In our area , August is usually the month with the best atmospheric condition which is why many multitude take their holidays this month .
It ’s not too hot and not too cold , with not too much rain but not dry out either . vocalise pretty perfect for planting in the garden , does n’t it ?
In many place around the earthly concern , August is a great clock time to sow new seeds in the garden and regenerate the beds with new transplants .
You might remember the remnant of summer is too late to constitute anything new , but there are a numeral of cool - weather craw and flowers that can be plant in August which can either be harvested before the freeze comes , or impart in the garden under the snow for clean veg in the wintertime .
As the summer crops being to wilt and fade , here are some vegetable and bloom to attempt planting in August . First , permit ’s look at some things to consider when starting seeds and transplant in August .
Successful August Planting / How To Plant Successfully In August
Planting in August submit its own exercise set of challenges that you do n’t commonly face with a spring planting . However , any obstacles you might encounter can be easily overcome by applying these lesson :
Choose Between Direct Sowing And Transplants
Direct sown seeds have the reward that they are already where they call for to go and do n’t suffer from transplant shock and we can let nature wield them as needed .
However , with gloaming being so imminent , August is a enceinte time to rig out transplants that were started weeks ago and are now ready to spread their roots .
transplant in August gives your plants the jump start they need to produce before the acquire season ends .
Some of the plants suggested below will function better as transplants but many can be successfully started from seeds .
Maximize Space With Succession Planting
Instead of set in a new garden plot , see succession planting . taking over planting is simply maturate one crop once another has end acquire .
After you have harvest greens , carrot , or other early veggie , plant your novel crop in the same spot .
This will not only increase your proceeds in a given area , but will also help forestall erosion of the unembellished soil left from the first crop .
Alternatively , you may entomb sow new seeds of little vegetables , such as spinach , in between larger plants like pole beans .
When planning a succession planting system , verify you rotate your crops and do n’t plant vegetable keep abreast another veggie from the same family or you will encourage disease and dirt ball plague .
For example , if youharvested carrot , do n’t stick to this with turnips or root - athirst disease and hemipteron will stick around for the second course of action . hear planting greens or another unrelated vegetable .
ecological succession planting is n’t just for veg . As August roll around , many blooms in your blossom bed will have lead off to wither . Transplanting out young flora will lighten up up your garden into the spill .
The Devil’s In The Details
contrive before and make certain you have enough viable germ before August rolls around . It is extremely thwarting to get all gung - ho to plant and then realizing you do n’t have enough seed left .
The potpourri you set in the spring might not be the honest ejaculate to found in the late summer since belated summertime veg and peak need to address the hot day temperatures but be dusty hardy for the cooler Night and likely frost , so check that you are well stocked with August - well-disposed varieties .
If you do have to order new seeds , ensure you tell early , because if you have a favorite variety , chances are it ’s a lot of other people ’s favorite variety show , too . Many seed companies trade out of seeds in the spring , so ensure your plan ahead and ordinate early .
Add Compost
Prior to your August planting , incorporate a good amount of compost into your garden bottom . This will not only increase fertility for the new seeds or transplants but will also enhance your soil texture and better water retention and aeration , both of which are important in spicy and teetotal weather that .
Transplant When It Is Cool
New transplants coif out in the head of the day can be hit hard by the blazing sun . To alleviate this job , put out transplants late in the afternoon or the evening .
Alternatively , organ transplant into your garden on a cloudy Clarence Shepard Day Jr. or even when it is lightly raining .
Rest In The Shade
If the sun is particularly blazing and aggressive , providing shade for ticklish plants can help them make it through the heat spell .
you’re able to use float course covers , shade cloth , or a mini ring burrow to harbor the blaze sun . For little garden beds , putting up an umbrella works well .
horticulture is hard piece of work , so do n’t draw a blank to take your own break and take a breather in the shade .
Water Consistently
lachrymation in August is very important for transplants , germinating germ , and seedling alike . germ sprouting will be poor if the soil becomes wry ,
not only from the heat but also because there is no moisture stored in the basis from the winter as is the event in the spring . Seedlings and transplants also require adequate wet to ground their root .
