August In-Season Vegetable Planting and Harvest Guide

Planning a vegetable garden for in the late summer is a breeze if you know which vegetables to plant. A variety of delicious vegetables harvested in September through November get their start in a garden in mid to late August. Whether you grow organic vegetables or maintain a simple indoor kitchen garden, these garden planter guidelines should help you pick the right plants for your summer activities. August is a great time for radish lovers and fans of the fruits of tomato plants, and it is also a good time to get the vegetable seeds started for a number of delicious fresh fruits and vegetables harvested in the cool weather of the late fall.

Freshest Fruits and Veggies to Harvest in August

August harvest include many sweet treats that are scarce in vegetable gardens most of the rest of the year. Late-summer plants to harvest include corn, beets, tomato, peppers and lima beans. Because these fruits and vegetables are commercially harvested as well as home harvested at this time, they will also be the freshest produce available in the month of August. It's too late to plant these tasty treats in August, but if you already have some growing, you should be enjoying your labor's bounty in the late summer months.

Keep Your Climate in Mind for Late-Summer Planting

Planting schedules for fruits and vegetables started in the late summer can vary depending on your local climate tendencies. Late-summer planting dates tend to bump up against frost periods in many areas, which can endanger the cold-season harvest. The earlier your climate's cold season, the earlier you will want to start planning planting dates for your August seeded garden.

Best Plants to Seed in August

Early to mid-August is the time for starting seeds for plants that will likely be your first harvest before the weather turns to frost. When planting a late summer outdoor garden, it becomes important to check your local frost date and the maturation time for the plants you are starting from seed. In warm areas with late frost, you may be able to start plants as late as mid-September, but it is best on to err on the side of caution, since an early frost can destroy much of your hard work. Plants to start in August include broccoli, onions, radishes, cauliflower and cabbage. Once plants are seeded indoors, they can go outside in the cooler September weather in most place.

References:

Iowa State University Extension: Harvesting and Planting Times for Garden Vegetables

University of Georgia: Vegetable Garden Calendar