Growing juicy, flavorful tomatoes in June has become one of my favorite garden challenges. Every year, I tweak my routine a little based on what worked (or flopped) the season before. There’s something so satisfying about biting into a tomato you’ve nursed through heatwaves and late spring storms.
June brings real changes—longer days, hotter soil, and pests that seem to appear overnight. I’ve learned that what worked in May might not cut it now. Little adjustments in watering, pruning, and feeding make a huge difference once summer kicks in.
I’ve finally figured out the small things that lead to better fruit. If you’re growing tomatoes this month, these tips might help you skip the frustration and get right to the good part—your first sun-warmed harvest.
1. Morning Watering Magic
Early morning watering gives tomato plants time to dry before evening, slashing disease risk dramatically. My plants stayed healthier last June when I switched to 6 AM watering compared to my previous afternoon schedule.
Aim for the soil, not the leaves. Water that sits on foliage creates the perfect environment for fungal problems, especially in June’s warming temperatures. A soaker hose works wonders here.
Consistency matters more than quantity. I’ve found that tomatoes prefer regular, moderate watering rather than occasional drenching. In my garden, every other day works perfectly unless we’re having a heatwave.
2. Mulch Now, Thank Me Later
Laying down a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch in June creates a protective barrier that keeps soil moisture consistent and temperature regulated. Straw, shredded leaves, or even grass clippings work beautifully.
Last summer taught me this lesson the hard way. Half my tomato bed got mulched, half didn’t. The difference was striking—mulched plants produced nearly twice as many tomatoes through the summer heat.
Beyond moisture retention, good mulch suppresses weeds that compete for nutrients. Just keep it an inch away from the stems to prevent rot issues that can develop in June’s sometimes unpredictable rain patterns.
3. Prune Those Suckers
June is prime time for removing those small shoots that form between the main stem and branches. These suckers steal energy that could go toward fruit production instead. I pinch them off weekly using my fingers when they’re small.
My neighbor never prunes his plants and always wonders why his tomatoes are smaller than mine. The plant wastes energy growing excess foliage rather than developing those juicy fruits we’re after. Focus on removing lower suckers first, as they contribute least to production.
Don’t go overboard though—I learned that leaving a few upper suckers actually provides helpful shade for developing fruits during June’s increasingly hot days.
4. Support Before They Flop
By June, tomato plants grow rapidly and need proper support before they get unwieldy. Waiting too long means struggling with already-sprawling plants and risking stem damage. I learned this lesson after procrastinating last year.
Cages work for determinate varieties, but indeterminate types need taller stakes or trellises. Secure plants with soft ties that won’t cut into growing stems as they expand. Old t-shirts cut into strips make perfect plant ties. Supporting plants keeps fruit off the ground, reducing rot and pest problems.
Plus, good air circulation around properly supported plants decreases disease issues that become more common as June humidity rises in many regions.
5. Feed With Compost Tea
June’s rapid growth phase makes it the perfect time for a nutritional boost from compost tea. Simply steep a shovelful of finished compost in a bucket of water overnight, strain, and apply to soil around plants weekly.
The micronutrients feed plants gradually without the shocking growth that chemical fertilizers can cause. My grandmother swore by this method, and the year I finally tried it, my plants outperformed all previous seasons.
For an extra boost, add a tablespoon of unsulfured molasses to your brew. The sugars feed beneficial microbes that help your plants access nutrients more efficiently. Just remember—more isn’t better; once weekly application is plenty.
6. Side-Dress With Calcium
Adding crushed eggshells or garden lime around your plants in June prevents blossom end rot, that disappointing black bottom that ruins tomatoes. The timing is crucial—do it now as fruits are setting, not later when problems appear.
After losing half my crop two years ago, I started saving winter eggshells, crushing them finely, and applying them in June. The difference has been remarkable—almost zero affected tomatoes since implementing this practice.
Gently work the calcium source into the top inch of soil about 4 inches from the stem. Water thoroughly afterward to help the nutrients start breaking down and becoming available to those hungry roots before July’s heavier fruit development.
7. Banana Peel Power
Burying banana peels 4-6 inches deep near tomato plants provides a slow-release potassium boost that’s perfectly timed for June’s fruit development phase. Cut them into smaller pieces to speed decomposition. The potassium strengthens cell walls, improving fruit quality and disease resistance.
I’ve been doing this for three seasons now, and my tomatoes have never been more flavorful or resilient against summer stresses. Unlike commercial fertilizers that can burn plants in hot weather, this natural approach releases nutrients gradually.
Just three peels per plant is plenty—I learned the hard way that more isn’t better when I attracted raccoons with too many buried peels!
8. Afternoon Shade Cloth
Hanging 30% shade cloth over tomato plants during June’s hottest afternoons protects tender fruits from sunscald and heat stress. The light filtering mimics the dappled shade tomatoes evolved with in their native habitat.