Consider a drip irrigation system such as a dewy-eyed dripping garden hose , rather than overhead watering .
Watering your garden with a sprinkler or spray nozzle can cauterise the leaves of your plant and more of it will be lost due to evaporation in the summer warmth .
Mulch
Organic mulch , such as straw , paper , cardboard , or shredded leaves place around your plant in August will retain mint of wet that would otherwise be lose to evaporation .
Mulching can also isolate the soil and can keep it from stimulate too red-hot which is a asset for sure coolheaded loving plants .
Weed Well
Weeding is important all year long to keep weeds from strangle out your plant , but this chore carries significant significance in August because this is when mourning band ordinarily bloom and go to seed so any dope you reject now means fewer grass to portion out with in the saltation .
Divide Perennials
If you want to enlarge your flower garden there are many perennial flower that can be successfully split very easily , and August is the safe month to do this .
Some efflorescence to divide in August arehostas , lily , daylily , and whiskery sword lily . Rhubarb plants can also be divided in the same way
To divide your perennial , poke up the integral plant without damage the root , and then cut the root word clump into small pieces with your shovel or a acute tongue for capital truth . Replant all of the pieces as desire .
10 Hardy Vegetables To Plant In August For Fall And Winter Harvest
It is exciting to see new seedlings emerge as the summertime commence to wind down . It is a pleasant reminder that cold atmospheric condition has n’t taken hold yet , and it is a treat to delight invigorated vegetables as the time of year is coming to a close .
Here are some of the best vegetables to plant in August . All of these veg will not grow in every area but this will hopefully give you some idea of what you may plant to extend your harvest time as long as possible .
1:Spinach
Spinach seed germinate well when the territory temperature is between 5 ° C and 20 ° C ( 45 - 70 ° F ) , making it a very nerveless - time of year plant .
Direct sow spinach seeds in August and the seeds will start to sprout as the temperature start to cool off .
Even if August stay hot , the seeds will patiently wait in the land until the grunge cool off enough , and this frost tolerant green will keep grow after fall arrives .
If an early snowstorm is a concern , baby spinach can often be harvested in under 40 days from germination .
2:Scallions
gullible onion postulate temperature between 21 ° C to 25 ° C ( 70 - 75 ° F ) to germinate , so they are another perfect veggie to steer sow in August .
They are also quite frost tolerant if they have reached a sufficient size , and many gardener say they can survive down to -10 ° C ( -33 ° F ) with good achiever .
Sow the seeds shallowly and keep the watered and you should get a good sprouting pace .
Many varieties can be overwintered count on where you live and August is a great time to plant these so they are ready for the spring .
3:Mustard Greens
Mustard greens are very various leafy greens that are well to maneuver sow in August . In fact , they can be planted every two weeks throughout the month and into September so you will have fresh greens into the fall and early winter .
Many of them can be glean in 20 days as babe greens or they will be full - sized in 40 to 50 mean solar day .
There are many unlike variety uncommitted , so shop around to detect one that matches your produce plant and your gustation buds .
4:Turnips
Turnips are another fast ontogeny , cool season veggiethat does well manoeuver sow in in August . Some varieties , such as the Hakurei , are quick in 35 solar day , and do n’t forget that the leaves are eatable , too !
Sow the seeds 5 mm to 1 cm ( ¼-½ inch ) . Once the seedling come out , thin them to about 15 cm to 20 cm ( 6 - 8 column inch ) reckon on the size you design on harvesting them . Keep them well watered as they are grow for the best growth and feel .
Turnips are quite frost hardy , so consider turn some of the dense mature varieties as well .
5:Lettuce
summertime is the meter for salads make lettuce a raw material all time of year long . While lettuce has poor germination and bolts easily in the heat of summer , the cool August atmospheric condition is ideal for germinating and growing dinero .
Sow the lettuce sow quite shallowly and keep them evenly watered . Baby commons can be down closely together , but thin the plants to about 20 cm to 30 cm ( 8 - 12 inch ) depend on how freehanded you want your head to grow .
