August presents an ideal opportunity for sowing seeds and planting young plants in the UK. In the vegetable patch, this timing ensures a continuous cropping season, offering quick harvests of salad leaves and radishes, along with long-cropping varieties like winter cabbages. Planting in August allows vegetables that require more time to thrive to benefit from ample sunshine and warm temperatures before the arrival of autumn.
In ornamental borders and cuttings patches, August is a strategic month to plan for the following year. Sowing hardy annuals now results in an early spring bloom of flowers, while biennials sown in August will flourish the next summer.
However, it is essential to consider the water table, which tends to be lower in August. Providing additional water to seedlings and newly planted plants may be necessary. During dry weather or drought, prudent water use in the garden is advised. Remember, that potting benches can help to organise your garden and planting efficiency.
Here are some vegetables and flowers perfect for planting in August:
Vegetables to Plant in August:
- Lettuce: Hardier than they seem, lettuce can be overwintered in greenhouses or beneath cloches, offering fresh leaves from April to June.
- Spinach: Sow in late August for a crop of young leaves in October, followed by a dormancy period over winter, with fresh leaves sprouting in early spring.
- Oriental Leaves: These fast-germinating plants can be sown directly in soil or in modules for later planting. A cloche can help protect them as temperatures drop in autumn.
- Rocket: Sow wild rocket in early August for a pre-winter harvest and a burst of new growth in March. Salad rocket is best sown in late August, providing plentiful leaves throughout winter.
- Corn Salad: A delicious winter leaf crop, sow corn salad in well-prepared soil and provide regular watering, especially when covered or in dry conditions.
- Spring Onions: Sow either directly in rows outdoors or in modules, ensuring a harvestable ‘clump’ in spring.
- Turnips: Sow directly and thin the plants in late August or early September. Fleece or mesh can protect them from pests.
- Chicory: Continue sowing chicory in August for a bountiful harvest over winter. Start the seeds in a seed tray before transferring them to a sunny spot.
- Cabbages: Spring cabbages can be sown outdoors or indoors in modules for later planting, while winter cabbages grown from previous months’ seeds should be planted out now.
- Chard: Sow Swiss chard directly in shallow drills or in pots of moist, peat-free compost for a winter crop.
- Japanese Onions: Sow Japanese onion seeds, such as ‘Senshyu’ and ‘Radar,’ which can withstand winter cold.
- Kohlrabi: Sow kohlrabi as soon as possible in August for a late harvest in October, relishing both the leaves and swollen stems.
Flowers to Plant in August:
- Pot Marigold (Calendula): These colourful and easy-to-grow flowers can be direct-sown in shallow drills on the ground or in pots for spring blooms.
- Cornflowers: Sow cornflowers in August for flowers in May, choosing cultivars like ‘Black Ball’ and ‘Blue Ball.’
- Forget-Me-Nots: A useful ground cover for shade, forget-me-nots can be sown throughout the summer months and into September.
- California Poppies: Despite their exotic appearance, California poppies are hardy annuals and can be direct-sown in well-prepared beds or pots.
- Wild Carrot (Queen Anne’s Lace): Create a magnificent wildlife garden by sowing wild carrots in a sunny, well-drained spot.
By taking advantage of the favourable August conditions, you can ensure a bountiful harvest of vegetables and a vibrant display of flowers for the seasons to come. If you’re making use of a greenhouse then greenhouse staging can help you to get the most from it.
