August might feel like summer is winding down, but there’s still plenty to do in the vegetable garden. If you want to keep your plot productive into autumn and beyond, now’s the time to act. Choosing the right Vegetable Seeds to Sow in August helps you extend the season and enjoy fresh harvests for longer.
Quick-maturing crops like radishes, spinach, and salad leaves are ideal. You can also start winter-hardy vegetables that thrive in cooler conditions. Use any gaps left behind by earlier harvests, and keep watering and feeding to support healthy growth.
August temperatures often range from 13°C to 21°C (55°F to 70°F), which provides ideal conditions for germination. With the right choices, you’ll enjoy a colourful, productive garden right through winter. Whether you’re a seasoned grower or just starting out, sowing in August keeps your garden thriving well into the colder months.
Cabbage Spring
August is the perfect time to sow spring cabbage, setting you up for a fresh start to the gardening year. Choose a sunny location with well-drained, fertile soil. Sow seeds thinly in rows, allowing about 30 cm between plants once they’re thinned out. Regular watering helps them establish and flourish through late summer into autumn. These robust greens will mature over winter, ready to deliver crisp, nutritious leaves in early spring. Use them in salads, coleslaws, or lightly steamed for vibrant, healthy meals from your garden.
Cabbage Chinese
Sowing Chinese cabbage in August ensures a productive autumn harvest. This quick-growing vegetable thrives in full sun and fertile, well-drained soil. Sow seeds thinly in rows, spacing plants about 20 cm apart. Consistent watering supports lush growth and helps prevent bolting. Chinese cabbage offers versatility in the kitchen, perfect for salads, stir-fries, or pickling. By planting now, you’ll enjoy a steady supply of these crisp, tender leaves as the season turns cooler, adding variety to your culinary repertoire.
Chicory
Sow chicory in August to enjoy a robust, slightly bitter harvest in late autumn and winter. This hardy vegetable prefers sunny locations with well-drained soil. Sow seeds thinly in rows, allowing about 30 cm between plants. Keep the soil moist with regular watering. Chicory’s unique flavour enriches salads or sautés as the cooler months approach. Its striking red or green leaves enhance not only your meals but also the aesthetic of your winter garden, offering a reliable and nutritious supply when other crops might be scarce.
Corn Salad
For a winter harvest, August is an excellent month to sow corn salad, or lamb’s lettuce. You can select a partially shaded spot with moist, well-drained soil. Sow seeds 1 cm deep in rows spaced 10 cm apart, ensuring they receive sufficient moisture through regular watering. Corn salad is incredibly hardy and withstands frosts, making it a dependable winter green. Its mild, nutty flavour works well in salads or as a garnish, adding a fresh, nutritious touch to meals when other fresh produce is limited.
Lettuce – Winter
Plant winter lettuce in August to secure fresh leafy greens through the colder months. Choose a sheltered, sunny spot with well-drained soil and sow seeds thinly in rows about 20 cm apart. Regular watering keeps the soil moist, helping the seeds germinate and grow rapidly. Winter lettuce is hardy and can withstand light frost, preparing fresh, crunchy leaves for your salads and sandwiches. By planting now, you ensure a vibrant supply of greenery despite the winter chill.
Onion – Autumn
Sowing autumn onions in August sets the stage for a fruitful harvest in early summer next year. You can choose a sunny site with well-drained soil. Plant sets or seeds about 10 cm apart in rows, keeping them well-watered during dry spells. Onions grow steadily through the cooler months, developing robust flavour and size with little maintenance. They are a kitchen staple, used in countless recipes, from soups to roasts. By starting them now, you’ll enjoy a reliable, versatile crop that underpins your culinary endeavours.
Pak Choi
August is an ideal time to sow pak choi for an autumn crop. Select a partially shaded spot with fertile, well-drained soil, and sow seeds thinly, spacing plants about 20 cm apart. Ensure regular watering to keep the soil moist, which supports rapid growth. Pak choi matures quickly and can be harvested in as little as six weeks. Whether used in salads, stir-fries, or soups, its crisp texture and mild flavour make it a versatile addition to your meals until winter.
Radicchio
Plant radicchio in August to develop vibrant and flavourful heads for autumn harvests. Radicchio prefers sunny locations with well-drained soil. Sow seeds thinly in rows, with about 30 cm between plants, and water consistently to support even growth. Its slightly bitter taste adds an interesting contrast to salads and cooked dishes alike. Colourful and robust, radicchio brings visual appeal and culinary diversity to your garden, offering flavour and nutrition as cooler weather arrives.
Radish
August is a great month to sow radishes for a quick, late-season harvest. Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil and sow seeds thinly in rows about 10 cm apart. Water frequently to maintain moist soil, which ensures rapid growth. Radishes mature in a few weeks, offering crisp, peppery roots perfect for salads or as a crunchy snack. Repeated sowings every couple of weeks can extend your harvest into the cooler months, providing a continuous supply of this nutritious vegetable.
Turnip
Sow turnip seeds in August for a crop that will mature by early winter. Select a sunny site with rich, well-drained soil. Sow seeds thinly, with rows spaced about 30 cm apart, keeping the soil moist with regular watering. Turnips grow quickly, offering sweet, tender roots and nutritious greens. Harvest them young for the best flavour or let them mature fully for winter stews and roasts. This versatile vegetable adds depth to your garden’s offerings, supplying culinary versatility and nutritional value.
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From Darren’s Patch
August is one of my favourite times in the veg garden — a real turning point in the year. The summer crops are ending, but there’s still so much to sow and look forward to. I always make room for winter lettuces and corn salad, which keep my salads going even when the weather turns cold. And pak choi? It’s a personal must-grow — fast, easy, and brilliant in stir-fries. I love how quickly radishes pop up, giving that satisfying crunch in just a few weeks. This time of year, the key is filling those post-harvest gaps and thinking ahead. A bit of planning now means I’ve got something fresh and homegrown right through autumn and winter. It’s all about keeping the garden working for you, and I find August sowing does just that.
