Ahhh, August. This is the time of year that we start to see the fruits of our labour earlier in the year - when our gardens are in full flight. We also get to spend more time outside, amongst those beautiful blooms, thriving wildlife and (hopefully) some hot weather.
However, August is an important month when it comes to planting. If you want to extend your growing time through to the autumn and beyond, this is the month to start your preparation. In this blog we are going to provide you with a guide so you will know what to plant in August - whether you want an Autumn harvest, winter flowers or plan early flowers for next Spring, take advantage of the good weather and get out into your late summer garden.
What flowers to plant in August
Let's start with some flowers. As the summer ends, the evenings get darker and the cooler weather rolls in, we think it's very important to have bright flowers to fend off the feeling of gloom! So here are some flowers to help do that, which should be planted in August:
Crocus Sativus bulbs
As part of our Autumn Bulbs selection, the crocus sativus is a great option if you want a bit of colour in your garden this Autumn. The pretty little flowers, which smell wonderful, will start to appear in September, right through to November - purple heads with pleasing yellow stamen (which you can harvest and cook with) and beautiful red stems.
Plant these bulbs 5cm deep in August, in well drained soil. Soil moisture can be a bit of an issue if it becomes too soggy, but gritty soil is fine - these plants are used to the mountains!
Triteleia Queen Fabiola bulbs
Sometimes known as the Starflower, this is a great option if you want an abundance of flowers on every stem - sometimes as many as 25. These pretty little blue flowers really stand out, as the rest of the garden starts to turn to gold and orange.
California Poppies seeds
You could be forgiven for thinking that these delicate little flowers wouldn't last long in a British winter, but contrary to their appearance, these are hardy annuals that can survive all winter outside. They're really easy to grow and maintain too, just sow seeds where you want them and leave them to it! Beautiful yellow leaves throughout the winter.
Cornflower seeds
Autumn is also a great month to get a head start on next year - there are plenty of hardy perennials that you can plant in August to give yourself more time to focus on other tasks in early Spring next year. The Dwarf Blue Midget Cornflowers are a great example of these, and the reward for being so prepared is the fact you can be looking at beautiful early flowers next March, to herald the end of the winter.
Hydrangea plants
You can plant hydrangeas at any time of year, especially if they are going into pots. While their colourful blooms will fade away during the winter, they will burst forth again when late spring rolls around.
Viburnum plants
These are usually planted in early Autumn, but you should be fine to plant viburnum in late summer as well. Just make sure they get plenty of water in those early weeks. They'll survive a frost, so you don't need to worry about them over the winter.
Looking for some late-summer colour?
If you fancy one last hurrah for the summer, you can plant some of these plants: Sweet peas, Alstroemeria, Echinacea, Achillea, Anemone, Salvia or Rudbeckia. Each bringing their own injection of colour.
What vegetables to plant in August
The Autumn Harvest is a great motivator to get you out in your garden in August. If you have a vegetable patch, then late summer is a very busy time! Lots of root vegetables to plant that will supply you throughout the coming months. Here are some key crops to plant in August:
Winter lettuce seeds
Now you may think that lettuce is purely a summer vegetable, but most kinds of lettuce can survive winter - and those are the ones you can look to plant in August. Spinach can be planted as well, but be aware these will probably need overwintering.
What is overwintering?
Overwintering is the process of protecting plants and crops over the harsher winter months. As the first frost rolls around, you'll want to protect your more vulnerable plants by putting them in a greenhouse, conservatory or even a garage - most won't miss out on the light over winter and they are effectively dormant.
Carrot seeds
Carrot seeds can be direct sown at any point from early spring right through to late August - they can be harvested all year round, so this is your last chance if you fancy some delicious carrot soup to keep you warm over the winter!
Quick tip
When sowing seeds, it's usually a good idea to have a fine mesh placed over them, to prevent birds from feasting on them in those early stages.
Spring onion seeds
You'll need to wait until the cool weather starts to kick in, as onions can struggle when it's regularly over 20 degrees, but by late August you should be fine. Sow seeds in rows outdoors, and cover them with a couple of centimetres of soil. They'll grow over the winter for a spring harvest.
Potato tubers
There is an opportunity to plant potatoes in August - which is perfect if you are planning on growing some ready for harvest around Christmas. And let's be honest, what could be better than homegrown roast potatoes for your Christmas dinner?!
These are best planted in greenhouses, but check the expected frost date and you may be able to leave them outside for a while first. If you plant them in containers, you can easily move them somewhere for the colder months.
Cabbage seeds
August is the month to plant out spring cabbages - they can be sown direct outdoors, while any winter cabbages that you've been growing from seed can be planted out now. Pigeons, especially, are very keen on these seeds, so make sure you protect them with a mesh.
What fruit to plant in August
Only one small mention for fruit plants here - strawberry runners can be planted in August, ready to burst forward next Spring for your first harvest.
What to plant in August - Conclusion
There are plenty of jobs to be done in August! Gardening never stops - which is why we love it. We find that this time of year is a lovely time to get out there and plant a few more plants and crops. It's all about building for the future, and a little bit of work now can really make a difference over the coming months. Have a look through our many bulbs and tubers, and plan your garden flowers for the next year.
One final tip though - also make sure you sit out there in the sun with a nice cold drink. Just enjoy your garden - this is a great month for that too.
