11 Crops To Plant In August

August brings simultaneous harvesting and selective planting. When it comes to crops to start in August, the best ones bridge warm late-summer temperatures and extend into cooler days and nights. So, what’s the Epic Gardening team planting in our late summer gardens? Join gardener Katherine Rowe to learn what Kevin and the expert crew select as August favorites for late-season crops.

Deemed as one of the crops plant in August, a person is placing artichoke saplings in dark brown soil with a metal watering can in the background

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Late summer brings continued harvests and makes room in the garden as summer growers fade. It’s a good time to take inventory and get a jumpstart on the best crops to plant in August, bridging the gap between warm and cool seasons.

Here, we’ll see which crops Kevin and the Epic Gardening team are sowing and transplanting in August. This transitional time is best for crops that stand up to heat and extend into cooler temperatures. Depending on your growing zone, we’ve got selections for cold, moderate, and subtropical regions.

Belstar Broccoli

‘Belstar’ Broccoli Seeds

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Belstar Broccoli Seeds

Shin Kuroda Carrot

Shin Kuroda Carrot Seeds

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Shin Kuroda Carrot Seeds

Easter Egg Blend Radish

Easter Egg Blend Radish Seeds

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Easter Egg Blend Radish Seeds

Get a quick harvest before deep frost, or grow cool-season vegetables all season in mild areas. You can also establish perennials for future harvests. Here are our 11 favorite crops to plant in August.

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Artichoke

Three heads of artichoke appearing healthy with green color surrounded by leaves in a garden among other greens and shrubs
The artichoke has a distinct appearance, making it easy to identify.
botanical-name botanical name Cynara scolymus
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 3-5’

In addition to their deliciousness, artichokes are highly ornamental, with structural leaves and unique flower forms. Perennial in zones 7 and warmer, the silvery green, spiky, frond-like foliage fills out during the cool season.

The artichokes follow, with usually three to five per plant. The artichokes themselves are underdeveloped flowers, and if you have plenty, let some develop into full flowers. The purple tufts are showy and attract pollinators.

In mild climates, plant artichokes in late summer and early fall. Direct sow seeds, start them in seed trays, or purchase them as nursery seedlings. The plants get established over mild winters for spring production. In subsequent years (but not the first year you plant), cut back the plant’s stalks in the late summer or early fall to encourage a dormancy period and allow for new shoots in the spring.

In cool climates, sow them indoors after the last spring frost for transplanting. Grow them through the spring and fall, cutting back the main trunk late in the season. Insulate the stalk and roots with mulch or straw for overwintering.

‘Green Globe Improved’ builds on an 1863 heirloom variety for better production, less spiny tips, and more uniform plants. They’ll mature in five to six months and grow across climates, sown in early spring in cold climates and late summer in warm climates.

Broccoli

Choose heat-tolerant broccoli varieties when planting in August.
botanical-name botanical name Brassica oleracea (Italica Group)
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 24-36”

When planting broccoli in August, it helps to source heat-tolerant selections, as this crop is prone to bolting in high temperatures. Still, seedlings like to get their start in the warm days of summer and take off as temperatures cool.

‘Belstar’ is bred to tolerate heat. A traditional heading broccoli, its florets form six—to eight-inch crowns and side shoots. They mature in about two months. Its tight stems and compact habit improve heat tolerance, but the widely adapted variety also grows well in cold climates.

Chinese broccoli ‘Kailaan’ produces small florets and leafy greens with a rich broccoli flavor. The thin stalks and florets are ready in 60 to 70 days

Sow broccoli seeds in a tray and place them in a partially shaded area to protect them during the August heat. They’ll be ready for transplanting in two to four weeks. Sowing broccoli in late summer produces bigger plants and more yield in the fall. If the lingering summer heat is too high, the seedlings will suffer.

Carrots

A row of carrots buried in soil, with bright orange crops peeking showing above the ground with green scraps and leave scattered
They are easy to grow in any part of your garden.
botanical-name botanical name Daucus carota
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 1-2’

Carrots are easy growers wherever you have space in the garden. They grow in the cool seasons of spring and fall and are heat-tolerant, able to withstand warm-to-cool transitions.

Scatter seeds on the soil surface and lightly spread the soil to ensure contact. Water them in and wait until autumn to harvest.

