Planting options for vegetables in August: Exploring leafy greens and colorful roots vegetables
Preparing Your Garden for a Successful Fall Harvest
As August arrives, it's time to consider planting vegetables that thrive in cooler weather for a bountiful fall harvest. Here are some top picks for a successful garden harvest this season.
Root Vegetables
Fast-growing root vegetables such as beets, carrots, and radishes are well-suited for August planting. Beets and radishes, in particular, are quick to mature and do well in cooler temperatures [1][4][5]. Carrots, though they take a bit longer (around 60 days), taste sweeter after cooler temperatures arrive. Varieties like ‘Romeo’ and ‘Scarlet Nantes’ are recommended for fall [1][4].
Leafy Greens
Spinach, kale, and salad leaves are also ideal choices for a fall garden. Spinach grows quickly and loves cooler weather, with varieties such as ‘Amazon’ and ‘Mikado’ resisting bolting and being suitable for late summer sowing [1]. Kale can be sown directly in August and thrives in well-drained soil with sun but tolerates some shade, making it a nutritious fall crop [5].
Spring Onions and Salad Leaves
These quick-growing vegetables are perfect for extending the harvest season into autumn [5].
Additional Tips
If August is still very hot, it helps to keep the soil moist, provide shade when sowing seeds like carrots and spinach, and sow extra seeds to offset lower germination rates due to heat [1][2]. Fast-maturing crops like radishes can be successively planted up to about a month before the first frost for continuous harvest [4]. Starting brassicas and other cool-weather crops in August gives them enough time to establish before colder weather [3].
Shopping and Planting
A packet of turnip seeds can be purchased from Amazon for £3.79. RHS sells mixed beetroot seeds for £2.99. When sowing seeds, remember to do so in shallow trenches, cover them lightly with soil, and water them gently.
For kale seedlings, Sarah Raven's salad-growing gutter trick is a popular method. 'Nero di Toscana' kale seeds can be purchased from Sarah Raven's website for £1.95. Paris Market carrot seeds can be purchased from B&Q for £5.49.
Avoiding Long-Growing Season Vegetables
It is not recommended to plant any vegetables that have a long growing season or are sensitive to frost in August. Turnips, however, are a classic addition to the British roast and should be planted in August for the best chance of successful growth.
Essential Planting Tools
Protective gardening gloves, a hand trowel, and soil fertiliser are essential planting tools that can be purchased. Beets should be sown in containers and spaced around 1 inch apart in rows.
Other Options
Summer squash varieties like courgette, along with pumpkins, can still be planted in August, particularly in warmer regions. Rocket is ideal for growing in pots, providing fresh leaves throughout the autumn months. Good varieties include 'Runway' and 'Apollo'. These heat-loving plants will produce fruit well into the autumn if given enough water and sunshine.
Broccoli and Winter Vegetables
Broccoli can be planted in August for a fall harvest, enhancing its flavor. Starting broccoli indoors and then transplanting into larger pots or plots is recommended, requiring about 18 inches of space. Turnips should be sown directly in your planter, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Kale seeds should be sown directly in rich, well-drained soil, spaced around 30 cm apart. August is also a suitable month to start winter vegetables, ensuring that they are big enough to survive the colder weather later in the year.
Sources
[1] Georgina O'Grady, Garden Expert and Managing Director at Evergreen Direct [2] Jane Dobbs, Lead Gardener at Allan's Gardeners [3] Lucie Bradley, Gardening Expert at Easy Garden Irrigation [4] Victoria Cummins, Gardening Expert and Senior Editor at PlantWhisperer [5] RHS (Royal Horticultural Society)
- To extend the harvest season into autumn, consider growing quick-growing vegetables like spring onions and salad leaves.
- For a bountiful fall harvest, plant root vegetables such as beets, carrots, and radishes, which grow well in cool temperatures during August.
- Enhance your lifestyle and well-being by incorporating gardening into your home-and-garden routine, and enjoy the beauty of a successful fall garden with a variety of leafy greens, such as spinach and kale.
