Planting in August: Zones 7 & 8
Planting in August: Tips It’s important to remember to keep an eye on what the first frost date is in your area. If you don’t know what it is, just do a quick Google search and figure out when you can expect the first frost to be in your area. This is important because you’re going to base your planting times off of this date! When you are planting in August you will want to plant crops 6-8 weeks before your first frost. This will give these crops time to either be ready to harvest or be established enough to handle cooler temperatures. Alright! Let’s get started! Here is my list of crops you can plant in August in zones 7 & 8.
Peas You can plant peas in August! We love peas around here, so I always try to plant some peas for a fall harvest. It’s important to remember that a fall planting won’t be as productive as a spring planting. Peas planted in the fall will produce about ½ of the harvest you could expect in the spring with the same number of plants. They also require a little bit more work than a spring planting, but we find that it is well worth it. If you are planning on planting peas this month make sure you check out my article on growing peas in the fall. There are tons of tips on how to get a yummy fall harvest of peas!
Spinach Spinach is one of my favorite crops to grow in the fall and winter. With a little bit of protection during the colder months from a cold frame or hoop house, you can harvest spinach throughout the winter. If you plant spinach in August you should be able to start harvesting in mid-October.
Swiss Chard is a great fall and winter plant because it’s very hardy. Early plantings will give you a harvest in the fall and early winter, whereas later plantings will give you an early spring harvest if you protect them with a cold frame or hoop house. Similar to spinach, it overwinters well in a cold frame or hoop house, so you’ll be able to harvest smaller leaves throughout the winter.
Beets Beets are another great fall crop. They’re packed with nutrients and they’re a delicious addition to any garden. You can check out my planting guide on beets here: Growing Beets in Your Garden
Broccoli is another one of our favorite crops to grow! You can plant broccoli in your garden this month for a fall harvest!
Carrots Carrots are one of my favorite fall/winter crops. The cooler weather makes them taste so much sweeter! One of my favorite varieties is called Little Finger
Lettuce Yum! We love lettuce around here. Start planting lettuce about 8 weeks before your first frost date. You can even continue planting until as close as two weeks before your first frost date if you have cold frames! The later plantings can be overwintered in cold frames for an early spring harvest. I personally avoid planting head lettuces in the fall and stick with leaf lettuces. Here are some of the varieties we have tried:
Arugula is a peppery tasting green that adds a yummy taste to salads! Give it a try this month!
Other crops you can try planting in August: