Woman kneels down in her garden bed with basket of garden vegetables. – Photo courtesy of Kampus Production from Pexels
August is one of my favorite months of the year; the dreamy late-summer vibes! The promise of fall on the horizon!
It’s also quietly one of the best gardening months, offering that sweet spot between harvesting the last of your summer crops, while also getting your garden bed ready for fall harvests (think cooler temperatures, less summertime pests!).
“August is all about helping your garden transition from surviving the summer heat to thriving in the fall,” says Scarlett Williams, creator of White Pecan Farmhouse and author of the Amazon best-selling book, “Backyard Chickens: Simple Steps to Raise Chickens, Collect Fresh Eggs, & Create a Slower, More Beautiful Life at Home.”
“The biggest mistake I see beginners make is assuming gardening ends when summer does, when in reality some of the easiest crops grow during the cooler months.”
At-home gardening is especially popular right now. Amid the cyclospora outbreak, more people are swapping out their store-bought produce in favor of home-grown fruits and veggies, with leafy greens like lettuce, kale, and spinach finally coming into their peak seasons. And if done correctly, into your own backyard, too!
With this in mind, I asked several gardening experts for advice on what to plant in August — for a more bountiful yield come fall — plus the gardening products and tips they rely on year-round to nurture their blooms.
The ultimate August planting guide: Vegetables, herbs, and greens to sow now
What’s in season?
🥬 Leafy greens
Lettuce
Swiss Chard
Arugula
Spinach
🥕 Root vegetables
🧄 Herbs
Dill
Parsley
Cilantro
Chives
🥦 Brassicas
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Kale
Cauliflower
Gardening essentials for every home
Before you get started on your August garden, make sure you have these expert-recommended gardening tools and supplies handy:
Stock up on gardening tools for every season at The Home Depot. – Photo courtesy of The Home Depot
Misopily 10-Piece Garden Tool Set
If you’re in need of all new gardening essentials, opt for this 10-piece set that includes everything from trowels and pointed weeders to protective gardening gloves.
Keep your veggie garden nourished with this organic fertilizer. – Photo courtesy of The Home Depot
Garden Tone Organic Herb and Vegetable Plant Food Fertilizer
Nourish your vegetable garden with the help of this organic fertilizer that’s long-lasting and works best with veggies and herbs like lettuce, squash, and tomatoes.
Shoppers love this retractable gardening hose for easier garden watering. – Photo courtesy of The Home Depot
Svopes Retractable Hose Reel
This space-saving garden hose alternative is a best-seller at The Home Depot, beloved by shoppers (and gardeners!) for its retractable design, handy wall mount, and broad application scope.
Tips for a thriving August garden
When it comes to gardening in August, the most patient planters yield the best results. Experts say the month isn’t about expecting a quick return for an immediate harvest, but rather about preparing your garden bed for the upcoming season transition.
“For many gardeners, August is when planning for a fall garden begins,” says Courtney Mims, a North Carolina-based gardener and digital content creator behind the SouthernToATea Substack, who loves helping home gardeners realize their growing potential.
“Some of the vegetables I recommend for a fall garden harvest include broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, collard greens, bok choy, lettuce, spinach, arugula, carrots, beets, radishes, turnips, garlic, onions, sugar snap peas, and a variety of herbs. Many of these crops can be harvested throughout the fall and in many climates, into winter,” Mims explains.
Regardless of your climate or garden region, there are a couple steps you can take to ensure you veggie garden thrives through August and well into the fall months, too.
1. Location, location, location
“Choose a location that gets at least 6-8 hours of sunlight each day and refresh garden beds with compost or organic matter after removing spent summer crops,” says Mims.
2. Know your first frost date
Mims also advises gardeners to keep newly planted seeds “consistently moist until they germinate,” and time your planting with your region’s first frost date in mind.
“One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is waiting too long to plant, letting seeds dry out during germination, forgetting to refresh garden beds with compost, skipping thinning for root crops, and waiting too long to purchase transplants,” explains Mims.
Pro tip: Mims notes that for beginner gardeners who might feel overwhelmed by the process, try starting with just a few reliable favorite like Dinosaur kale, broccolini, Napa cabbage, or carrots.
Man washing produce in sink with hands. – Photo courtesy of Photo courtesy of Getty
Is at-home gardening a hack to combat cyclospora?
When you’re working with fresh produce of any sort, it’s always best to exercise some level of caution, be it home-grown or store-bought produce — and clean your fruits and veggies thoroughly.
“While home gardening isn’t a guarantee against foodborne illness, it does offer something many of us are longing for: a closer relationship with the food that nourishes our families. It encourages us to eat more fresh vegetables, spend more time outdoors, and become just a little more self-sufficient,” says Williams.
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