Are you looking for vegetables to plant in August that will give you dependable fall and winter harvests?
If so, you’re in luck! This blog post will discuss several different vegetables that are perfect for planting during August. These vegetables are sure to provide you with bountiful harvests all season long!
This blog post is all about vegetables to plant in August.
Do People Really Plant More Vegetables in August?
Yes!!
The idea of planting vegetables in August may seem crazy to you if you just finished planting your main garden a few months ago. In August, it’s hot in the garden, pests are going strong, and you’re just trying to stay on top of the weeding situation the best you can.
But there are a ton of vegetables that you can start in August that will give you delicious harvests for months in your fall garden.
What Should You Grow in August?
There are a ton of vegetables you can plant in August for continued harvests.
The fall garden is what I like to call the “Bonus Garden”.
It may take some extra focus and determination to get that second garden planted, but I promise you won’t regret it.
You Can Plant More of What You Already Planted in the Spring
The easiest thing to plant in your fall garden is more of what you planted earlier in spring.
This won’t work for every variety you planted, but it will work well for plants like sugar snap peas, cucumbers, bush beans, and more!
Sugar Snap Peas
When you grew these back in the spring they were so prolific, but once the temperatures started creeping up to 80 degrees or so, they died off.
Now is the time to get another ENTIRE harvest from your sugar snap peas. You will double the amount of harvest you get from your garden if you simply remember to plant these fall crops.
They take about 60 days to mature, and then you can harvest peas off the plants for 4-6 weeks before they begin to die back.
Magnolia Blossom Tendril Pea
This is my favorite variety of sugar snap pea. They have enormous tendrils and lots of pea shoots that can be harvested and added to salads. These are in addition to the pea pods themselves.
I buy mine from Baker Creek and Hudson Valley Seed Company, where a pack of 50-60 seeds is around $3.75.
I usually plant around 70 plants in spring and 70 in August. Each plant provides around 5-6 oz of peas, so my 70 plants yield over 20 pounds of peas during a 6 week period for less than $5.
My family eats these sweet, yummy pea pods as snacks all day long, so we don’t have any leftover for storing.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers are perfect for planting in August. You most likely started some cucumbers from seed back in April or May and have been harvesting delicious cukes from them since June or July.
Cucumbers are a delicious and refreshing vegetable that is easy to grow in your garden. With just a little bit of care, you can have cucumbers ready to harvest in as little as two months.
And once you’ve harvested your cucumbers, there are plenty of quick and easy ways to prepare them.
Here are a few tips to get you started:
- Plant your cucumber seeds in late July or early August. This will give them enough time to mature before the first frost. Cucumbers are not frost-hardy, which means that a frost will kill them.
- Choose a sunny spot in your garden for your cucumber plants. They need at least six hours of sunlight each day.
- Water your cucumber plants regularly. They prefer moist soil, so water them every few days, or more often if it is particularly hot or dry.
- Once you’ve harvested your cucumbers, you can eat them raw, pickle them, or use them in a variety of recipes. Cucumbers are a versatile veggie that is perfect for summertime AND fall eating.
One of the quickest ways to prepare cucumbers is to slice them thin and eat them raw with a dip or dressing. Another fast option is to pickle them, which can be done by cutting cucumbers into spears or slices and boiling them in vinegar, water, and spices.
Pretty much any variety of cucumber you choose will be ready to harvest in 50-60 days.
Beit Alpha Cucumber
The Beit Alpha cucumber was the variety I grew last year, and I LOVED it. You can pickle them or use them as slicers, and they don’t require pollinators.
I grew 13 cucumber plants last year, and they provided my family with over 80 pounds of cucumbers over 5 months.
We ate them at several meals every week as a salad with greek yogurt, garlic, and lemon juice, and I also lightly pickled them for my kids.
I’m trying the Unagi cucumber from Johnny’s Selected Seeds this year, and I’m excited to see how it grows!
For fall planting, you can take this opportunity to plant a new variety or you can stay with the kind you’ve already planted early this year. You’ll definitely save more money if you stick to whatever you already have, since you probably already have the pack of seeds.
