August is an excellent time to start planting vegetables and plants. For some vegetables, planting now gives them some final sunshine before Autumn. If you want to enjoy fresh veg or flower blooms throughout Autumn and Winter, consider planting these vegetables and plants.
Improve your garden with our secret gardening tips and tricks.
Vegetables
Lettuce
Salad vegetables are one of the best to grow in August. The prime salad staple, Lettuce, is one of these you should plant in August. Not only is lettuce quick and easy to grow, but it also comes in many different types.
Consider planting lettuce in August for a nice Autumn harvest. Make sure they are well watered and provided with a bit of shade. Just be careful of Slugs, who also want to nibble on your delicious lettuce crops.
Chard
Another great vegetable to plant in August is Chard. One of the most nutritionally beneficial vegetables, Chard is a leafy green veg that’s easy to grow. Similar to Spinach, Chard comes in nice purple or Autumnal colours. Plant in a sunny spot and keep well-watered for best results.
Radish
For those who like Radishes, this is another vegetable you should consider planting in August. Radishes are an excellent choice for those starting a vegetable garden, as they are easy to grow. You can harvest and eat them in as little as four weeks (depending on the type of Radish). They also take up very little room. Light shade and well-watered are best for a delicious harvest.
Broccoli
Broccoli is a favourite vegetable that is also packed full of nutrients. Another great thing about Broccoli is that they are easy to grow and provide a quick harvest. Plant around 30cm apart and keep well-watered.
Make sure to harvest Broccoli before the heads start flowering. While still edible, they may not be as pleasant to eat. Look out for the Broccoli heads beginning to yellow or swell; this is a sign they are about the flower.
Brussel Sprouts
Compared to other vegetables, Brussel Sprouts take a lot more growing. While not difficult to grow, they take more time before you can harvest. If you want to enjoy homegrown Brussel Sprouts with your Christmas dinner, now is the perfect time to plant this hardy and robust vegetable. Make sure to plant them in a sunny spot with well-drained soil.
Peas
Peas are a popular vegetable to plant in the garden and for a good reason. They are easy to grow and only take up to 16 weeks to harvest. Avoid planting peas too late, though, as the seeds may fail to germinate in the cold weather. Also, make sure the soil is well-drained.
Kale
Kale is another healthy leafy green vegetable that you can grow in August. If you plan on growing Kale, ensure the soil is rich and firm. A lovely sunny spot can also go a long way. Otherwise, the vegetable may struggle to grow. Again, ensure the soil is well-drained.
Carrots
Carrots are another popular vegetable to grow in the UK. Only requiring watering in dry weather, Carrots can take up to 16 weeks and minimal effort before they are ready for harvesting. Also, keep the surrounding soil weed free. Avoid thinning to deter carrot flies.
Spinach
Similar to Chard, Spinach is another great vegetable to plant in August. Also providing many great healthy nutrients, Spinach is an excellent addition to any salad. Growing in moist, well-drained soil with partial shade is recommended for the best result.
Beets
One last vegetable we’ve picked for planting in August is Beets (or Beetroot). Beets are a sweet and colourful vegetable with many health benefits, such as antioxidants and lowering blood pressure. Grow in the milder weather and keep well-watered for best results.
Pick a sunny, well-drained spot with fertile soil. The best time to harvest Beets is when they reach the size of a cricket ball. Otherwise, the roots become too ‘woody’. You can also eat the leaves as well if you fancy them.
Plants
Hydrangea
Hydrangeas are an excellent hardy shrub that makes a great addition to any garden due to their distinctive large flower heads. Hydrangeas require plenty of water, so make sure the soil is moist. You can also prune the shrub back to your preference for a stunning bloom as the shrub grows.
Winter pansies
Winter pansies are another great choice of plant to grow. Planting winter pansies in August ensures a lovely bloom of flowers throughout the cold and bleak winter months. These versatile, hardy plants can be planted anywhere, providing great blue, purple, yellow, and white blooms.
Sedum
Sedum is another plant to consider growing in August for winter blooming. Sedum is a perennial that blooms in late Summer, meaning you can enjoy these flowers until the first frost appears. Sedum’s thick leaves retain water, so you don’t have to water them frequently. It also gives pollinators a source of food in the Autumn months.
Aster
Aster is another choice of plant to grow in August. These flowers bloom in the late summer and come in lovely shades of blue and purple. Asters provide a colourful flower for you to enjoy well into the Autumn. As with Sedums, they also help the pollinators out when nectar becomes scarce.
Lupin
A country garden favourite, Lupin’s are hardy annual plants that provide blooms of pinks, purples, blues, reds, and whites. As these can grow tall, they are best placed in the centre or around the edges of bedding areas so as not to overshadow other flowers.
Dahlia
Dahlia is another plant to grow in August if you want to enjoy bright plant colours well into Autumn. The only problem with Dahlias is that they are a prime target for earwigs. A small pot filled with newspaper can attract and trap these pests.
Planting from bulbs? See our tips and tricks for planting bulbs.
Cornflower
Another country garden staple, Cornflower is also a great plant to grow in August. Sowing these bright purple annual plants in August will give you a lovely bloom the following May. Cornflowers are easy to grow as well.
Chrysanthemums
If you like the stunning yellow and orange colours of Autumn, this next plant is for you. Chrysanthemums provide yellow and orange blooms that will grow each year. While you may not be able to enjoy these plants straight away, planting them now ensures they will grow next year.
Snapdragons
Like Lupin’s, Snapdragons are an annual plant that will continue to provide flower blooms until the first frost appears. Plant some Snapdragons this month to enjoy bright Orange, Yellow, Pink, Purple, and White colours. Bees also love Snapdragons, giving them a good nectar source in Autumn.
Foxgloves
Our last pick of plants to grow in August are Foxgloves. These tall biennial plants produce attractive bell-like flowers. Not only are Foxgloves a valuable nectar source for pollinators, but they also grow very easily in moist, well-drained soil. However, as they are biennial, they only flower in the second year.
You can get busy planting many different vegetables and plants in August. Enjoy a fresh harvest of vegetables by growing them in your garden straight away. You can also enjoy flower blooms well into the Autumn to continue enjoying your garden throughout the year.
