June Allotment Harvest and Recipes: What to Pick and Cook This Month
June is one of the most rewarding months on the allotment — harvest season is kicking off, and suddenly your plot is full of potential. If you’re wondering what to do with your June allotment harvest, this guide brings together the best crops to pick right now and fresh, simple recipes to make the most of them.
Whether you’re working a compact plot or a full-scale garden, here’s how to turn your early summer harvest into delicious home-cooked meals — from broad beans to strawberries.
Best Crops to Harvest in June (and How to Cook Them)
Wondering what to do with your June allotment harvest? These five seasonal staples are perfect for quick, flavour-packed recipes.
🟢 1. Broad Beans
In the ground: Broad beans are at their sweetest when young and tender. Pick little and often to keep plants productive.
In the kitchen: Toss podded beans with lemon juice, garlic, olive oil and mint for a quick salad. Or make a smashed broad bean bruschetta with feta and chilli flakes.
✅ Tip: If your beans are older, double-podding (removing the grey skins) makes them silkier and sweeter.
🥔 2. New Potatoes
In the ground: Harvest your first earlies as soon as flowers appear. Carefully fork around to avoid bruising the skins.
In the kitchen: Serve simply with butter and herbs, or roast with rosemary and garlic. Crushed and pan-fried, they also make excellent crispy potato cakes.
🛒 Stainless Steel Potato Ricer – for extra smooth mash
Perfect for making silky mash or homemade gnocchi from your freshly dug potatoes.
🥬 3. Spinach and Chard
In the ground: These leafy greens thrive now but may bolt in heat. Pick outer leaves regularly to keep plants going.
In the kitchen: Use in everything from creamy scrambled eggs to soups and curries. Chard stems are delicious sautéed with garlic and olive oil.
🛒 Joseph Joseph Nest Colanders – ideal for rinsing fresh greens
Space-saving and perfect for washing homegrown produce.
🍓 4. Strawberries
In the ground: June marks the start of strawberry season. Pick when fully red and ripe — and watch out for birds!
In the kitchen: Enjoy them fresh, or macerate with balsamic and black pepper for a twist. You can also bake them into a simple galette or fold into whipped cream.
🛒 Reusable Beeswax Food Wraps – to keep berries fresh
Sustainable storage for fruit and veg straight from the plot.
🌿 5. Herbs Galore
In the ground: Basil, coriander, dill, parsley and mint are all growing fast. Snip regularly to prevent flowering and encourage bushiness.
In the kitchen: Blend mixed herbs into a zesty green sauce with olive oil and lemon — ideal over grilled veg, fish or roast potatoes. You can also freeze chopped herbs in olive oil in ice cube trays for year-round flavour bombs.
💡 Bonus Tip: Preserve Your June Allotment Harvest
If you’ve got more than you can eat, don’t let it go to waste. Quick pickles, herb oils, and freezing your greens or berries can make your harvest last longer. We’ll cover this more in a future post — stay tuned!
🌱 Final Thoughts on June Allotment Harvest and Recipes
June makes all your spring digging, sowing and watering feel worth it. Whether you’re harvesting handfuls or crates, cooking what you grow is a deeply satisfying (and tasty) reward.
Have you tried any favourite June allotment recipes? Share your ideas in the comments — or tag @allotmentkitchenon Instagram with your plot-to-plate meals!
