What to Plant in August

As summer winds down and we get closer to August, it’s time to start thinking about your fall garden. Even though August is one of the hottest months of the year for many of us, it’s a great time to start planting some vegetables that will be ready for harvest in the fall. You can plant flowers and fruits, too.

Here’s what to plant in August.

What Vegetables to Plant in August

Not sure what to plant in August for a fall harvest? We have you covered. Let’s look at what veggies to plant in August to get your fall garden started off right.

What To Plant in August Zone 3

• Pole and bush beans
• Cover crops for fall/winter
• Vine or bush cucumbers
• Kale
• Lettuce
• Green peas/sugar peas
• Radishes
• Spinach
• Garlic
• Swiss chard
• Turnips
• Bok choy
• Collards
• Arugula
• Mustard greens

What To Plant in August Zone 4

• Pole and bush beans
• Cover crops for fall/winter
• Vine or bush cucumbers
• Kale
• Lettuce
• Green peas/sugar peas
• Radishes
• Spinach
• Lamb’s tongue
• Beets
• Carrots
• Broccoli
• Turnips
• Corn salad

What To Plant in August Zone 5

• Pole and bush beans
• Cover crops for fall/winter
• Vine or bush cucumbers
• Kale
• Lettuce
• Green peas/sugar peas
• Radishes
• Spinach
• Brussels sprouts
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Carrots
• Squash

What To Plant in August Zone 6

• Pole and bush beans
• Cover crops for fall/winter
• Vine or bush cucumbers
• Kale
• Lettuce
• Green peas/sugar peas
• Radishes
• Spinach
• Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• Cabbage

What To Plant in August Zone 7

• Pole and bush beans
• Cover crops for fall/winter
• Vine or bush cucumbers
• Kale
• Lettuce
• Green peas/sugar peas
• Radishes
• Spinach
• Kohlrabi
• Cabbage
• Turnips
• Mustard greens

What To Plant in August Zone 8

• Pole and bush beans
• Cover crops for fall/winter
• Vine or bush cucumbers
• Kale
• Lettuce
• Radishes
• Spinach
• Summer squash

What To Plant in August Zone 9

• Cover crops for fall/winter
• Vine or bush cucumbers
• Kale
• Radishes
• Winter squash
• Summer squash
• Pumpkins
• Peppers
• Celery
• Tomatoes
• Turnips

What To Plant in August Zone 10

• Cover crops for fall/winter
• Garlic
• Okra
• Eggplant
• Pumpkins
• Watermelon

Seeds to Start Indoors for Fall Planting

August is also a great time to start some seeds indoors for early fall planting, including:

• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Beets
• Cauliflower
• Carrots

What Fruit To Plant In August

Fruit trees can be planted at any time during the growing season. However, many gardeners agree that fruit trees are best planted in late winter or early spring.

Fruit trees and shrubs take time to produce fruit, so don’t expect to start harvesting for at least a few years.

What Flowers To Plant In August

Not sure what flowers to plant in July and August? Here are some great choices that will have your garden bursting with color in the fall.

Marigolds

Marigolds are staples in many gardens for a reason – they’re beautiful and hardy. Plant them in August to enjoy blooms and their bright orange color until the first hard freeze.

Marigold can be planted in containers or garden beds. Add a few to pots on your front porch along with some gourds and other fall plants. Their orange and yellow colors make them the perfect complement to your fall décor.

Black-Eyed Susans

Add some cheer to your garden and plant Black-Eyed Susans this August. Some varieties are annuals, while others are perennials. Check the tag for this info before buying your plants!

You can plant either type in late summer. However, perennial varieties will return year after year with proper care, and they will give you gorgeous color from mid-summer through fall.

Chrysanthemums

August is a great time to plant your mums. Don’t wait too long to plant, or they may not return next year. Get them in the ground early in August for a great chance at them returning next year.

Mums will give you a spectacular show of color throughout the fall.

Snapdragons

Pollinators love snapdragons, and these colorful flowers don’t mind cooler weather. Plant them in August to enjoy bright colors throughout the rest of the season.

Add them to planters or garden beds that need a little refresh.

Dahlias

Dahlias are one of the most beautiful flowering perennials you can add to your garden. August isn’t the time to plant dahlia bulbs, but you can certainly plant potted flowers that are already at the peak of their growth. They will continue to bloom and give you a show well into the fall season.

Cornflowers

With their striking periwinkle color, cornflowers add beauty and charm to any garden bed. August is a great time to sow cornflowers to enjoy blooms next May. These flowers grow well in virtually all zones.

Daffodil Bulbs

If you want to add daffodils to your spring garden, plant their bulbs in August or early fall. Late summer is ideal for cooler zones.

Perennials and Shrubs

August is a great time to plant flowering shrubs and many perennials. They’ll have some time to settle into their new home before fall, which is when they’ll take root.

Here are some great perennials and shrubs to plant this month:

• Daylilies
• Hydrangeas
• Sedums
• Lilies
• Bearded iris
• Peonies
• Ornamental grasses

Just make sure that your new plants are well-watered. August is generally hot and dry, so watering is crucial to keep your plants happy and healthy.

2 Garden Chores for August

August is a busy month in the garden. Along with harvesting, you’ll be busy getting ready for fall and keeping your plants healthy.

Here are some other essential chores to tackle for the month of August.

1. Weeding

No one likes weeding, but if you’ve been putting this chore off, August is a great time to tackle it. Now that the growing season is starting to wind down, weeds will start producing tons of seeds. If left unchecked, they’ll grow out of control next season, making your life even harder.

Wait until after a good rainstorm to weed. The soil will be moist, making it easier to pull the weeds out of the ground. Make sure that you remove the root, or they’ll just regenerate. Once you remove the weeds, lay down a layer of mulch, compost, straw or leaves to keep growth in check.

2. Get Harvesting and Watch for Pests/Disease

Make sure that you’re harvesting your fruits and vegetables regularly this month to keep your plants producing.

Keep an eye out for pests, like:

• Tomato fruitworms and hornworms
• Thrips
• Snails
• Scale
• Spider mites
• Slugs
• Chinch bugs

Watch out for bigger pests, too, like rabbits and groundhogs. These cuties can wreak havoc on your garden, so keep an eye out for them.

The hot and humid month of August also creates just the right conditions for disease, so be watchful for signs of disease. Remove diseased foliage ASAP to keep it from spreading in the garden.

Don’t put diseased plant parts in your compost pile, as they will continue to spread and make their way into the soil when you use it later on. Also, be sure to disinfect your garden tools when cutting diseased plants. Disinfecting them will help prevent spreading.

August is a busy time of the month in the garden, but you can still get some planting in. Use this helpful guide to know what to plant this month for a happy harvest in the fall.