Harvest delicious homemade vegetables during winter and spring by planting these 7 simple to cultivate vegetables in August
In August, the vegetable garden doesn't have to slow down. With careful planning and the right choices, you can ensure a bountiful harvest well into late fall, winter, and through spring. Here's a guide to the vegetables you should plant this month for continuous fresh produce.
Leafy Greens
August is the perfect time to plant a variety of cold-hardy leafy greens. These include spinach, kale, Swiss chard, arugula, mustard greens, mizuna, and lettuce. Opt for hardy varieties like 'Winter Giant', 'Amazon', or 'Mikado' for spinach, 'Winter Gem' for lettuce, and 'Rainbow Mixture' for Swiss Chard to ensure continuous "cut-and-come-again" harvests through the colder months.
Root Vegetables
Root vegetables like carrots, turnips, radishes, and beets can also be planted in August. Choose early maturing varieties such as ‘Romeo’ or ‘Scarlet Nantes’ for carrots, and plant turnips for harvesting and storing around October. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged, and thin seedlings appropriately to encourage strong growth and reduce disease.
Brassicas
Winter and spring cabbages, cauliflower, and bok choy can be planted in August to establish roots before frost and provide spring harvests. If you want to start growing kale in August, the best tactic is to sow seeds into module trays or individual pots and start them off in a greenhouse, cold frame, or on a bright windowsill.
Spring Onions
Sow spring onions in August for a continuous supply through colder seasons.
Planting Tips
- Sow seeds directly into prepared beds while the soil is still warm but cooling, aiming for the cooler part of August especially for greens sensitive to heat.
- Use fine, well-draining soil for root crops and thin seedlings appropriately to reduce disease and encourage strong growth.
- Protect seedlings from pests using fine mesh or netting and keep the soil moist during dry spells.
With this combination of vegetables and careful sowing timing in August, you can enjoy fresh produce from late fall through winter and into spring. Don't forget to consider fast-growing crops like mizuna, which can be sown directly into the soil in August and harvested as baby greens or mature leaves. Happy gardening!
[1] RHS (2021). Vegetable growing guide: Sowing in August. [online] Available at: https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=434
[2] Garden Organic (2021). Sowing in August. [online] Available at: https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/advice/sowing-in-august
[3] Almanac (2021). What to Plant in August. [online] Available at: https://www.almanac.com/gardening/what-to-plant-in-august
[4] BBC Gardeners' World Magazine (2021). What to sow in August. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.com/gardening/howto/guides/what_to_sow_in_august
[5] The Spruce Eats (2021). What to Plant in August. [online] Available at: https://www.thespruceeats.com/what-to-plant-in-august-3023034
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