‘Shin Kuroda’ is a heat-tolerant variety with sturdy roots. The Japanese variety produces orange-red carrots that are five inches long and stout. A high moisture content gives them an exceptionally sweet flavor. ‘Shin Kuroda’ grows well in dense soils and develops in 75 days.

Radish

Rows of healthy Raphanus sativus crops with vibrant green leaves and purple-colored crop peeking through the soil placed in a sunny garden
Plant radishes with other crops, such as carrots.
botanical-name botanical name Raphanus sativus
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 6”-36”

Radishes are quick-growing and pair well among the carrot patch. Scatter both carrot and radish seeds for a complimentary planting. Harvest the speedy radishes before the carrots are ready, thinning the crop and aerating roots simultaneously.

Radishes are crisp, crunchy, colorful root vegetables and prolific growers in cool temperatures. Their compact stature makes them a good choice for containers and raised beds.

‘Easter Egg Blend’ combines red, white, pink, purple, and bi-color radish globes. The colorful roots are ready to pick in as little as 30 days.

‘Cherry Belle’ is a classic bright red radish with white flesh and a crisp flavor. These Holland heirlooms won the All-America Selections award in 1949 for their fast growth, easy care, and flavorful roots.

Salad radishes are a gardener’s and chef’s favorite. Sow them up to several weeks before the average first frost date. Harvest the little belles when the roots are about 1’ in diameter.

Beets

Countless Beta vulgaris crops placed in rows with vibrant green leaves and dark reddish stems, with soil appearing light brown under the sun
Specific beet varieties have unique flavors and taste best when eaten fresh.
botanical-name botanical name Beta vulgaris
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 1-2’

Beets are tasty when they come fresh from the garden. Sow seeds six to eight weeks before your anticipated first frost date in the fall for autumn picking and throughout the winter in mild climates. Most beet varieties take between 45-65 days to reach maturity..

‘Early Wonder’ is a favorite heirloom with early production and flavorful leafy tops – deemed by many gardeners to have the best flavor. ‘Early Wonder’ yields one-and-a-half to two-and-a-half-inch purple-red globes in about 48 days.

Baby beets are exceptional in containers and for fresh eating. ‘Robin yields bunches of small, deep red, two-inch globes and is ideal if you want to harvest early for baby beets; this lovely variety is quick to mature, taking only 45 days.

Turnips

Bright white colored turnips on ground with dark brown soil, having vivid green leaves still attached to them, receiving sun in a garden
Versatile turnips grow well in containers, garden beds, and directly in the ground.
botanical-name botanical name Brassica rapa var. rapa
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 12-15”

If you aren’t growing turnips, give them a try this season! They are easy companions to beets. The centuries-old root vegetable is a hearty stand-in for potatoes, and the vitamin-packed greens are edible, too. Turnips grow well in the ground, containers, and raised beds.

‘White Lady’ turnips are baby salad turnips with sweet, smooth white skins. Pick them early, at 30 days, for two-inch roots. Crunch them fresh or in stir-fries and other dishes. 

‘Purple Top White Globe’ adds interest with purple shoulders above the soil level and creamy white beneath. Roots reach two to six inches, depending on picking time (about 50 days). Use them mashed, roasted, as fries, or for fresh eating.

Bush Beans

A vivid green bush with smooth, round and pointed leaves hiding multiple beans appearing yellow green under the sun
Beans have delicate roots, and they require good air circulation to prevent plant diseases.
botanical-name botanical name Phaseolus vulgaris 
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 2-3’

In mild climates, there’s still time for peas and beans. Bush beans are ideal for spanning hot and frosty conditions and mature in 45-65 days depending on variety.

Bush beans have a delicate root system and are best direct-sown with adequate spacing for air circulation. Harvest the pods regularly so plants keep producing more.

French green beans like ‘Maxibel Filet’ are long and slender in the tender French style. The full-length lean beans are stringless and grow six to eight inches.

Flax

Countless seeds appearing light brown to green hues covering a field of mature flax, receiving ample light under the sun
Plant this unique crop in August because it withstands both hot and cool climates.
botanical-name botanical name Linum grandiflorum
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 1-3’

Flax is a showy blooming plant grown for its seeds, the edible oils that are pressed from the seeds, and its flowers. These easy-care, low-maintenance growers tolerate heat, humidity, and cool weather.

