Late summer in the UK garden — focus on quick-growing autumn crops, succession sowing, and preparing beds as the season begins to turn.
August is a sowing month as well as a harvest month, and the two overlap constantly. The crops worth sowing now are the fast ones that will mature before the light goes — salad leaves, rocket, radishes, spinach, chard and turnips can all still be sown outdoors in most of the UK, and spring cabbage, winter lettuce and oriental greens sown now will stand through the colder months for picking well into next spring. What August does not suit is anything needing a long, warm run to ripen: sweetcorn, tomatoes, courgettes and beans sown now will not finish. Alongside the sowing, this is the month to lift and dry onions and garlic, keep picking beans and courgettes so plants stay productive, and clear any bed that has finished so it is not sitting bare. In the north and at altitude, bring these dates forward by roughly two weeks; in the mild south and on the coast you can push them a fortnight later.
Plan every month with the UK vegetable planting calendar.
Sowing dates and growing advice verified against RHS guidance by the SoilCommander Growing Team.
What to Sow Indoors in August
- Spring cabbage — continue sowing for early next year's harvest
- Winter lettuce — start for protected growing under cloches or in a cold frame
What to Sow Outdoors in August
- Radishes — quick harvest crop; ready in 4–6 weeks
- Spinach — choose bolt-resistant varieties; sow in rows 30cm apart
- Lettuce — continue succession sowing for autumn harvest
- Spring onions — sow for continuous supply into autumn
- Turnips — fast-growing; harvest at golf-ball size from October
Key August Tasks
- Water regularly — keep crops well watered during dry spells; water deeply at the base
- Harvest regularly — pick vegetables at peak ripeness to encourage continued production
- Prepare beds — clear spent crops and add compost ready for autumn planting
- Monitor pests — watch for caterpillars on brassicas; check tomatoes for blight
🌱 Did You Know? Spinach sown in August often overwinters successfully under a cloche or cold frame, providing fresh leaves from late winter onwards.
Frequently Asked Questions
What vegetables can I plant in August in the UK?
Sow spring cabbage and winter lettuce indoors. Outdoors: radishes, spinach, lettuce, spring onions, and turnips. August is excellent for quick-growing crops for autumn and winter harvest.
Is August too late to sow outdoors in the UK?
No — but the window is closing. Focus on fast-maturing crops (radishes, turnips, salad leaves). Stop most outdoor sowing by mid-August in the north and by early September in the south.
Can I sow spring cabbage in August?
Yes — spring cabbage is sown in July and August specifically for a spring harvest the following year, unlike summer or winter cabbage types sown at other times.
Plan Your Whole Year
Month-by-month sowing and planting schedules for every UK crop.
Get the Garden PlannerLast updated 4 July 2026
What To Plant In August UK
In August, UK gardeners can sow spinach, chard, lettuce, radishes, spring onions, turnips, pak choi and winter salads. You can start spring cabbage, winter lettuce, oriental leaves and herbs under cover, plant out leeks, kale, cabbage, winter brassicas and late salads, and harvest tomatoes, courgettes, beans, potatoes, beetroot, carrots, lettuce and herbs.
| August task | Good UK options | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sow outdoors | Spinach, chard, lettuce, radishes, spring onions, turnips, pak choi and winter salads. | Check soil moisture and local frost risk before sowing. |
| Seeds to start indoors or under cover | Spring cabbage, winter lettuce, oriental leaves and herbs. | Protected sowings help you control temperature, pests and watering. |
| Vegetables to plant out | Leeks, kale, cabbage, winter brassicas and late salads. | Water transplants well and protect young plants where weather or pests are likely. |
| What to harvest | Tomatoes, courgettes, beans, potatoes, beetroot, carrots, lettuce and herbs. | Harvest little and often, then record what clears space for the next crop. |
Vegetables to sow outdoors in August
Sow spinach, chard, lettuce, radishes, spring onions, turnips, pak choi and winter salads. Use small repeat sowings where possible so the harvest is easier to manage and gaps do not sit empty.
Seeds to start indoors or under cover
Start spring cabbage, winter lettuce, oriental leaves and herbs under cover. This is useful when outdoor conditions are too cold, too dry, too exposed or too pest-prone for reliable germination.
Vegetables to plant out
Plant out leeks, kale, cabbage, winter brassicas and late salads. Match the planting window to your local weather and give new plants enough water while roots establish.
What to harvest in August
Harvest tomatoes, courgettes, beans, potatoes, beetroot, carrots, lettuce and herbs. Keep notes on what performed well so next year's plan is based on your own garden rather than memory.
Jobs for the vegetable garden in August
Keep watering consistent, remove tired crops, sow autumn salads, check blight risk and note which beds need compost or green manure.
Common mistakes in August
Avoid leaving beds empty, sowing into bone-dry soil, ignoring tomato and potato disease and starting autumn crops too late.
Printable monthly checklist
For August, write down four columns: sow outdoors, start under cover, plant out and harvest. Add one line for weather notes, one for bed space, and one for the next crop so the month turns into a practical plan.
Related UK planting guides
Use the vegetable planting calendar UK, compare what to plant in July UK and what to plant in September UK, then check how to grow spring onions UK, powdery mildew treatment UK and when to harvest potatoes UK.
FAQ section
What vegetables can I plant in August in the UK?
In August, UK gardeners can sow spinach, chard, lettuce, radishes, spring onions, turnips, pak choi and winter salads. You can start spring cabbage, winter lettuce, oriental leaves and herbs under cover, plant out leeks, kale, cabbage, winter brassicas and late salads, and harvest tomatoes, courgettes, beans, potatoes, beetroot, carrots, lettuce and herbs.
What seeds can I sow outdoors in August?
In August, outdoor options include spinach, chard, lettuce, radishes, spring onions, turnips, pak choi and winter salads. Adjust the list for your local soil, weather, frost risk and available protection.
Can I still sow lettuce in August?
Yes. Choose suitable late-summer or autumn varieties, sow small batches and keep the soil moist until seedlings are established.
Turn This Month's Jobs Into A Plan
Month-by-month advice works best when it becomes a written sowing list, bed plan, and follow-up task list.
Plan the next step
Use the printable UK Vegetable Garden Planner to turn this guide into sowing dates, bed layouts, and weekly garden tasks.