Is your vegetable garden sporting empty spaces after the spring crops and root vegetables bid their farewell? While eagerly awaiting the maturation of your summer stars like tomatoes and peppers, it’s prime time to turn your attention to the fall harvest. Successive plantings are the key, and August is the opportune moment to sow a variety of vegetables. In this article, I’ll unveil my top picks for August planting, offering insights into maximizing your yield through strategic succession planning.
Timing is everything when it comes to sowing in August. For optimal growth, especially before the temperatures dip, it’s advisable to start early in the month. However, the beauty of fall gardening lies in its flexibility. Depending on factors like weather and your garden’s microclimates, you might still enjoy reasonable harvests even with slightly delayed sowings.
9 Vegetables to Sow in August for a Bountiful Autumn-Winter Harvest:
- Turnips:
- A moment of revelation came when I decided to sow turnip seeds in the space vacated by garlic. Japanese turnips, in particular, have become a favorite with their succulence, ready to be picked at walnut or ping pong ball size.
- Read More: How to Grow Turnips from Seeds
- Kale or Kale:
- Renowned for its versatility in salads, stir-fries, and even crispy chips, kale is a staple in my garden.
- While mature kale plants from spring plantings persist into fall, sowing young kale in summer provides tender leaves ideal for salads.
- Explore: Growing Kale – Extending Your Season
- Beets:
- Opt for early beet varieties such as ‘Chioggia’ and Detroit Dark Red for a successful fall harvest. Even if your beets end up small, relish the flavorful green leaves.
- Also Check: 12 Vegetables to Sow in September for Autumn-Winter Harvests
- Coriander:
- Frustrated with cilantro bolting early in the season? Sow seeds at the beginning of August to enjoy this herb well into fall.
- Related Read: Tips on How to Grow Coriander
- Bok Choy:
- A stir-fry superstar in my kitchen, bok choy is a favorite August planting. While spring-sown plants may wilt in sudden heat, fall’s cool temperatures make these leafy greens resilient.
- Miniature varieties like ‘Toy Choy’ and ‘Asian Delight’ are particularly delightful.
- Radishes:
- Fast-growing radishes mature in as little as 21 days. Plant them in late August or even September for an early fall treat.
- Discover More: Tips on Growing Radishes
- Mizuna:
- A mustard green-style vegetable, mizuna adds a zesty bite to salads. Sow seeds of red varieties in August, and you can also use them for ornamental foliage in fall pots.
- Learn More: All About Growing Mizuna
- Green Salads:
- Lettuces, especially oak leaf varieties and ‘Buttercrunch,’ are a late summer staple. Sow seeds at the end of August, and you can enjoy fresh leaves until the first frost.
- Arugula, another fast-growing green, can be sown in late August and early September for salads or even as a pizza topping.
- Read: Tips on How to Grow Arugula
- Carrots:
- Sow carrot seeds in late July or early August. Round varieties like ‘Romeo’ are a personal favorite, and early planting allows for deep mulching to facilitate winter harvesting.
- Bonus: 5 Other Vegetables to Sow in August
Bonus: 5 Other Vegetables to Sow in August:
- Kohlrabi
- Spinach
- Swiss Chard
- Parsley
- Onions for Scallions
Remember, don’t procrastinate if you want to relish abundant harvests in autumn-winter. Dive into August sowing, and your garden will reward you with a diverse and thriving bounty. Happy gardening!