Bush Beans
Bush beans are another perfect crop for planting in August.
Bush beans rather than pole beans work better here since bush beans are smaller and easier to manage.
They are a great choice for gardeners looking to grow vegetables in a short period of time.
Because they mature so quickly, you can start harvesting them as early as two months after planting. Plus, with the right care and attention, they can produce an abundant crop all season long.
Another advantage of these versatile plants is that they are incredibly easy to cultivate. You can sow their seeds directly into the ground and they will germinate in around 5 days.
After harvest, if you want to get your bush beans from the garden to the plate fast, there are a few simple ways to easily prepare them once they’re ready for picking.
For instance, you can quickly steam or stir-fry them for a healthy and filling meal in minutes.
Bush beans are a solid choice for planting in August because they are quick to mature and you can incorporate them into all kinds of meals.
The Dragon Tongue Bean is a Great Choice
The Dragon Tongue bush bean has been described by Territorial Seed Company as being “probably the best multipurpose bean available”, and I agree.
I have tried several bush bean varieties, including the Calima bush bean, the Roma II, and others, but none is as tasty and versatile as the Dragon Tongue Bush Bean. They are the only bush bean I grow.
I plant 50-60 of these plants every April for fresh eating. In early August, I plant 50-60 more for fresh eating, canning, and dried beans.
For the total cost of $6, I have around 40 pounds of green beans coming out of my garden. That comes out to .15 cents per pound.
The last time fresh green beans were .15 cents per pound was in the 1940s.
With the way food prices are going up lately, growing a garden is the same as printing money, and adding a fall garden DOUBLES that money.
Quick-Growing Tomatoes
You can add a second round to your tomato harvest by planting some quick-growing cherry tomatoes in your garden in August.
picture of cherry tomato in container
Cherry tomatoes mature faster than large slicers, which is perfect for a fall garden. Start the seeds in June or July so they will be ready to plant at the beginning of August.
Tomatoes you plant in August will bear fruit in late summer well into fall.
Some popular varieties that are well-suited to late summer/fall growing are:
Start seeds in June or July so you can plant these in early August. You’ll be rewarded with cherry tomatoes until the killing frost comes.
Scallions/Green Onions/Bunching Onions
These names are all interchangeable for the same thing, which are just long, thin green onions.
They mature in as little as 50 days and can be grown year-round with some protection in most US areas.
Bunching onions are very easy to grow and the seeds are inexpensive. Another important attribute that makes these a must-grow is the fact that they take up so little space.
In one 10-gallon grow bag, you can grow 15 bunches of onions. They cost $4 to grow (including the grow bag) vs $20 to buy in the store.
I have had success growing Botanical Interests’ Tokyo Long White Bunching Onions. I grow these all year long.
Another variety I grow is the Nabechan Bunching Onion. I purchase these from Johnny’s Selected Seeds, 5000 seeds at a time.
A pack of 5000 seeds is $9.65 plus tax and shipping and is enough seeds for me to grow my supply of scallions all year.
In addition, I sell several flats of bunching onions to others who want to enjoy these year-round but who don’t want to or can’t start the seeds for the 2 months it takes to grow them.
Turnips
Turnips are also vegetables that do well when direct-sown in August and September.
You can harvest baby turnips in around 30 days, and in around 50 days for full-size turnips.
This means you can easily harvest a crop of turnips before even a moderate frost comes to your garden.
I haven’t gotten very far into trying different Turnip varieties, but I do have a couple that I’ve tried and liked:
Hakurei Turnip
The Hakurei Turnip is popular with market gardeners for good reason. They are smooth, mature early (in as little as 40 days), and are sweet when eaten raw.
I like to pick them up early with the greens still attached and wash them thoroughly. Then I slice them through the center along the length of the plant and eat them in a salad either raw or lightly cooked.
Golden Ball Turnip
Larger than the Hakurei, these Golden Ball turnips grow up to 3-4 across and are delicious boiled then mashed with butter and salt.
I’ve also roasted them in olive oil and herbs and they are delicious that way too.
I’ve read that these never get woody in texture, but I never leave them in the ground long enough to find out!
