In many regions due to the climate conditions and topography you can have a second growing season. You might have heard of the fall garden? That is exactly what it is all about – planting in August to harvest vegetables in late fall and early winter!
Can you replicate exactly the same fall garden display you saw on Instagram or Pinterest? Most of the time the answer is a ‘No’. It all depends on your location! So, in this blog post I will tell you exactly what to plant in your region in August and how to find your plant growing zone. Stay tuned!
What Flowers To Plant in August?
August is the perfect time to plant hardy and half-hardy annuals in many regions. That way you will have a nice colorful flower display next spring and summer. Also, plant some perennials to give them time to root before winter.
Annuals to plant in August:
- Schizanthus
- Nemesia
- Phlox
- Clarkia
- Primula
- Salpiglossis
- Cineraria
- Larkspur
- Sweet Scabious
- Snapdragons
- Marigolds
Perennials to plant in August:
- Chrysanthemums
- Black-Eyed Susan
- Hydrangeas
- Daylilies
- Lilies
- Sedums
- Peonies
- Bearded Iris
The choice of flowers that you can grow in your garden drastically increases when you switch to growing in a greenhouse! Check out a blog post about 50 plants that you can easily grow in a greenhouse. If you are more of a veggies lover, keep on reading to learn how to harvest twice per year!
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What Vegetables to Plant in August By Zones
Simply enter your ZIP code to find your plant hardiness zone here. The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map uses the average annual minimum winter temperature to divide US into planting zones. There are 13 zones in total, but majority of citizens live through zones 3 to 10.
Different states can be in multiple zones. For example, Texas zones include the cool zone 6b and warm climate zones – 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b and 9a. So, make sure to enter your ZIP code to find your zone to choose what plants will grow in your winter weather.
What to plant in zone 3 in August?
Zone 3 is the coldest of all USDA plant hardiness zones in the US. Nevertheless, you can still plant radishes, garlic, lettuce, kale, Swiss chard and spinach in the first week of August. Moreover, you can plant turnips, broccoli, bok choy, arugula, collards and mustard greens.
Chances are you can have a fall garden in Zone 3 and your vegetables might last up until November in gardening beds. To enjoy fall gardening in colder climates you can use a greenhouse to extend a growing season. If that is something you are interested in, check out the best hobby greenhouse review.
What to plant in Zone 4 in August?
Zone 4 has shorter growing season so choose vegetables that mature quickly. So, plant beets, broccoli, carrots, kale, lettuce and spinach in zone 4 in August. Also, you can plant turnips in early August. Finally, have a go to grow cornsalad also known as lamb’s tongue. It is a type of lettuce that is cold hardy.
What to plant in Zone 5 in August?
Zone 5 is known for its medium length growing season. The first frost day is around October 15th so most vegetables will mature by then. Plant beans, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, corn, cucumber, kale, lettuce, peas spinach and squash in zone 5 in August.
What to plant in Zone 6 in August?
Similarly to zone 5, zone 6 has a medium length growing season. The first frost date is around November 1st so you can have a nice fall garden by then. Plant beans, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, spinach in zone 6 in August. Check the weather a week or two before planting.
What to plant in Zone 7 in August?
Zone 7 has a medium length growing season and the first frost date is around November 15. That is why many growers start seeds indoors in August and plant hardy vegetables in fall. But you can still plant carrots, cabbage, cucumbers, kohlrabi, turnips, lettuces, mustard, radishes and kale outdoors in Zone 7 in August to harvest in October.
What to plant in Zone 8 in August?
It is a zone with a long growing season and hot summers. The first frost date is only around December 1st. Plant beans, summer squash, cucumbers, kale, lettuce, radishes and spinach in zone 8 in August. Moreover, start beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower seeds indoors in the first weeks of August.
What to plant in Zone 9 in August?
The annual minimum temperature for zone 9 is 25°F so you can definitely plant seeds for a second gardening season. Plant cover crops, turnips, tomatoes, winter and summer squash, pumpkins, peas, peppers, cucumbers and celery in zone 9 in August.
What to plant in Zone 10 in August?
As you know there is no freeze in zone 10 throughout the year, but does it mean that you can plant at any time? Although you can plant a lot of vegetables, you will be busy harvesting at this time. However, if you want to grow a few crops, plant garlic, eggplant, okra, watermelon and pumpkins in zone 10 in August.
What vegetables to plant in August by Location
I strongly recommend finding out in what USDA plant hardiness zone you live before deciding what to plant. If you know what your zone is and are wondering where it is, check out this blog post. Keep in mind that a state can have more than one hardiness zone because of the climate and landscape.
What vegetables to plant in August in Texas?
Texas is divided into 5 gardening zones according to USDA Hardiness Zones. Each gardening zone has its own average minimum temperature. You need to keep the zone in mind to decide what vegetables to plant and when to plant.
The good news is that I have made these calculations for you! Regardless of your exact location in Texas, here is a list of vegetables you can plant in August. You don’t need to look at the vegetables maturity age and count the weeks, just follow the list.
A list of vegetables you can plant in all growing regions of Texas in August:
- Broccoli
- Brussels Sprouts
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Irish potatoes
- Turnips
What vegetables to plant in August in Florida?
Florida is the south-easternmost US state and includes USDA hardiness zones 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a and 10b. Keep in mind that the first frost date in zone 9 is on the 15th of December whether zone 10 doesn’t have frosts at all. So, I am just going to include vegetables that can grow in all growing regions of Florida:
- Cauliflower
- Peppers
- Squash
- Corn
- Tomatoes
What vegetables to plant in August in California?
California lays in planting zones 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11. It is divided into Northern and Southern. If you live in Norther California, plant onions, leeks, Brussels sprout, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, kohlrabi, mustard, broccoli, turnips and watercress early in August.
If you live in Southern California, plant warm-season basil and beans seeds. You can also plant cool-season vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprout, cabbage, cauliflower, kohlrabi and potatoes in Southern California in August. These vegetables will grow in the cool weather starting late in September.
What vegetables to plant in August in Georgia?
Georgia hardiness zones include zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a and 8b so the average minimum temperatures fluctuate from 0 to 20°F across the state. Double check in what zone you live by using the tool above so you can plan what vegetables you can plant.
On average, the first frost dates in northern Georgia are in mid-October, so you need to plant crops in late summer before the soil gets too cold. If you are interested in having a winter garden, then definitely invest at least in a cold frame.
So, here is a list of vegetables you can plant in August in Georgia:
- Carrots
- Beetroots
- Parsnips
- Rutabaga
- Spinach
- Cabbage
- Lettuce
What vegetables to plant in August in Alabama?
State of Alabama ranges from plant hardiness zone 6b to zone 8b. You can extend the growing season by planting semi hardy and hardy vegetables that don’t need any frost protection. The vegetables that you can plant in August in Alabama are:
- Beets
- Brocolli
- Cabbage
- Chinese Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Collards
- Cucumbers
- Kale
- Kohlrabi
- Lettuce
- Radishes
- Rutabagas
- Spinach
- Turnips
If you want to see a detailed planting schedule for your city, go to Urban Farmer where you can find a vegetables planting calendar for you state and zone.
Let me know in the comments section down below what veggies you plant in August for your fall garden! What grows best?
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Happy Growing 🙂
