13 Vegetables to Plant in August

While it may not be possible to keep your summer garden alive, there are even more vegetables to plant in August. Depending on your region or Hardiness Zone, August remains an important month for the local gardener. Your tomato and pepper plants may start to fade during this month, but that means it’s time to make room for a wonderful fall garden! But what can you plant during the month of August successfully, and what should you know about these crops? 

August is a great time to consider planting cool-weather crops that do best during fall temperatures. Some of these crops include carrots, peas, broccoli, and many leafy greens. Kale and spinach prefer cold temperatures, but some lettuce varieties help bridge the gap between August and September. Finally, some crops that take a bit longer to grow, such as beets and turnips, are best started, with some special attention, during this month. 

No matter where you live, August can be a wonderful month in the garden! If you want to try your hand at a fall garden, this month is the perfect time to get started. Here are some crops that work well when planted during this transitional month of the year! Let’s talk about 13 of them now. 

The 13 Best Vegetables to Plant in August

A benefit to planting things during the month of August is that most of these options can be grown from seed rather than from established plants. So long as you plant them in a good location, most of these crops thrive during the warmer temperatures afforded by the end of August and fully mature as temperatures get colder in September. However, be sure to check your local region to ensure success with certain vegetable varieties and types. 

With all of this in mind, let’s discuss 13 of some of the best vegetables to plant in August! 

Beets

Surprisingly delicious and easily grown from seed, beets do well in the warmer soil temperatures afforded them during this month. Keep in mind that beets do not transplant well, so plant this crop from seed and leave it be! The sweetest beets happen when planted in full sunshine, so keep this in mind when mapping out your fall garden. If soil temperatures seem a bit hot when your planting date arrives, you can always moisten and mulch the soil to lower its overall temperature. 

Lettuce (Many Varieties)

Did you know that lettuce grows best during the mild temperatures of early spring and early fall? Sowing lettuce seeds anytime during the month of August tends to lead to success, but check your local Hardiness Zone to ensure this. Hot soil temperatures may slow or prevent healthy growth, so mulch and wet soil in advance before planting. With so many varieties available, it’s easy to find lettuce that is either slow to bolt or cold hardy, depending on what you are dealing with in your region. Plus, lettuce seeds are easily sewn again and again, giving you a continual harvest until winter truly sets in! 

Carrots

Thriving in full sunshine and rich, organic soil, carrots germinate best as temperatures start to cool. You can get your carrots started from seed during the month of August, as these root veggies don’t transplant well. As your carrots begin to sprout, thin seedlings so that each root has enough space to fully grow and mature. You can grow carrots in the ground as well as in raised beds or containers, giving you plenty of options! Just make sure that your soil is free of rocks or other debris, as these can impede the growth of your carrots. 

Spinach

Just like lettuce, spinach does best in slightly cooler temperatures than the average August has to offer. However, with protection, you can start your spinach seeds during this month. Capable of growing in full sunshine or partial shade, spinach is incredibly easy to care for. Give it some compost when you first plant your seeds, and just make sure the hottest parts of the day don’t affect your young plants. Just like lettuce, you can sow more spinach seeds or harvest these leaves again and again until winter takes over. 

Cucumbers

If you live in a particularly warm region, you may still be able to get a small cucumber harvest if you plant this crop right away. Be sure to purchase an already established cucumber plant, likely on sale at your local garden center, rather than attempt to grow these guys from seed. Cucumbers need full sunshine and healthy watering throughout their growing season. Some cucumber varieties mature faster than others, which may be a good route to take this late in the year.

Peas

There’s plenty of time for a pea plant harvest during the fall! Typically thriving in the milder temperatures of early spring, most varieties of pea plants can still make it through fall. Given that the hot temperatures of August can greatly affect your pea plant, be sure to offer this delicate climber some protection from extremely hot days. Otherwise, peas need a trellis and a bit of compost to get started. They can grow extremely quickly and mature in enough time for you to harvest before frosty conditions take over! 

Chard

Another leafy green to consider growing during fall is chard. Swiss chard and other chard varieties thrive in the slightly cooler temperatures offered by September and October. However, you can get your chard seeds going toward the middle end of August. There are plenty of different chard varieties to choose from, some of which may survive the wintertime with proper protection. Depending on what you are hoping for, there’s a chard variety out there for you! Just give this healthy green plenty of sunshine and space your young seedlings appropriately. 

Kale

Kale and chard have extremely similar growing techniques, both of which prefer temperatures as they cool down. It’s surprisingly easy to overwinter a kale plant with proper protection, something that many gardeners choose to do. The cooler the temperatures, the less bitter your kale plant will be, so keep this in mind as you time your seedlings. August still works as a month to plant your kale plants in, as temperatures should cool right when your kale plant begins to mature! 

Kohlrabi

There are a surprising number of kohlrabi varieties, allowing you to choose something that suits your region best. Similarly to many other crops on this list, kohlrabi thrives in colder temperatures and can struggle in the heat of August. However, planting kohlrabi seeds toward the middle to end of the month offer you a great deal of success, depending on your region. Rich, composted soil and full sunshine help kohlrabi plants mature quickly and deliciously. Certain varieties mature within 60 days, but 90 days is more common. 

Rutabaga

Your Hardiness Zone will help you determine whether or not you can grow rutabagas successfully. Similar in flavor to turnips, rutabagas need an average of 3 months to mature, most of which need to be cold. Planting in August is possible for rutabagas in some locations, but a late August planting will be your best bet for success. Many regions will struggle to grow rutabagas in the fall unless winter temperatures remain above freezing. However, these tasty vegetables are always worth the wait, remaining crisp and sweet after cooking! 

Broccoli

Another cool-weather crop that needs a bit of patience has to be broccoli. When planted from seed, broccoli thrives in full sunshine. Sow a number of seeds, but be sure to thin them as the crop ages so that there are plenty of inches between them. When planted during the month of August, broccoli matures toward the end of fall, giving you a decent harvest until your winter temperatures win out! Some gardeners can overwinter broccoli, but this is a difficult and rare task.

Cabbage

Some cabbage varieties can be grown during summertime, but most prefer the cooler temperatures offered by early spring and fall. You can plant cabbage seeds during the month of August with a great deal of success, depending on the variety. Most cabbage plants thrive in full sunshine, though young crops will need protection from the hottest days left during this month. Just like lettuce, cabbage remains a wintertime staple, though it takes almost double the time to mature compared to the average lettuce variety. 

Turnips

Depending on your region, you may be able to get multiple turnip harvests if you plant in the month of August. Thriving in mild temperatures, turnips enjoy full sunshine and loamy soil. Many varieties mature within 60 days, which is why continual sowing of turnip seeds may allow you multiple harvests. Just like carrots and rutabagas, make sure your soil is free of rocks and other obstacles that may impede their roots. Otherwise, let these root vegetables grow and enjoy the thinned seedlings in a salad! 

Summary of 13 Vegetables to Plant in August

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