Carrots
If you are in northern climates, you could direct sow your carrots in August for a fall harvest. It’s a good idea to sow them 10-12 weeks before your last frost date.
Atlas Carrots
Our Atlas Carrot seeds come from Johnny’s Selected Seeds. I buy 5000 seeds for $7.15+ tax/shipping.
I like Atlas because they are short and kinda squatty (this technically makes them Parisian Carrots), which means they don’t have to put tons of effort into growing deep into our heavy clay soil.
Oxheart Carrots
Oxheart Carrots are similar to this as well. They are also French chantenay-type carrots. They are shorter and more shallow than other carrots–which is great for heavy clay soils–and they also can grow up to 5 inches wide. So while they are shorter lengthwise, they can still be substantial carrots. Some weigh up to one pound!
Napoli Carrots
I am going to experiment with growing the Napoli carrot this year. I’ve heard good things about it. I plan to plant it in soil that I have heavily amended with leaf mulch.
That way, the carrot will be able to push down farther into the lighter soil than it would if it hadn’t been amended.
Cool Weather Magic
Something special happens with carrots in late fall and winter. When the temperatures get below freezing, some of the starches in the carrot turn to sugar to help the plant resist freezing. The tasty result is ever-sweeter carrots!
You can also leave fall/winter carrots in the ground until you need them, instead of harvesting them all at once. I never understood how awesome this is until I was able to do it.
Leaving Root Vegetables in the Ground: Gamechanger
By leaving your root vegetables in the ground when temps turn cooler, you reduce waste and increase the economic benefit you see from your garden. In real talk? You save a TON of money.
Imagine buying 200-300 carrots for $10.00 (seed, fertilizer, and water) and then leaving them in the ground until you’re ready to use them.
No more buying a bag of carrots and leaving them in the crisper until weird, smelly juice comes out of the bag.
You’ve got all the carrots you can use in the ground waiting for you to use them.
Yes, even below freezing. Yes, even under snow.
Carrots sown in August/September are an addition to your garden that you can’t afford to miss. They truly turn your garden into your very own grocery store.
This is the beauty of fall carrots.
New Varieties That Do Well in Cooler Temps
The varieties we just went over are those that are great for planting in August because they are fast-growing and you likely already have them in your garden.
Next, we’ll look at varieties you can plant in your garden in August because they love the cooler temps of fall/winter. You’ll be extending your growing season by several months when you grow these vegetables.
Asian Greens & Cruciferous Leafy Greens
Greens in these families include bok choy, tatsoi, kale, collards, and many more.
Greens Are Nutritional Powerhouses
If these greens were difficult to grow they would still be worth it, because they are nutritional powerhouses.
But they are some of the easiest plants to grow that I have ever grown.
Greens love cooler weather so they are perfect candidates for planting in August.
My favorite greens to plant in August are:
Kale
To grow kale, start by choosing a sunny spot in your garden or yard. Next, dig a hole about 2-3 inches deep and add in some rich compost, along with a few handfuls of bone meal or fertilizer to help promote healthy growth.
Then, simply plant the kale seeds about 2-3 inches apart, making sure to cover them with soil so that they get good contact with the ground. Finally, water your plants regularly and care for them as they grow.
Not only is kale easy to grow, but it can also bring many benefits to your diet. This nutrient-rich vegetable is an excellent source of vitamins A and C and minerals like calcium and iron.
Additionally, studies have shown that adding greens like kale to your diet can help improve overall health and reduce the risk of certain diseases, such as heart disease and cancer.
My favorite varieties of kale are Red Russian Kale for its slug-resistance and flavor, Blue Curled Scotch Kale for smoothies and kale chips, and Dazzling Blue Kale for its tender texture and mild flavor.
Kale will provide pounds and pounds of greens you can eat raw in salads or smoothies, or sauteed in olive oil as a side dish. Most of my kale plants live for 2 years, then go to seed.
Tatsoi
Tatsoi is a type of leafy green vegetable that is often used in salads and stir-fry dishes. It is known for its pretty, lacy leaves, as well as its spicy flavor and crisp texture.