‘Blue and Breezy’ produces edible seeds from sky-blue flowers. This one is perennial in zones 5 through 8.

‘Scarlet’ is a showy annual variety with a profusion of red blooms that attract pollinators. While this variety’s seeds aren’t edible, it’s an easy bloomer between seasons. If you do not deadhead this variety, ‘Scarlet’ self-seeds for recurrent color.

Direct sow flax by scattering seeds on moist soil and gently tamping for soil contact. The seeds need good light exposure to germinate, so don’t worry about covering them. Plant them in late summer for fall color.

Snap Peas

A healthy vine of snap peas with multiple crops still attached, appearing with a velvety texture and vivid green color
Vines of snap peas flourish in small spaces with adequate support.
botanical-name botanical name Pisum sativum
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 2-7’

If you live in a northern region where August marks the start of fall, planting this crop is the perfect way to welcome cool weather. Snap peas thrive in the cool season. The optimal soil germination temperature is 40 to 70°F. Trellised peas add vertical interest on a trellis or arch. With easy access, snap them fresh as you stroll the garden or use them in salads, stir-fries, or steamed. Place seeds directly at the base of a growing structure 10 to 12 weeks before your anticipated first frost. 

‘Sugar Daddy’ is a compact grower at two to three feet high. Ideal for small spaces, it grows well in a container and needs only a small trellis or fence for support. The sweet pods are stringless on short vines with improved disease resistance. Slender, deep green, three-inch pods are ready in about 60 days.

‘Sugar Magnolia’ is another favorite with purple flowers and pea pods. Its tall, vigorous vines grow six to seven feet long and need a large trellis or an A-frame.

Cherry Tomatoes

Ripe red and unripe green tomatoes dangle from leafy vines, contrasting vividly against the vibrant green foliage.
These crops grow well in the areas with warm autumns.
botanical-name botanical name Solanum lycopersicum
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 2-8’

For tropical and subtropical gardeners, the best tomato crop of the year is often planted in August. Cherry and small-sized tomatoes are good picks for late summer. Sow them in trays in a shady spot to provide the least heat stress for seedlings.

When it’s time to harvest, pick the tomatoes early and let them ripen indoors. They’ll be just as tasty and less susceptible to splitting and pest damage than on the vine.

With unique coloration and bite-size appeal, ‘Chocolate Cherry’ is an exciting addition. The sweetly flavored, one-inch round cherries ripen to purplish-red. ‘Chocolate Cherry’ is indeterminate, with long stems up to six feet tall. Thin-skinned and juicy, these tomatoes are among the most flavorful of the cherry types.

‘Sungold’ is an early-maturing variety and a gardener favorite for its bountiful fruits, sunny color, and sweet flavor. The plants resist fusarium wilt and tobacco mosaic virus. Productive vines yield about 120 tomatoes per season.

Fennel

Multiple rows of fennel bulbs buried in vivid brown soil with vibrant green tops turning white near the ground, surrounded by small rocks and debris
Pollinators, including butterflies and other insects, love fennel’s yellow flowers.
botanical-name botanical name Foeniculum vulgare
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 2-6’

Fennel has tall, feathery, anise-flavored foliage and large yellow flower umbels. A favorite of pollinators, it attracts numerous beneficial insects and is a host for swallowtail butterflies. It offers edible flowers, leaves, seeds, and roots. Plant this crop in August in mild climates. It can perennialize in zones 4-9.

‘Finocchio’ fennel has airy foliage and bloom clusters. Its anise-flavored roots reach three to four inches and mature in 90 days. ‘Dragon’ produces large, aromatic bulbs. The crunchy, dense licorice “bulbs” mature in 75 days.

Look for bronze fennel for a beautiful, cold-hardy herb garden addition. It produces the same sweet anise flavor characteristics but with tawny fronds.

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gathered, bright yellow cobs of maize, placed in a brown, woven basket, left in a field.

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An array of various exquisite bearded iris flowers, in vibrant shades of yellow, purple, lavender, blue, and coral.

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Lightly colored Hydrangeas that look spectacular in fall with flowers wearing different shades of pink, purple and yellow while sitting on wide leaves with serrated edges

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One of many fall-blooming flowers plant in August, marigold flowers and buds sitting in a garden with brightly colored petals and leaves with saw-like edges.

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Close up of an orange moth drinking nectar from a pink Milkweed flower.

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