seed as summer is brutal, so buy starter plants from your local garden center. Happy Gardening!!!!!

Answer 5

I would reccomend some roses for the sunny parts of the deck. and for the shady parts would reccomend impatients they both bloom all season long . I would buy these already started . good luck .