What to sow and plant in August
38 crops on the list have something to do in August at 50.0°. These dates are not a fixed calendar: they are calculated from the estimated last spring frost for this latitude, so they move with your location.
This month normally sits between the last spring frost and the first autumn one, so tender crops can be outside. Heat, water supply and disease pressure become the limits instead of cold.
Sow direct outdoors(11)
Sown where the crop will grow. Soil temperature decides this more than the calendar does, so check the figure on each crop page before sowing.
Plant out(3)
Moved from pots to their final position. Harden plants off over a week first; a tender crop planted into cold soil stalls rather than grows.
Ready to harvest(32)
An approximate window from the sowing dates above. Each crop page carries the physical cue that beats any date.
- 🍅Tomatoes29 Jul – 12 Sept
- 🥔Potatoes3 Aug – 12 Sept
- 🥒Cucumbers4 Jul – 3 Aug
- 🫑Peppers3 Aug – 22 Sept
- 🥬Cabbage14 Jul – 13 Aug
- 🥕Carrots14 Jul – 3 Aug
- 🍠Beetroot29 Jun – 3 Aug
- 🥬Kale24 Jul – 21 Nov
- 🥦Broccoli24 Jul – 2 Sept
- 🥦Cauliflower3 Aug – 12 Sept
- 🧄Garlic4 Jul – 13 Aug
- 🫘Broad beans3 Aug – 12 Sept
- 🎃Pumpkins13 Aug – 22 Sept
- 🌽Sweetcorn3 Aug – 2 Sept
- 🍆Aubergines23 Aug – 2 Oct
- 🥬Swiss chard29 Jun – 21 Nov
- 🌿Rhubarb5 May – 3 Aug
- 🍑Plums23 Aug – 17 Oct
- 🍓Strawberries4 Jul – 2 Sept
- 🫐Raspberries23 Aug – 1 Nov
- 🫐Blackcurrants23 Aug – 12 Oct
- 🍒Redcurrants23 Aug – 7 Oct
- 🫐Gooseberries13 Aug – 2 Oct
- 🌿Basil24 Jun – 2 Sept
- 🌿Parsley4 Jul – 2 Sept
- 🌿Chives4 Jul – 21 Nov
- 🌿Dill14 Jun – 3 Aug
- 🌸Dahlias3 Aug – 12 Oct
- 🌻Sunflowers24 Jul – 22 Sept
- 🌼Marigolds24 Jun – 2 Oct
- 🌺Lilies3 Aug – 2 Oct
- 🌸Sweet peas24 Jul – 2 Oct
What to watch for in August
Problems the database lists for this part of the year, most damaging first. Each one calculates live risk for your location on its own page.