If you require to really lead your harvest , try cold insubordinate varieties such as Winter Density or Rouge d’Hiver , both of which develop well and have good savour .
6:Kale
Kale is well known for growing under a cover of snow but they are also lush when glean as baby leaves making it ideal for an August planting .
They are middling drought tolerant if the weather condition turns spicy and juiceless , but the quality and tone can meet so water as require .
So the source about 5 mm ( ¼ inch ) deep , and thin as needed . picking leaves as needed and leave the industrial plant in the garden and it will continue to grow more .
Some good motley to try are the very pop Lacinato because of its telling insensate resistance , and Red Russian which is also cold audacious and excellent as sister Green .
7:Radishes
We lovegrowing radishesin our garden . They are loyal and easy to mature , well eating , the flowers are great for pollinator and the eatable pods are easily dry to save seeds .
Raphanus sativus longipinnatus are usually a spring crop since they bolt easily in the heat , but they also germinate and farm very well when direct sown in August .
Radishes can grow quite close together with about 2.5 cm to 5 cm ( 1 - 2 inches ) between them so do n’t worry too much about thinning them .
Keep them well irrigate and the moisture will give them a good flavour and texture ( but be careful not to over water ) .
Most diversity are quick in 25 to 30 Clarence Shepard Day Jr. for a fast harvest time so you could probably implant them again at the end of the month or into September .
8:Cucumbers
In many areas , August is a keen time to transplant cucumbers sincemany varietiesonly take 40 to 50 days to bear after they are put into the garden .
cucumber demand fondness to develop so maybe pass on this garden delicacy if your former summertime temperatures start to cool down off too ahead of time .
come out your cucumbers indoors in July and they should be in good form to transplant in August . Sow one seed in each hatful about 2.5 cm ( 1 column inch ) deep , and transpose them so they have sufficient space to grow .
9:Garlic
Now is the prison term to get in your garlic sets for next year . Separate your garlic into clove . Make indisputable not to bark them though you’re able to dispatch loose , dry husks .
Plant each Allium sativum clove 2 cm to 5 cm ( 1 - 2 inches ) cryptic or abstruse if you live in a clime with lot of frosts and snow .
Space each stick about 10 cm to 15 centimeter ( 4 - 6 inches ) aside . Our refreshful garlic will be ready to harvest the undermentioned July .
10:Broccoli, Cauliflower, and Cabbage
If you hold up in a mood with mild winters , August is the best calendar month to graft your broccoli , cauliflower , and cabbages in your garden . Start these imbed indoors in former June or other July to transplant in August .
All of these will go along to regrow once you have glean them if your season is long enough , and some varieties can winter very will in modest climates .
7 Flowers To Plant In August
It is also overnice to put out new transplant to regenerate some beds that may have started to dwindle down or halt produce altogether .
Here are 6 hardy annuals or biennial flowers you may constitute in August to get late summer colour in the garden .
1:Sweet Allysum
odoriferous genus Alyssum not only have a situation amongst your flush , but they also make an excellent cover craw for your vegetable garden .
They are a disperse flower with pocket-sized clusters of white flowers . If you implant sweet genus Alyssum early in the twelvemonth , it will bloom in the bound , decline over summer , and then fall back for a second efflorescence in August and into the fall .
you’re able to also direct inseminate sweet alyssum seeds in August and they will have their first bloom in the decline if your time of year is long enough . Sow the seeds lightly on the surface of the soil and they should sprout in one to two weeks .
This dense plant will gag out weeks and can be till under as a green manure after it has finished flower .
2:Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemums are a expectant peak to transfer into your garden in August and they will flower in September . Depending on the length of your season , they will blossom until they are kill by freeze .
When select a chrysanthemum from the garden centre , choose one that is younger that has not bloomed to melt off graft shock ,
and set out your transplants 25 cm to 45 centimetre ( 8 to 18 inches ) apart . They come in many different shapes and colours to contribute lots of kind to your flower garden .
Sow the seeds at once on top of the dirt in a patch that receives verbatim sunshine . Keep them evenly watered and they should germinate in about 2 week . momma are usually grown as annual but they are hardy to Zone 3 .
3:Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums are hardy to Zone 2 so they are suit for many gardens . There are many assortment available and can be trailing , vining , or bush salmagundi .
Depending on where you live , they can bloom from leaping until September . genus Nasturtium do not like the heat energy , so head off verbatim sunlight or provide aegis for the roots with rocks .
Sow the seeds 1 centimetre ( ¼-½ in ) deep . The idealistic sprouting ground temperature is 12 ° C to 18 ° deoxycytidine monophosphate ( 55 - 65 ° F ) so avoid planting during a hot spell .
Nasutrtium seeds might take more than 2 week when sow in in the garden so be patient and keep the soil slightly moist and grass - spare .
4:Cornflowers
Cornflowers are one of our favorite flowers to rise , and they do very well in our Zone 2b climate . If you seed the seeds in August , they will have a good start in the leaping and will have beautiful prime next twelvemonth . They come in many dissimilar multifariousness , but all benefit from deadheading to extend the bloom .
bachelor’s button can be part of a miniskirt - ecosystem in your backyard . Some varieties of bachelor’s button are bully attractants of ants which in turn pull in a magnanimous figure of woodpeckers and other worm - eat birds .
Cornflowers are excellent self - seeder or you’re able to amass the seeds to encourage growth where desired .
5:Larkspur
Larkspurs are another blossom that will ego - seeded player in August , and the many different coloured variety will lend looker to your garden . They are tall , upright stems that create a nice border or backdrop to your flower seam .
Lakspurs are a delphinium that are easygoing to grow in almost every garden type . It can be beneficial to vernalize the seeds by placing them in the electric refrigerator for 2 weeks prior to sowing in the garden .
Just barley enshroud the seeds with soil and cultivate carefully as the seeds can take nearly a calendar month to sprout . The seeds like it cool so do n’t institute durning a heatwave .
They get their name from a little goading - similar petal on the back of each bloom .
6:Foxgloves
foxglove are a biennial that can be sown in August so they have prison term to establish themselves before winter . This will give them a leap start in the leap allow them to flower in the summertime to ego seed before pass away off .
This deer resistant plant life is perfect for unmediated sowing in the later summertime so they can get established before winter come , and they are intrepid in zones 4 to 10 .
Sow foxglove seeds on the soil aerofoil and be paitient as they can take 2 to 3 week to germinate . Water them regularly throughout their whole lives for solid , uniform growth .
Be careful where you plant them since they can originate very tall and bloke light to other plants .
Foxgloves are very toxic so be careful where you plant them if you have children or dearie .
August, IsBest MonthTo Plant Trees And Shrubs
August is a really full time to transplant fruit tree diagram , decorative trees , or shrubs . Because it is recent in the year and the atmospheric condition is starting to cool down , they will not require as much lacrimation as if you had planted them in the spring , but they will still have metre to put down radical and get established before winter set in . Then the plants will have a caput begin add up natural spring .
One disadvantage to planting trees and shrubs in August is that there might be limited supply available at the garden centre , so check that your pre - parliamentary law if you are set on any particular varieties .
As summer is coming to an remnant , we should n’t suppose our garden is terminate with it . Even in northerly mood where August feels more like winter than summer , we can still squeeze in a small harvest of insensate - hardy green or maybe one more blossom for the yr . If you are lucky to garden in a temperate climate , August can present you with illimitable possibilities .
Whether it is part of your successiveness planting or you are opening a raw bed , August can be a month of young growth and the start of a bighearted harvest .
Written By
Amber Noyes was born and raised in a suburban California townsfolk , San Mateo . She bear a master ’s degree in horticulture from the University of California as well as a BS in Biology from the University of San Francisco . With experience working on an organic farm , weewee conservation enquiry , Fannie Merritt Farmer ’ market , and plant glasshouse , she realise what makes plants thrive and how we can better interpret the connection between microclimate and plant health . When she ’s not on the land , Amber loves informing people of new ideas / things related to gardening , specially constitutional gardening , houseplant , and growing industrial plant in a little space .
