August is an excellent time to be in the garden! While you might be tempted to spend every sunny moment lounging with a cold drink, savvy gardeners know this is actually one of the best months to sow many delicious vegetables and beautiful flowering plants. It’s also a great time to begin preparing your garden for the cooler autumn and winter months ahead.
If you’re wondering what to plant in August, read on to explore some of the best varieties to choose from. We’ll also share our top August gardening jobs to help keep your garden looking its best as summer draws to a close.
What to Plant in August UK
Now that summer is here, there’s plenty to do in the garden. Here’s a run-down of some of the basics you could consider this year.
Vegetable Plants
Many excellent fast-cropping greens can be started in August and harvested before the cold weather arrives – perfect for extending your growing season. This is also a great month to sow hardy vegetable seeds that can overwinter in the ground, providing you with fresh crops early next spring.
Salad Leaves
Oursalad leaf seeds are a top choice for August sowing, especially for beginner gardeners: they’re quick to crop and wonderfully easy to grow. There are many delicious varieties to choose from, including mizuna, watercress, and red and green loose-leaf lettuce seeds. Most salad leaves can be sown directly outdoors in well-prepared soil, and with regular watering, you'll see seedlings appearing in as little as 7-14 days.
Spinach
As nutritious as it is delicious, spinach is a great addition to any vegetable garden – it can even be grown in pots if space is limited! Most spinach seeds can be sown in August and enjoyed as 'baby spinach', with tender young leaves ready to pick just a month after sowing. Choose perpetual spinach and your plants will also give you a second crop in early spring.
Cabbage
There are many spring and summer cabbage seeds that can be sown directly outdoors in August, such as Cabbage Summer Jewel F1. These tender, tasty vegetables will sit happily in the ground through winter, ready for next year’s harvest. Winter cabbage plants that were started from seed earlier in the year can be planted out this month – these will be ready from November onwards.
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Flowering Plants
August is a great month to sow many wonderful flower seeds, particularly hardy annuals. Sowing from late summer to early autumn will give the plants time to develop strong roots before the cold weather sets in, allowing them to bloom earlier next year.
Californian Poppies
Our Californian poppy seeds are hardy annuals that thrive when sown in August. These cheerful, low-maintenance flowers are perfect for borders, wildlife-friendly areas, and containers. Sow them directly where they are to flower, in well-drained soil with plenty of sun. Fothergill’s Californian Poppy ‘Single Mixed’ seeds grow flowers in bold, vibrant shades that are exquisitely colourful to watch grow.
Calendulas
Also known as pot marigolds, calendula seeds are reliable bloomers that look good but are even better for pollinators. Sow seeds in August for earlier spring flowering. Fothergill’s Calendula ‘Art Shades’ offers a mix of soft creamy yellow and orange-red flowers that could have sprung straight from an easel.
Cornflowers
Cornflowers are another hardy annual that benefits from an August sowing. Sowing cornflower seeds directly is best; choose a sunny, open spot and allow the seedlings to establish before winter. Fothergill’s Cornflower ‘Blue Ball’ produces intense blue flowers and looks particularly effective planted in drifts, with that classic cottage garden feel to them.
August Gardening Jobs
August is a transitional month in the garden, with plenty of seasonal maintenance and planning to keep things looking good and growing well.
- Keep beds tidy by clearing weeds and applying mulch to lock in moisture and protect the soil.
- Trim back tired or leggy plants to encourage a fresh flush of growth and prolong displays where possible.
- Clear away spent crops and flowers to make room for new plantings, and refresh containers with late-season colour or leafy edibles.
- Check plants for signs of pests or disease and take action early to prevent the spread.
- Divide overcrowded perennials and lift any plants that need repositioning while the soil is still warm.
- Towards the end of the month, start planting early spring bulbs, such as daffodils and crocuses, so they can begin to establish themselves.
You can also begin planting spring bulbs like daffodils and alliums from the end of August onwards (although tulips should wait until later in the year). Whatever kind of garden you have, though, there should be plenty for you to do!
Shop August Gardening Essentials at Fothergill’s
Fothergill’s has everything you need for August gardening. Choose from our wide range of vegetable seeds and plants, as well as our flower seeds and essential gardening accessories. Explore the full August seed collection and discover your next growing project at Fothergill’s.
