🥕 What to Grow in August: Fresh Starts and Fast Rewards
August might feel like the tail end of summer, but there’s still plenty you can sow and grow — especially if you’re looking for quick crops or prepping for autumn and winter harvests. Whether you’re filling gaps in your allotment or squeezing in a late-start container garden, here’s what to plant this month.
🥬 1. Leafy Greens for Quick Returns
Many leafy crops thrive in the cooler days of late summer and early autumn.
- Lettuce (especially cut-and-come-again varieties like ‘Salad Bowl’ or ‘Lollo Rosso’)
- Rocket
- Mizuna and Mustard Greens
- Spinach (choose bolt-resistant varieties)
⛏️ Affiliate tip: Use shallow seed trays or troughs with drainage to sow salad successions.
🧄 2. Spring Onions & Radishes
These are perfect gap-fillers — quick to grow and ideal for containers or narrow borders.
- Spring onions can be sown now for autumn use.
- Radishes mature in 3–5 weeks — ideal for instant gardening gratification!
🥄 Try this: Radish tops make a great peppery pesto. Waste not!
🫘 3. French Beans (Dwarf Varieties)
If your summer has been cool or your last beans failed, it’s not too late to sow dwarf French beans directly. They’ll crop in as little as 8 weeks if the weather stays kind.
🌱 Top pick: ‘Safari’ and ‘Purple Teepee’ for quick crops and pretty pods.
🧅 4. Turnips, Kohlrabi, and Beetroot
These root crops are quick-growing and hardy. Sow now for harvesting before the first hard frost.
- Turnips: Sow ‘Tokyo Cross’ for baby turnips.
- Kohlrabi: Mild, crunchy, and quick to mature.
- Beetroot: Choose small varieties like ‘Boltardy’ or ‘Chioggia’.
🧂 Kitchen tip: Roast in batches and toss with balsamic vinegar for an earthy side dish.
🌿 5. Herbs for Autumn and Indoors
Some herbs grow fast enough for you to enjoy before first frost — and others can be brought inside.
- Coriander and parsley: Sow in cooler shade for tender leaves.
- Chervil and dill: Perfect for soups and light broths.
- Chives and thyme: Pot up in early September and overwinter on a windowsill.
🪴 Affiliate tip: Invest in a sunny indoor herb planter with drainage. [Link: windowsill herb kits]
🌼 Bonus: Green Manure
Not a crop for eating, but sowing green manure like phacelia or field beans can rejuvenate tired soil over autumn.
🌾 Did you know? Green manures prevent erosion, add nitrogen, and suppress weeds.
🧑🌾 Final Tips
- Keep young seedlings well watered — August can be hot and dry.
- Protect tender crops from slugs with copper rings or wool pellets.
- Use fleece or mesh over brassicas to deter cabbage white butterflies.
📌 Quick-Reference Chart
| Crop Type | Example Varieties | Time to Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| Leafy Greens | Lollo Rosso, Rocket | 4–6 weeks |
| Roots | Turnip, Beetroot | 6–8 weeks |
| Legumes | Dwarf French Beans | 8–10 weeks |
| Herbs | Parsley, Chervil | 4–6 weeks |
| Green Manure | Phacelia, Field Beans | Not harvested |
