August Vegetable Planting Guide: From Crisp Lettuce to Radiant Root Vegetables
August is an excellent time to get your garden ready for a bountiful harvest in late autumn, winter, and early spring. Many vegetables thrive in the cooler temperatures of fall and can be successfully planted during this month.
Kale, spinach, turnips, chard, bok choy, spring cabbages, mizuna, carrots, beetroot, spring onions, lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, and string beans are just a few examples of vegetables that can be planted in August. These crops are either heat-tolerant, quick-growing enough to mature before frost, or hardy enough to overwinter with protection.
Kale, for instance, is a very hardy vegetable that can withstand harsh winter cold, allowing for harvest throughout winter and early spring. It can be started in trays and transplanted for better success. Spinach, turnips, chard, bok choy, spring cabbages, mizuna, and beetroot are good leafy greens to sow directly outdoors or start in protected conditions for fall/winter harvests.
Carrots, like late varieties such as Autumn King and Flakkee, can be planted in August and left in the ground over winter, harvesting a nutritious autumn/winter crop. Beetroot can also be sown directly in August for a hardy, versatile autumn harvest, needing little space. Spring onions are flexible and space-efficient, suitable for containers or small plots, and can be sown shallowly in August for an autumn harvest.
Lettuce can be seeded in late August for salad crops starting in October, especially using repeated sowing for extended harvest. Tomatoes and peppers can still be planted in some warm regions (e.g., central Texas) in August for fall harvests, though they require warm conditions. String beans are easy to grow from seed sown directly in August, maturing within about 50 days for a September harvest before frost.
Broccoli can be planted in August for a fall harvest, enhancing its flavor. It's best started indoors and then transplanted into larger pots or plots, with each plant needing about 18 inches of space. Rocket, a great addition to salads, can be grown in pots to save space and provides fresh leaves throughout autumn. Good varieties of rocket to include are 'Runway' and 'Apollo'.
Turnips, a classic addition to the great British roast, should be planted in August for the best chance of successful growth. They prefer a wide, shallow container. Keeping plants hydrated, especially during dry spells in August, is important for their growth.
Squash varieties like courgette and pumpkins can still be planted in August, particularly in warmer regions. When planting squash seeds, they should be sown in shallow trenches, covered lightly with soil, and watered gently. A packet of turnip seeds can be purchased from Amazon for £3.79, while RHS sells mixed beetroot seeds for £2.99.
Using greenhouses, cold frames, or row covers can improve seedling success and extend harvest periods into colder months. Fast-growing vegetables and hardy crops are ideal choices in August to ensure a productive late-season garden.
- By sowing spinach, turnips, chard, bok choy, spring cabbages, mizuna, and beetroot directly outdoors or starting them in protected conditions, you can prepare for a bountiful fall/winter harvest.
- Lettuce can be seeded in late August for a fresh salad crop starting in October, with repeated sowing extending the harvest period.
- Spring onions, suitable for containers or small plots, can be sown shallowly in August for an autumn harvest, requiring little space.
- For a nutritious autumn/winter crop, consider planting late varieties of carrots like Autumn King and Flakkee in August and leaving them in the ground over winter.
