Welcome June, and welcome summer! Oh, I know it's not official yet, but June is summer in spirit from the very beginning of the month. The end of school is nigh, the start of camps around the corner, the coast calls, vacations must be planned! (Yes I know I'm a little late in the planning department!)

Here is your June to-do list. I would add: Keep seeding flowers! Deadhead those that have bloomed, unless you want them to go to seed, and continue to add lots of new seeds or transplants to keep the flowers going all summer long.

Also, sow more basil. I've been seeding it every two weeks, to have a constant supply. I also need to get some more cilantro in the ground so we'll have some for salsa when the tomatoes and peppers come ripe. I also just seeded winter squash - a kabocha variety - a little late, maybe, but I had some room and wanted to give it a shot.

An acquaintance who hasn't started anything yet asked me what she could do in containers - and I told her, go ahead and plant everything now! You could still seed cucumbers and summer squash, beans and herbs, and even lettuces if you have a cooler spot. And you could start determinate tomatoes from seedlings now, plus peppers - I mean, the hot summer weather is yet in front of us!

And while you're at it, it would be a good time to check your canning equipment. Make sure you have labels, rings and lids, and more jars if you need them. Where's the huge pot and the magnetic lid lifter? Do you have large ziplocs for the freezer? Time to get all that stuff ready to go. My first project (Tom's already made jam) will likely be pectin from the windfall apples. Next come the peaches, and we'll make jam and also pack some plain for the new pressure canner. If we're lucky, we'll get enough blueberries to freeze some for muffins and pancakes over the winter. And then the tomatoes will roll in....

Happy Planting!