To grow tatsoi, you will need to start with fresh, quality seeds or seedlings. These should be planted in well-draining soil that receives plenty of sunlight.
I grow my tatsoi from seed I bought from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange.
As it grows, tatsoi will need regular watering and some fertilizer to keep it healthy and full.
Many people love tatsoi for its unique flavor and eye-catching appearance. It can brighten up any dish with its vibrant greens, and the small size of each leaf makes it a quick and easy ingredient to use in cooking.
Whether you are looking for something new to add to your salad or just want to try something different in the kitchen, tatsoi is definitely a vegetable worth exploring!
Bok Choy
Bok Choy is a type of Chinese cabbage that is popular in both Asian and Western cuisine. The leaves are dark green and the stems are crisp and crunchy.
When cooked, Bok Choy has a mild, slightly sweet flavor. Bok Choi can be eaten raw or cooked and is often used in stir-fries, soups, and salads.
Harvest Bok Choy when the heads are still small. Large heads can be tough and bitter. Bok Choy is a cool-weather crop and will bolt (go to seed) if exposed to too much heat.
We grow Purple Lady Bok Choy and Milk Bok Choy from Baker Creek.
People like Bok Choy because it is versatile, easy to grow, and has a mild flavor that goes well with many other ingredients. Bok Choy is also a good source of vitamins A and C and calcium and iron. Try adding Bok Choy to your next meal for a delicious and healthy addition to your diet.
Collard Greens
Collard greens are a type of hearty, leafy green vegetable that is popular in many different cuisines.
They are easy to grow, and can be planted year-round in most climates. If you are looking for an easy way to get some extra nutrients into your diet, collard greens are the perfect choice.
Growing collard greens is simple. All you need is a bit of space in your garden or flower bed, and some soil that has been properly prepared with compost or other organic materials.
Collard Green Varieties
I grow Vates Collard Greens, Morris Heading Collard Greens, and Yellow Cabbage Collards. The Yellow Cabbage Collards are a rare variety from North Carolina that is said to be more mild and sweet than other varieties.
Simply scatter the seeds over the soil and cover them lightly with a thin layer of soil or mulch to plant your collards. Then all you need to do is water your plants regularly and watch them grow!
And once your collards start producing leaves, you can harvest them as needed or leave them to form large heads that can be cut off at once.
People love collard greens because they are extremely nutritious, low in calories, and easy to prepare.
Whether you like to eat them raw in salads or cooked into soups and stews, these delicious veggies have something for everyone to enjoy!
Swiss Chard
Swiss Chard is a very easy green to grow and is very prolific. You can eat Swiss Chard raw as a salad green or lightly sauteed in olive oil and eaten as a side dish.
One of the best things about Swiss Chard is that it can grow all year round. It doesn’t bolt in hot temps for summer harvests and doesn’t mind toughing out freezing temps for winter harvest.
Bright Lights Swiss Chard is a gorgeous variety that has multi-colored stems.
Verde de Taglio Swiss Chard is my current favorite swiss chard variety. It is tender with a mild flavor.
Fall Crops Save Money
Fall crops are money-savers. The seeds for these crops are usually much cheaper per seed than the spring and summer crops.
You can easily spend 25 cents per seed for certain tomato seeds, whereas you’ll only spend a few dollars for a pack of onion seeds or Asian green varieties.
Popular High-Value Fall Vegetable Garden Varieties
- Lettuces
- Carrots
- Kale
- Bok Choi
- Pak Choi
- Tatsoi
- Scallions
- Onions
- Napa Cabbage
- Mustard Greens
- Brussel Sprouts
These crops are high value because you can buy hundreds of these seeds for a few dollars and grow hundreds of plants from them.
For the most part, these varieties love cooler temps, so seeding them in your garden in August will give them time to get their roots established before the weather turns really cold.
Once they are established, you will harvest from them all fall and possibly all winter.
Conclusion
In August, it’s hot in the garden, pests are going strong, and you’re just trying to stay on top of the weeding situation. However, there are a ton of vegetables that you can start in August for continued harvests through the fall and winter.
Which crops are you planning to plant in August?
