This post may contain affiliate links.
As the long, warm days of summer pass, it might seem like the growing season is winding down. However, August is an excellent time to prepare for a productive fall harvest and a vibrant spring garden. Just a little planning and effort now can extend your gardening season well into the cooler months, ensuring your garden remains productive and colorful throughout the year.
Late summer is perfect for sowing seeds and planting seedlings that thrive in cooler fall, winter, and early spring temperatures. Many vegetables are well-suited to these conditions, and some even benefit from the early frosts. Planting now gives these crops the opportunity to establish themselves before the cold weather arrives, resulting in stronger, more resilient plants.
Planning your fall and spring garden in August also allows you to take advantage of the still-warm soil, which helps seeds germinate faster and seedlings establish quickly. By getting a jump on the next growing season, you can enjoy fresh, home-grown vegetables well into the colder months and welcome a garden full of blooms as soon as spring arrives.
Beans
Beans are notoriously fast growers, and the warm conditions of August mean they’ll rocket out of the soil! Bush beans are the safest bet – sow them directly into the ground now and pick fresh beans throughout the cooler fall months. Beans are not frost-hardy but can be protected from the cold with horticultural fleece.
Beets
Now is a great time to sow beets directly into spaces vacated by early summer crops. Water well until the heat of summer subsides, and you’ll be harvesting beets from late fall onwards.
Broccoli
Start broccoli seeds in modules now, transplanting seedlings during fall while soil temperatures remain warm. This will allow the plants to become well established before winter, ready to produce a bountiful yield next spring.
How to Store Your Favorite Veggies After Harvesting
Cauliflower
Like broccoli, start cauliflower seeds in modules now and transplant the seedlings in the fall while the soil is still warm. This gives the plants time to establish themselves before winter arrives, ensuring they are ready to produce a plentiful harvest next spring.
Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts are one of the few mid-winter vegetable crops. Aim to get seedlings planted out by mid-fall for a seasonal holiday harvest.
Cabbages
Cabbages are a great all-year-round crop. Start fast-growing varieties now for fall harvests and slower-growing cabbages that will be ready to pick in winter and early spring.
What’s Eating Your Kale and Cabbages? 12 Common Problems That Affect Brassicas
Carrots
Warm soil provides the ideal conditions for optimum carrot germination. Make sure to water well to prevent bolting in the heat of late summer.
These 13 Plants Are the Secret to Growing Happier, Healthier Carrots
Cilantro
Cilantro is a frustrating herb to grow, bolting into its flowering glory seemingly right before our eyes. The trick to a good harvest of cilantro leaves is to directly sow seeds now, taking advantage of the cooler nights of fall.
Cucumbers
Although the thought of summer crops is far behind us, fast-growing cucumbers can be sown now for a final harvest before winter sets in. For the best chance of success, directly sow seeds in their final growing position.
16 Companion Plants for Happier, Healthier Cucumbers
Lettuce
Although we often think of lettuce as a summer salad crop, it is actually easier to grow in the cooler temperatures of fall. Seeds can be sown directly or started in modules for transplanting. In milder climates, lettuce can be harvested throughout winter.
Kale
Kale thrives in colder weather, producing a steady yield of nutritious green leaves throughout the winter. Start seeds in modules now and transplant seedlings into their final growing position once the first true leaves appear.
Parsley
Parsley is another herb that appreciates cooler weather. Summer-sown parsley will produce lush, flavorsome leaves throughout fall and winter. Sow parsley seeds in modules now, but be patient; they can take several weeks to germinate.
Peas
Peas are one of my favorite fall harvests, producing sweet, juicy pods packed with the taste of sunshine! Sow seeds in clumps of two or three in their final growing position, providing support such as canes or twigs for them to cling onto as they grow upward.
Radishes
If you get frustrated by radishes that bolt before they reach a decent size, try sowing a row or two now. The cooler night temperatures will encourage these fast-growing plants to produce a crisp, delicious bulb within just a few weeks, ideal for late summer salads.
Spinach
Direct-sown spinach will mature rapidly in the mild fall temperatures, quickly producing leafy greens for your dinner table.
Swiss Chard
Much like spinach, Swiss chard grows quickly when direct-sown in the mild fall temperatures, providing fresh leafy greens for your meals in no time. This frost-hardy vegetable can be harvested late into winter, making it a reliable addition to your garden.
Turnips
Turnips are a simple winter root crop that matures quickly with minimal fuss when sown directly into the garden.
17 Colorful Plants to Grow for Fresh Flower Arrangements
For those looking to have a continuous supply of fresh flowers for stunning arrangements, consider planting these 24 colorful varieties. They will thrive in your garden and, in some cases, provide beautiful blooms year after year.
17 Colorful Plants to Grow for Fresh Flower Arrangements
Build Your Dream Garden with These 16 Easy DIY Raised Beds
While pre-made raised beds can be expensive, building your own is a cost-effective alternative. With some basic materials and a bit of effort, you can construct your own raised beds at a fraction of the cost. Here are 16 DIY Raised garden bed projects to help you get started.
Build Your Dream Garden with These 16 Easy DIY Raised Beds
19 Sun Loving Perennials Perfect for Sun-Kissed Gardens
From the drought-tolerant yarrow to the sweet fragrance of garden phlox, each plant has a unique story and role in your garden’s ecosystem. Here are 19 perennials for your sunny garden spaces.
19 Sun Loving Perennials Perfect for Sun-Kissed Gardens
Kate Chalmers
Kate is a passionate gardener who has a keen interest in all things related to homesteading and sustainability. She resides in Portugal with her husband and menagerie of animals and has over 15 years of experience in the UK veterinary industry. In 2020, Kate and her husband took on a dilapidated Portuguese house and abandoned olive grove, turning it into an abundant food forest and home for nature.
Life on the homestead is never the same from one day to the next, and Kate has mastered many skills that she is keen to pass on to anyone with an interest in becoming more self-sufficient. Kate believes that living a sustainable lifestyle is the key to happiness and fulfillment and that everyone can make simple changes that connect us back to nature and reduce our impact on the planet.
