Think it’s too late to plant more vegetable crops in your garden in August and still have time to harvest? Think again! Even as summer begins to wind down and fall approaches, there is still plenty of time to plant a fresh round of fast-growing crops – and enjoy another delicious harvest before winter arrives.
In fact, late summer is one of the best times to make the most of empty garden space. Whether you grow in a traditional garden, raised beds, containers or pots, there are several vegetables that thrive when planted as temperatures begin to cool.
The key is choosing quick-growing crops that can go from seed to harvest in a matter of weeks. Many can be planted in late August or even early September and still produce plenty of fresh vegetables before the first hard frost.
5 Fall Vegetable Crops You Can Plant In August
Why Planting Fall Vegetable Crops From Seed In August Makes Sense
August planted crops don’t have to face many of the issues that spring or early summer crops do. In late summer, there is no worry of a killing frost. Nor is there an issue with cool soil preventing germination or growth.
Even better, many of the early season pests that can destroy crops such as aphids, grubs and beetles are long gone as well. And best of all – many of the crops featured below actually perform better with the cooler fall conditions!
With keeping your garden and growing spaces productive – here is a look at 5 delicious crops that can be planted by seed in late summer – and still be ready to harvest in 50 days or less. We’ve included affiliate seed links with each crop for your convenience as well.
Planting Sugar Snap Peas In Late Summer
Who doesn’t love the fresh snap and crunch of sugar snap peas? And incredibly enough, this delicious vegetable can go from seed to harvest in as little as six weeks or less!
In the spring, most varieties of snap peas come on in a little under two months. But the warm, late-summer soil is just right for quickly germinating sugar snap peas. And as fall settles in, it also provides the perfect cooler temperatures that peas need to thrive and produce quickly.
For best results, plant pea seeds about one inch in depth into the soil, leaving 4 to 6 inches between seeds. Although there are bush varieties, most are climbing. For these types, a small section of fence or trellis will help give them support and make it easier to harvest too. Affiliate Seed Link: Sugar Snap Pea Seeds (Sugar Daddy)
One final note on growing peas, this is one crop that actually will help improve the soil they grow in. So not only are you getting a bit more produce, you are recharging the soil as well for next year’s garden crops!
Growing Fall Radishes
When it comes to fast growers, radishes top the list. They are an ideal vegetable to plant in August. Some varieties can go from seed to harvest in as little as 25 to 28 days, while most can be fully harvested at the 30 to 40 day mark.
Sow seeds directly into the soil, planting around 1/2 inch deep. When planting radishes, fill the planting hole with compost. This allows the seeds to germinate faster – and gives them plenty of rich, loose soil to expand to full size in short order. Affiliate Seed Link: Cherry Belle Radish Seeds
Allow or thin to about one to two inches between seeds. Radishes need a steady supply of moisture to grow well, so water seedlings often. This can be incredibly important in the fall when rainfall can often be less than ideal.
Why Lettuce Is A Great Choice To Plant When Growing Vegetables In August
Lettuce is one of the best choices for planting as a fall vegetable crop. The cool, crisp autumn weather is ideal for growing all types of loose leaf greens. Even better – many varieties such as baby leaf, bib and mesclun mixes can be harvested in as little at 21 days.
Adding to the allure of growing lettuce, you can harvest it multiple times. So if autumn’s warmer temperatures extend a few extra weeks, you can have fresh salads deep into the year. Affiliate Seed Link: Lettuce Seed Mix – Red Romaine, Bibb Butter, Black Seeded Simpson, Green Ice Iceberg Lettuce Seeds
Lettuce performs best in loose, well drained and fertile soil. To spur fast growth, mix in plenty of compost to recharge the soil from crops that have been growing over the summer. Sow lettuce seeds 1/4″ deep a half inch apart and water well.
Growing Spinach For A Fall Harvest
Nothing beats the taste of tender young spinach! And this nutrient-filled super food loves the chill of fall, so it’s a wonderful time for growing it! Seed Link : Butterfly Heirloom Spinach Seeds
You can sow spinach seeds directly into the soil up to 3 weeks before your last frost date. Plant seeds 1/4″ to deep, spacing 2 inches apart. Baby spinach leaves are ready for harvesting at maximum flavor when they reach about two inches. You can usually begin harvesting within three to four weeks after planting.
Spinach holds up well against light frost, but be sure to harvest plants if a hard freeze is forecast. Once hit with temps well below freezing, the tender leaves will wilt in the garden.
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Don’t Forget The Kale!
Kale, like spinach, actually thrives in cool weather. It is truly the ultimate super-food and is loaded with vitamins and minerals. Even better, many varieties can be harvested as baby leaves in as little as 25 days.
Kale seeds will germinate fast in the warmer soil of fall. Plant seeds a 1/4″ deep, and water well. Harvest as baby leaves as soon as the foliage reaches 2″ or more. Affiliate Seed Link: Organic Kale Seeds (Vates Blue Scotch Curled)
There you have it! 5 vegetable crops you can plant in August to keep your garden going right up until the first frost. And remember, August is also a great time for planting perennials! See: 8 Perennials To Plant In Late Summer For Incredible Color This Fall & Next Year!
Happy Gardening – Jim & Mary.
The Farm @ Old World Garden
Jim and Mary Competti have been writing gardening, DIY and recipe articles and books for over 16 years from their 46 acre Ohio farm. The two are frequent speakers on all things gardening and love to travel in their spare time.
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