Planting Options for August: My Top 25 Picks
Sowing Seeds for a Bountiful Autumn Harvest
As summer begins to wane, gardeners in the UK can still enjoy a bountiful harvest by sowing certain vegetables in late summer. Here are some of the best options for a fall crop:
Carrots, Beets, and Florence Fennel
Varieties such as 'Autumn King 2' carrots are recommended for sowing in July for harvesting in autumn or even into winter if left in the ground. Beets and Florence fennel can also be sown directly in the soil in July to harvest bulbs about 12 weeks later. Fennel prefers consistent moisture to prevent bolting.
Green Onions, Lettuce, and Sugar Snap Peas
Green onions, fast-growing and taking 50-60 days from sowing to harvest, can be sown thinly in rows and kept soil moist. Lettuce should be sown every two weeks in July for a continuous fall harvest, with varieties sown now providing salad leaves into autumn and early winter. Sugar snap peas yield pods fresh through autumn before colder weather.
Pak Choi, Bush Beans, and Summer Radish
Pak choi, fast-growing (30-45 days), can be sown directly or indoors, great for late summer/autumn harvests. Early-maturing bush beans ensure harvest before frost and can be succession sown every three weeks through mid-to-late summer for fall harvests. Summer radish, with its peppery flavour, can also be sown for a quick crop.
For Best Results
Choose early-maturing varieties labeled for short days to ensure crops reach maturity before cooler weather and shorter daylight reduce growth. Consistent watering and weed control are important to help plants thrive as summer wanes.
Other Options
Microgreens can be grown for harvest as small plants or leaves within days/weeks of sowing. Kale can be sown now for a leafy veg crop for a considerable time. Winter purslane is a very hardy winter salad that produces small, mild-tasting, succulent leaves. Lambs Lettuce can be sown now for harvest in November and December under glass or plastic.
Kohl Rabi, often called the German Turnip, can still be grown outdoors or under cover. Gai Choi, a tuberous vegetable, can be sown in late summer for outdoor growth or early September for protected environments. Radish and Mooli seeds are suitable for outdoor or undercover growth, with both root and leaves edible.
Turnip seeds are suitable for outdoor or undercover growth, perfect for autumn stews. Mizuna can be sown outdoors or under cover. Peas should be fast-maturing varieties for a quick autumn crop, but yields may be lower as the days are getting shorter. Spinach can be sown and eaten.
Dwarf beans can be sown under cover to crop outdoors as autumn comes. Swiss chard seeds are suitable for outdoor or undercover growth, adding color as well as being edible. Parsley, coriander, basil, and chervil can be sown in seed trays now for growing on the window sill under glass throughout the winter.
Spring cabbage can be sown now for peppery cabbage next spring. Japanese Onions are onions sown now for harvest next year.
In summary, for late summer sowing in the UK aimed at a fall harvest, focus on these vegetables with early or fast-maturing varieties, planting directly outdoors or in containers with adequate moisture and care.
- To ensure a home-and-garden lifestyle brimming with homegrown produce this autumn, consider sowing fast-maturing vegetables like carrots, beets, and Florence fennel in your garden from July.
- For a continuous harvest of lettuce, green onions, and sugar snap peas, sow them every two weeks in July and maintain consistent moisture to support growth in a changing lifestyle.
