in August

to Keep Your Garden Growing Through Fall

What to Plant

These are easy plants to grow; the biggest issue some kale growers might have is keeping the soil damp in hot climates.

1. Kale (Brassica oleracea)

These plants are great for pollinators, and deer don’t care for them too much, making them a must-have for the autumn garden bed.

2. Black-Eyed Susans  (Rudbeckia hirta)

Even though mint plants love sun, it is best to avoid planting them during a hot dry spell.

3. Mint (Mentha piperita or  M. spicata L.)

Cleome’s dried flower heads are also a food source for birds in the fall, which can be a real treat for backyard bird watchers.

4. Cleomes  (Cleome hassleriana)

You can start harvesting once they become a usable size, which is possible in as few as 3 weeks after August planting.

5. Radishes (Raphanus sativus  var. radicula)

Cornflowers don’t require much work to look good, but since they reseed independently, deadheading may be necessary to limit their growth.

6. Cornflowers  (Centaurea cyanus)

Start your broccoli seeds indoors in July if you want them planted in the garden for August.

7. Broccoli (Brassica oleracea  var. italica)

Give marigolds full sun, well-draining soil, and medium watering to see these florals prosper in your August garden.

8. Marigolds (Tagetes erecta)

Experienced gardeners time their cucumber planting between pest life cycles, making August a great time for their second planting (or a first if you’re late to the party).

9. Cucumbers  (Cucumis sativus)

These greens grow best when planted in soil temperatures between 45 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit.

10. Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)

When planting these flowers for a fall crop, transplanting gives them a head start to establish themselves in a basket, container, or bed.

11. Snapdragons  (Antirrhinum majus)

These versatile veggies favor sunny locations and cool conditions in soil that retains its moisture.

12. Turnips (Brassica rapa,  Rapifera group)

Fertilize them monthly and remove the spent flowers to keep them growing as long as possible.

13. Violas (Viola spp.)

Try to plant it early in the month to give it time to harden off before fall.

14. Rosemary  (Salvia rosmarinus)

Mums are relatively easy to grow in the garden, happy in any well-draining garden soil used for vegetables, with about 6 hours of sunlight daily.

15. Chrysanthemums  (Chrysanthemum spp.)

Keep the soil moist and plant the seeds in the shade of other garden plants to protect them in case a last hit of intense heat arrives.

16. Peas (Pisum sativum)

Sedum is great for pollinators, container gardens, bed borders,  and more.

17. Sedum (Sedum spp.)

Provide them with constant moisture, feed them to boost their growth, and cover them with nets to protect them from garden pests.

18. Spring Cabbage (Brassica oleracea, Capitata group)

They like full or partial sun, moist, well-draining soils, and a bit of mulch to keep them from becoming too warm in the August heat.

19. Asters

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