August can feel like the garden is winding down. The tomatoes are coming in faster than we can eat them, the cucumbers are practically taking over, and the zucchini seems to multiply overnight.
But don’t put those seed packets away just yet!
Here in Zone 6, August is actually a great time to plant a second round of vegetables for a fall harvest. As the days start getting shorter and the temperatures eventually cool down, many cool-season crops thrive.
One of my favorite things about fall gardening is that it feels a little slower. The frantic pace of spring planting is behind us, the garden is already established, and we can sneak in a few more crops before winter arrives.
If you’re wondering what you can still plant in August, here are some of my favorite options.
Root Vegetables
August is a great time to get another round of root crops growing.
Carrots
Carrots are one of my favorite crops for a fall garden. They actually tend to become sweeter as temperatures cool.
Plant carrot seeds directly into the garden and keep the soil consistently moist while they germinate. Since carrots can take a little while to get started, don’t wait too long in August.
Tip: Fall carrots can often be left in the ground into the cooler months with a thick layer of mulch.
Radishes
If you want something that grows quickly, radishes are your friend.
Many varieties mature in just a few weeks, making them perfect for succession planting. Sow a little now and you may even have time for another round later in the season.
Beets
Beets are another excellent choice for a fall garden. You can harvest the roots, but don’t forget about the greens; they’re delicious sautéed with a little butter and garlic, or you can sneak them into your kids’ smoothies, as I do!
Leafy Greens
Cool weather is where many leafy greens really shine.
Lettuce
August is a great time to start lettuce for a fall harvest. Because lettuce doesn’t love the heat, you may have better luck starting seeds in a partially shaded area or keeping the soil moist until temperatures begin to cool.
Once fall arrives, your lettuce should be very happy.
Spinach
Spinach is one of my favorite cool-season crops because it can handle chilly temperatures surprisingly well.
For an early fall harvest, get it planted as soon as possible. You can also sow another round later in the month for a later harvest.
Kale
If there were an award for “vegetable most likely to survive whatever I throw at it,” kale would probably win.
Kale loves cooler weather and can continue producing well into fall. In many areas, a little frost actually makes it taste sweeter.
Swiss Chard
Swiss chard is another great option if you’re looking for something that can keep producing.
It handles cooler temperatures well and gives you beautiful, nutritious greens for soups, sautés, and side dishes.
Broccoli, Cabbage & Other Brassicas
August can be a great time to plant fall brassicas, although timing is especially important with these crops.
Broccoli
Broccoli loves cool weather, making it an excellent fall crop.
Depending on your local frost date and the variety you’re growing, you may want to start with transplants rather than seeds to give the plants a head start.
Cabbage
Cabbage is another excellent fall garden crop.
Planting in August gives cabbage time to establish before cooler temperatures arrive. Fall-grown cabbage can be especially sweet and crisp.
Brussels Sprouts
If you have enough time left in your growing season, Brussels sprouts can be worth planting. They take a long time to mature, so check the days-to-maturity on your particular variety before planting.
Green Onions
Green onions are an easy crop to squeeze into an August garden.
They don’t require a huge amount of space, and you can harvest them while they’re still young. They’re perfect for soups, eggs, potatoes, and just about everything else.
Because they’re so useful in the kitchen, I always think it’s worth finding a little room for them.
Peas
Depending on your exact location and first frost date, you may still be able to plant peas in early August.
Look for quick-maturing varieties and give them plenty of sunlight. Peas prefer cooler temperatures, so they’ll be much happier as summer starts to fade.
Herbs
Don’t forget about herbs!
Cilantro and parsley are especially good candidates for a late-season planting because they prefer cooler temperatures.
Cilantro in particular tends to bolt quickly in the summer heat, so planting another crop in August can give you a much better fall harvest.
Succession Planting in August
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from gardening is that you don’t have to plant everything at once.
If you have space, try succession planting.
Instead of planting an entire row of lettuce or radishes at one time, plant a small amount every week or two. This gives you a steady supply of fresh vegetables instead of suddenly having 47 heads of lettuce ready on the exact same day.
Ask me how I know.
August is a great month to look at the empty spaces in your garden and ask:
“What can I grow here before winter?”
Even a small patch can produce a surprising amount of food.
Start With Your First Frost Date
The most important thing to remember when planting in August is that Zone 6 doesn’t tell the whole story.
Your actual first frost date can vary depending on your location, elevation, microclimate, and even the specific area of your property.
Before planting, check the days-to-maturity listed on your seed packet and count backward from your expected first frost date.
And remember, some vegetables can handle a light frost just fine!
Crops like kale, spinach, carrots, and other cool-season vegetables can actually keep producing after temperatures start dropping.
My August Garden Priorities
If I were filling up my garden with fall crops in August, I’d focus on:
- Carrots
- Radishes
- Beets
- Lettuce
- Spinach
- Kale
- Swiss chard
- Green onions
- Cilantro
- Parsley
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Peas, depending on timing
You don’t need to plant every single one. Pick a few of your family’s favorites and start there.
Don’t Forget About the Existing Garden
August isn’t just about planting new crops. It’s also a great time to start thinking about what you’re going to do with everything that’s already growing.
The tomatoes are coming in.
The cucumbers are coming in.
The zucchini is DEFINITELY coming in.
And before we know it, we’ll be harvesting the last of the garden and preparing everything for winter.
This is the time to preserve what you can, save seeds, clean up struggling plants, and make room for your fall crops.
One season isn’t really ending when another begins. There is always something to plant, harvest, preserve, or prepare for here on the homestead.
Honestly, I think that’s one of my favorite things about gardening.
A Little More Growing Season
August can feel like the beginning of the end of the gardening season, but in Zone 6, there’s still plenty of growing left to do.
So grab those seeds, clear out a little space, and plant a few things for fall.
Before we know it, we’ll be trading fresh tomatoes and cucumbers for warm soups, roasted root vegetables, and hearty meals made from everything we worked so hard to grow.
That’s a pretty wonderful way to end a gardening season.
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” — Ecclesiastes 3:1
Happy planting, friends!
From our homestead to yours,
Eliza
