August is right around the corner and our garden is far from winding down! With a careful selection of both vegetables and flowers, your garden can continue to be a source of joy and bounty well into the fall. Here’s your guide to the best picks for August planting.
Vegetables
Spinach
With a maturity period of 30-60 days, spinach offers a fresh, nutritious harvest in the cooler autumn months. Its resilience to frost extends the bounty even further.
As a cool-weather crop, it thrives when planted in late summer. This means that by planting in August, you’re setting the stage for a fresh, nutritious harvest throughout the cooler fall months, even extending after the first frost in some cases.
Kale
Similar to spinach, kale matures relatively quickly, providing a reliable, nutritious harvest even as the temperature drops.
It is a cold-tolerant crop that matures within 55-75 days, making it perfect for a late summer sowing. Planting kale in August ensures a steady harvest through the cooler fall months, and it can even endure a mild frost, often becoming sweeter after such exposure.
Lettuce
Lettuce thrives in cooler temperatures and can be harvested within 30-60 days, making it a perfect choice for late summer sowing.
Lettuce thrives when the heat of the summer begins to wane, making an August planting perfectly timed for a bountiful harvest during the cool fall months. Lettuce can also tolerate a light frost, extending your harvesting period even further.
Radishes
These spicy delights are ready to crunch in just 20-30 days, making them a quick-win addition to your garden.
They are one of the quickest crops to mature. Sowing radishes in August aligns with their preference for cooler weather, and allows you to enjoy a spicy, crunchy addition to your meals throughout the fall. Despite their quick growth, radishes remain hardy until the first frost, extending your harvest season.
Flowers
August planting isn’t limited to just veggies! Now’s the perfect time to sow late-summer flowers as well. Set your garden up for a spectacular fall bloom with these flowers, guaranteed to boost your garden’s visual appeal and with vibrant colors for the remainder of the planting season.
Asters
Asters are beautiful, late-blooming flowers that bring a star-like radiance to your fall garden.
They are perfect for late-summer planting in Zone 7 as they naturally bloom in late summer and fall. Their growth cycle aligns with cooler temperatures, thriving when the heat of summer subsides.
Planting them in August ensures they mature to full bloom by autumn, providing a vibrant display of color when many other plants are fading. Their resilience to cooler weather extends their blooming period until the first frost, contributing to a lively fall garden.
Pansies
Pansies are vibrant and hardy, bringing a pop of color that withstands the first frost. They are an excellent choice for August planting in Zone 7 because they are cold-tolerant and thrive in cooler weather.
They begin to flower in late fall and can even continue to bloom during mild winters. Planting pansies in August allows them to establish before colder temperatures set in, providing a consistent display of color right through the first frost, and often beyond.
Snapdragons
These unique flowers bring an element of charm and whimsy to your garden, blooming beautifully into the fall.
Snapdragons, with their unique charm and appeal, are perfect for August planting in Zone 7. They prefer the cooler weather of late summer and fall, typically requiring 60-120 days to mature from seed to bloom. By sowing them in August, you align their blooming period with the autumn months, ensuring a vibrant garden display that lasts until the first frost.
Chrysanthemums
Also known as ‘mums,’ these flowers bloom in an array of warm tones, embodying the spirit of fall festivities.
They are a brilliant choice for August planting in Zone 7. These fall-blooming perennials prefer cooler temperatures and typically require around 80-100 days from transplant to flower. An August planting allows ‘mums’ to establish well and synchronizes their stunning, colorful blooms with the fall season, providing a festive touch until the first frost arrives.
Marigolds
Marigolds are resilient, blooming until the frost with their radiant golden hues.
Marigolds are an excellent pick for August planting in Zone 7. They are relatively fast-growing, typically taking around 45-50 days from seed to bloom. The cooler temperatures of late summer and early fall don’t deter marigolds; instead, they continue to add a vibrant splash of color to your garden, blooming heartily until the first frost sets in.
Keep in mind, the maturity dates are approximate and will vary based on your local conditions and varietal. With the right selection and timely sowing, the August doesn’t have to be the beginning of the end of your gardening season!