August is not only the time to harvest crops, but also a chance to plant vegetables, herbs and flowers in your garden and allotment that will provide fresh greenery, produce and color in late summer and fall. Moreover, in August you can plant bushes and berry plants that will decorate your garden and yield fruit next year. In this article we will talk about what you can plant in August in your garden and allotment, how to prepare the beds, and how to care for the plants.
Leafy Greens
Greens are one of the easiest and most beneficial crops that you can grow in your garden and allotment in August. Greens grow quickly, require little care, and provide vitamins and minerals. In August, you can plant the following greens:
- Lettuce. Lettuce is one of the quickest and most popular leafy greens that you can plant in late summer. Lettuce likes a sunny spot with good light exposure, regular watering, and loose soil. For planting in August, choose fast-maturing lettuce varieties and hybrids that mature in 25-50 days. Lettuce seeds are sown 1 cm deep with 10-15 cm between rows. After seedlings emerge, thin them out leaving 1.5-2 cm between plants. You can harvest lettuce as leaves grow or wait for heads to form.
- Spinach. Spinach is another leafy green that grows well when planted in August. Spinach is cold hardy so you can sow it every 2 weeks until mid-September. It likes good sunlight, moderate watering, and fertile soil. Sow spinach seeds 2 cm deep with 20 cm between rows. After seedlings emerge, thin them out leaving 5-8 cm between plants. You can harvest spinach 2-3 weeks after sowing.
- Arugula. Arugula is an aromatic green with a slightly spicy flavor that also suits late summer planting. It likes good sun exposure, possibly some afternoon shade, regular watering, and light soil. Sow arugula seeds 1-1.5 cm deep with 15-30 cm between rows. After seedlings emerge, thin them out leaving 2-3 cm between plants. Arugula matures fully in 3 weeks but young leaves can be harvested sooner.
- Dill. Dill is not only a tasty and healthy herb but also a good companion plant for vegetables as it deters pests and attracts beneficial insects. Dill likes full sun, moderate watering, and loose soil. Soaking dill seeds overnight speeds up germination. Sow them 1-2 cm deep with 10-15 cm between rows. After seedlings emerge, thin them out leaving 5-10 cm between plants. You can start harvesting dill 3-4 weeks after sowing.
Vegetables
In August you can plant not only greens in your garden and allotment but also some vegetables that will produce a harvest before frost or overwinter under the snow. Here are some options:
- Cabbage. Cabbage is one of the quickest and most popular vegetables for August planting, capable of producing two harvests per year. Chinese, napa, colored and brussels sprouts cabbage are good for late summer planting. Cabbage needs good sun exposure, abundant watering, and fertile soil. Sow seeds 1-2 cm deep with 20-30 cm between rows. After seedlings emerge, thin them out leaving 15-20 cm between plants. You can harvest cabbage 40-60 days after sowing or let it overwinter.
- Radish. Radish is another fast-maturing vegetable crop for late summer planting. It likes full sun, regular watering, and loose soil. Any radish varieties work for August planting – black Spanish, daikon, Japanese, Chinese. Sow seeds 1-2 cm deep with 5-10 cm between rows. After seedlings emerge, thin them out leaving 3-5 cm between plants. You can harvest radishes 20-40 days after sowing.
- Beetroot. Beetroot is another vegetable suited for late summer sowing. It likes good sunlight, moderate watering, and fertile soil. For August planting choose fast-maturing beetroot varieties. About 30 days after seedlings emerge you can harvest small but juicy beetroots. Sow beet seeds 2-3 cm deep with 10-15 cm between rows. After seedlings emerge, thin them out leaving 5-10 cm between plants.
- Radish. Radish is another fast-growing vegetable for August planting. It likes full sun exposure, regular watering, and loose soil. Any radish variety works for late summer planting, especially those that resist bolting and flowering. Sow radish seeds 1-2 cm deep with 5-10 cm between rows. After seedlings emerge, thin them out leaving 2-3 cm between plants. You can harvest radishes 20-30 days after sowing.
Flowers
In August you can plant not only vegetables and herbs in your garden and allotment but also flowers that will decorate the plot and delight the eye in late summer and fall. Here are some options:
- Asters. Asters are beautiful and varied flowers that bloom until frost. They like good sunlight, moderate watering, and fertile soil. For August planting choose annual asters that mature in 60-90 days. Sow seeds 1-2 cm deep with 20-30 cm between rows. After seedlings emerge, thin them out leaving 15-20 cm between plants.
- Daffodils. Daffodils are spring bulb flowers that you can plant in August for your garden and allotment. They like good sunlight, moderate watering, and fertile soil. Any daffodil varieties work for August planting – they will bloom next April-May. Plant bulbs 10-15 cm deep with 10-15 cm between plants.
- Snowdrops. Snowdrops are another spring bulb suitable for August planting. They like good sunlight, moderate watering, and fertile soil. Any snowdrop variety planted in August will bloom next March-April. Plant bulbs 5-10 cm deep with 5-10 cm between plants.
Bushes and Berries
In August you can also plant bushes and berry plants in your garden and allotment that will decorate your yard and produce fruit next year. Here are some options:
- Currants. Currants produce tasty and healthy berries on bushes of different colors – black, red, white. They like good sunlight, abundant watering, and fertile soil. For August planting choose 1-2 year old currant saplings that will fruit next June-July. Plant currant bushes 10-15 cm deep with 1-1.5 m between plants.
- Honeysuckle. Honeysuckle produces aromatic, juicy berries on bushes with beautiful flowers. It likes good sunlight, moderate watering, and fertile soil. For August planting, choose 1-2 year old honeysuckle saplings that will fruit next May-June. Plant bushes 10-15 cm deep with 1-1.5 m between plants.
- Raspberries. Raspberries are another tasty and healthy berry produced on bushes of different types – summer-bearing, everbearing, large-fruited. They like good sunlight, abundant watering, and fertile soil. For August planting, choose 1-2 year old raspberry saplings that will fruit next June-August. Plant bushes 10-15 cm deep with 0.5-1 m between plants.