August Planting Options: My Top 25 Picks
August is an ideal time for UK gardeners to start sowing seeds for a bountiful autumn and winter harvest. Here are some of the best options to consider:
Radishes are fast-growing, with varieties like 'French Breakfast' and 'Cherry Belle' recommended for continuous sowing for ongoing autumn harvest.
Rocket (Arugula) produces tender peppery leaves in just 4-6 weeks and is a good choice for salads in cooler weather, as it tolerates partial shade.
Mustard Greens, particularly Asian varieties like Komatsuna and Mizuna, are milder and suitable for salad or stir-fry. They have moderate frost tolerance.
Chard is cold-tolerant and moderately frost-resistant, making it an excellent choice for autumn and winter. Varieties like Fordhook Giant can overwinter in mild UK climates with protection.
Fava (Broad) Beans are exceptionally cold-hardy and can be sown in midsummer for production into winter.
Peas such as snow peas and sugar snap peas can be sown in midsummer, providing a sweet fall harvest if sown two months before the first frost.
Kale is hardy and long-lasting, ideal for late August sowing for harvest into mid-fall and winter.
Turnips are quick to mature and are perfect for autumn stews, making them a great choice for plantings in late summer.
Parsley is a hardy herb with slow germination but is good for winter harvests. It's best sown in late summer.
Overwintering Brassicas like cabbages and kale varieties are frost-tolerant and provide leafy crops through autumn and winter.
These selections benefit from sowing in well-drained soil, with attention to moisture levels and potential frost protection in colder UK regions. Fleece or cloches can be used to extend growing seasons.
In addition to the above, Winter purslane, Claytonia, or Miner's lettuce is a very hardy winter salad that produces small, mild-tasting, succulent leaves.
Radish and Mooli are ready in just a few weeks, with both root and leaves edible.
Mizuna can be sown in August for a leafy green crop outdoors or under cover.
Swiss chard can add colour to flower beds and is edible.
Kale can be sown now for a leafy veg crop for a considerable time.
Spinach can be sown and eaten.
Kohl Rabi is often called the German Turnip but it's actually nothing like a turnip. It can be grown now.
Fast-maturing varieties of peas can provide a quick autumn crop, but yields may be lower as the days are getting shorter and mildew can be a problem in wetter areas.
Carrots can be sown for faster maturing crops in August, especially under cover or in containers.
Amaranth can be grown for leaves in August.
Spring cabbage can be sown now for peppery cabbage next spring, with 'April' and 'Durham Early' being reliable varieties.
Land Cress is an excellent substitute for watercress and can survive severe weather.
Parsley, coriander, basil, and chervil can be sown in seed trays now for growing on the window sill under glass throughout the winter.
Salad Onions (Spring Onions) can be sown now for harvest outdoors in early spring, and can also be grown indoors for winter harvest.
Broad Beans can be sown in August for harvest in late autumn or as late as Christmas in very sheltered areas.
Chinese Cabbages are fast-growing and can be sown in August, but should not be transplanted from a seedbed.
Gai Choi (Kaichoi) is a tuberous vegetable that can be eaten raw, cooked, pickled, or stir-fried. It's often the enigmatic heart of Szechuan cuisine.
By sowing these hardy, fast-growing, and frost-tolerant vegetables in August, UK gardeners can set themselves up for continuous harvests from autumn well into winter.
- Winter purslane, Claytonia, or Miner's lettuce is a very hardy winter salad that produces small, mild-tasting, succulent leaves, making it an excellent addition to any home-and-garden or lifestyle planting for cooler seasons.
- Mizuna can be sown in August for a leafy green crop outdoor or under cover, contributing to a diverse lifestyle and home-and-garden gardening practice throughout autumn and early winter.