After losing dozens of tomatoes to sunscald last June during an unexpected heatwave, I invested in shade cloth. Now my plants continue setting fruit even when temperatures climb above 90°F.
Set up the cloth so it drapes over plants from 1-5 PM but allows full morning sun. Easy-to-install shade cloth with grommets can be attached to stakes or a simple frame. Remove during cooler days to maximize photosynthesis and growth.
9. Companion Planting With Basil
Tucking basil plants between tomatoes in June creates a powerful partnership. The strong aroma of basil repels tomato hornworms and other pests that become more active as summer progresses. Beyond pest protection, many gardeners (myself included) swear that basil improves tomato flavor.
While science hasn’t confirmed this fully, my side-by-side tests over three seasons consistently produced more aromatic tomatoes from plants growing near basil.
Plant basil 10-12 inches from tomato stems where they’ll get adequate light without competing for root space. As an added bonus, you’ll have perfect ingredients for Caprese salad growing side by side when harvest time arrives in a few weeks!
10. Pollination Assistance
Gently tapping flowering tomato stems around midday helps pollen transfer during June’s bloom explosion. A light shake is all it takes—I use the eraser end of a pencil to delicately vibrate each flowering stem for a few seconds. This simple trick mimics the work of bees and wind.
Last June, I helped pollinate half my plants as an experiment and left the rest to nature. The hand-pollinated section produced noticeably more fruit with fewer dropped blossoms.
June’s occasional high humidity can make pollen sticky and less likely to transfer naturally. Spending just five minutes every few days on this task during peak flowering can significantly increase your eventual harvest without any additional inputs or costs.
11. Weekly Epsom Salt Spray
Mixing one tablespoon of Epsom salt with a gallon of water creates a magnesium-rich foliar spray that tomatoes love during June’s heavy growth phase. The magnesium helps plants produce chlorophyll and use nutrients more effectively.
Spray in early morning when leaves can absorb nutrients before the day’s heat arrives. After trying this on half my plants two seasons ago, I noticed greener foliage and stronger stems within just two weeks. Unlike many garden remedies, this one has science behind it.
University studies confirm that magnesium deficiency reduces tomato yield, and many garden soils lack sufficient magnesium. Apply every 10-14 days through June for best results, but stop once July arrives to avoid excessive foliage growth.
12. Remove Early Blossoms
Pinching off the very first flowers that appear in early June seems counterintuitive but actually leads to stronger plants and better overall yields. The plant establishes a more robust root system before putting energy into fruit production.
I was skeptical until comparing with my sister’s garden. She removed early blossoms while I let mine develop. By August, her plants were still producing heavily while mine had slowed significantly. Focus only on the first flower cluster that appears, removing it promptly.
Allow all subsequent flowers to develop normally. This small sacrifice pays dividends later when summer heat puts stress on plants—they’ll have deeper roots to access water and nutrients.
13. Evening Inspection Routine
Taking five minutes for a daily evening walk through your tomato patch in June catches problems before they explode. Hornworms, early blight, and other issues start small but can devastate plants within days if left unchecked. Check under leaves for pests and remove them by hand.
Last summer, I spotted three tiny hornworms during an evening check that would have grown to destroy entire branches had they gone unnoticed for just a few more days.
Look for yellowing leaves or black spots and remove them promptly to prevent disease spread. The evening timing works perfectly—the day’s heat has passed, making the task pleasant, and you’ll spot leaf issues and pests more easily in the angled evening light.
14. Vitamin B1 Transplant Solution
Commercial products containing vitamin B1 (thiamine) claim to reduce transplant shock and boost growth when applied in June. Despite decades of marketing, scientific research consistently shows these products provide no significant benefit to established tomato plants.
I fell for this claim years ago, applying expensive B1 solution to half my tomato patch in a controlled comparison. The treated plants showed absolutely no improvement over the untreated ones—a complete waste of money and effort.
Save your garden budget for proven amendments like quality compost or mulch. If you’re concerned about transplant shock, proper hardening off before planting and consistent watering afterward are what truly make the difference, not vitamin supplements.
15. Beer Traps For Tomato Pests
Setting out saucers of beer near tomato plants supposedly attracts and drowns harmful pests. While this works wonderfully for slugs, it does absolutely nothing for tomato hornworms, aphids, or other insects that actually damage tomato plants in June. My neighbor convinced me to try this method last summer.
After wasting perfectly good beer for two weeks, my pest problems remained unchanged while attracting additional unwanted insects to the garden area.
For effective June pest control, focus on methods that target specific tomato pests: use BT spray for hornworms, insecticidal soap for aphids, or introduce beneficial insects like ladybugs. Skip the beer traps for your tomatoes—save them for slug-prone areas or simply enjoy the beer yourself after a hard day.