August is an easy month to become complacent in the garden, with plentiful daily harvests and the warm summer sun ripening produce like tomatoes and cucumbers faster than we can even begin to consume them.
However, experts advise that it’s important not to lose sight of the changing seasons ahead, and that gardeners should begin planting their vegetables for autumn now, ready for those tasty seasonal pickings down the line.
“August is a fantastic time to start sowing for your autumn garden. The soil is still warm from summer, which gives seeds the best possible start, while cooler nights help establish strong, healthy growth,” says RHS Award-winning horticulturalist, Simon Wilkinson.
“Quick-growing crops like salad leaves, radishes, spinach, and even beetroot can thrive if planted now. Getting started in August means you can enjoy a colourful and productive garden well into the cooler months, with the added bonus of extending your harvest season.”
Kale
Vegetables don’t come much healthier than this delicious leafy green. Kale is a wonderful vegetable to plant in August and can be sown directly into the ground. If you are growing full-sized kale plants, you should aim to plant them around 18-24 inches apart into well-drained soil. A full sun spot is best, but it will tolerate some shade.
Just be sure to shelter your kale from strong winds – particularly when the weather starts to change in September/October – as it does have a tendency to blow over.
Carrots
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Carrots are the perfect vegetables to plant in August, with late varieties such as Autumn King and Flakkee proving especially popular. These varieties are hardy enough to be left in the ground, making them a good choice for those who want to ensure a bumper crop if the ground isn’t frozen.
Carrots are a firm staple in autumn cooking and can be used in soups and stews, or by mashing or serving as a side dish – so do yourself a favour and get growing some now.
Beetroot
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Beetroot is one of the best autumn vegetables to plant right now, thanks to the milder winters that the UK generally experiences. Taking up very little room in your garden, as well as being hardy and versatile, beetroot makes an obvious autumn harvest option.
Beetroot seeds can be sown straight into the ground during August, in 2.5-centimeter-deep drills and spaced roughly 30 centimetres between rows.
Once you’ve harvested your goods in autumn, don’t forget to try this hot smoked salmon, beetroot salad and horseradish crème fraîche recipe.
Spring onions
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Spring onions are another vegetable you can plant in August for an autumn harvest. They also don’t need a lot of space or much soil – so they’re perfect for growing in smaller spaces or a container.
What’s more, did you know that you can even regrow spring onions from scraps?
Plant spring onions in seed trays by multi-sowing a few at a time into each cell, or by sowing directly into the ground. Shallow drills of 1-2 centimetres deep will give plenty of growing room. Chop them and add on top of your favorite baked potato for a tasty topping this autumn.
Radish
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No autumn harvests would be complete without the tasty delights of a crunchy radish. Their fast-growing times make them one of the most reliable vegetables for autumn planting.
It’s generally recommended to sow your seeds individually, spacing them around 1cm and about 2.5cm apart. Also, be sure to do this in rows so that you can keep organised as you harvest and sow more seeds.
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Becky is a freelance journalist based in Somerset, UK, specialising in all things home, gardens, lifestyle, and entertainment. With a love of classic rom-coms and a penchant for romanticising her own everyday life, she enjoys embracing cosy, slow living with her family and their crazy Welsh collie, Cookie. Becky has been published in publications such as Cosmopolitan, The Independent, The Evening Standard, The Telegraph, Collider, Happiful Magazine, OK! And many more.
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