August is the time to start thinking about what will grow quickly in the garden. With possibly only a few weeks left of the summer weather, you want crops that will grow quickly, so you can harvest them before the frost of late autumn and winter come. So here are my suggestions of what to plant in August.
What To Plant in August
Leafy Greens
If you are looking at what seeds to sow in August, you should think about leady greens such as winter gem lettuces, spinach or kale. I’m a big fan of the winter gem lettuce and have had these growing all over the winter. It’s so nice when you want a lovely salad to be able to pop out the door in any weather and snip off a few leaves, knowing that you can toss together a fresh salad in just a few minutes.
Leafy greens will grow quickly and if you space out sowing your seeds, you’ll be able to enjoy these all throughout autumn, winter and into spring next year.
Carrots
If you are thinking about what vegetables to plant in august, you could think about quick-cropping carrots. They are ideal for sowing right now and if you choose a quick-growing finger-sized variety, you could have fresh, home-grown carrots in as little as 6 weeks. They are easy to grow into bed or even pots if you are still a little short on space. Simply just spread the seed over the surface and then cover with a thin layer of compost. They’ll be springing up in next to no time.
Beetroot
Another fast-cropping vegetable is beetroot, so this can be planted in August also. You may well have been growing beetroot all throughout the spring and summer, but if you haven’t, it’s an ideal choice when thinking about what to plant in August. August really is the last month for planting beetroot though. Once planted, beetroot will be read in about 7 – 8 weeks from sowing. Your beetroot is ready when they are about the size of a golf ball.
Cornflowers
It’s a good idea to think about next year when you are considering what flowers to plant in August. Cornflowers are one of my favourite flowers. They look delightful year after year and the colour is so amazing. You can sow your cornflowers in August and September and they will flower again next May onwards.
Calendulas
Calendulas are another top tip when thinking about what flowers to plant in August. They will also flower next spring, but can be sown directly into the ground now. They are a bright, cheery plant that should flower all over the spring and into summer. Some varieties may also die back a little over the summer and then flower again in the winter.
Echinacea
The bumblebees and butterflies will thank you for choosing to sow Echinacea seeds now. By sowing these gorgreous and easy-to-grow flowers in August, you should find that they will start to bloom from June onwards the following year. Echinacea are well-worth the wait. The distinctive flower really stands out in a well-loved garden.
Forget Me Nots
August is a good time to look at your flower beds and spot any gaps that you might want to fill next year. As everything you’ve planted this year should be in full bloom over August, you might want to think about what else you’d like to see in the garden next year. If you’ve got some gaps that you’d like to fill, Forget Me Nots are a great option to sow in August. It will happily self-seed year on year, filling the empty space in your flower beds for years to come.
There are plenty of options when thinking about what to plant in August. You can choose to plan ahead for next summer’s flowers or enjoy the last of the summer and go for some quick cropping vegetables, whatever you decide, I hope you enjoy sowing seeds in August.
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