August in the garden

     August is a month of abundance. The garden is overflowing with colour, flowers, fruit and vegetables, and every day brings something new to pick, admire or enjoy. Even in the middle of a dry spell, there's still so much to appreciate, although watering wisely and helping young plants establish becomes more important than ever.

     It's also one of my favourite months because, while you're enjoying everything the garden is giving you today, you can quietly start planning for what's next. A few seeds sown now, a handful of flowers for next year, or a little time spent preserving the harvest all help keep the garden going long after summer has faded.

     You’ll find the full list for August sowing in the Easy Seed Planner.

🥕 Vegetable Highlights

Sow outside: beetroot, chard, spinach, radish, salad leaves, rocket, turnips and spring onions for late crops.

Sow under cover: oriental greens, winter lettuce, salad rape, and mizuna for autumn picking.

Succession sow: quick-growing crops like lettuce, coriander and kohlrabi to keep harvests coming.

Plant out: young brassicas, leeks and kale for winter and spring use.

Tip: sowing little and often now means fresh harvests will keep arriving long after many summer crops have finished.

Veggie jobs this August…

• Keep watering in dry spells — especially newly planted crops.
• Feed hungry plants like courgettes, tomatoes and peppers weekly.
• Pick beans and courgettes regularly before they get too big.
• Clear tired plants and refresh gaps with quick-growing salads.
• Watch for blight on potatoes and tomatoes — remove affected foliage promptly.
• Keep the compost heap active with a mix of green and brown materials.
• Save seed from healthy, open-pollinated plants for next year.

🪴 Herby Highlights & Things to Do

• Harvest herbs for drying — early in the day when oils are strongest.
• Cut back woody herbs such as thyme and oregano after flowering.
• Take cuttings of rosemary, sage or lavender for new plants.
• Sow parsley and coriander for autumn and winter use.
• Keep feeding and watering container herbs.
• Freeze herbs like basil or mint in ice cube trays for winter cooking.

🌻 August Flower Power

• Deadhead daily to keep flowers coming into autumn.
• Cut back faded perennials to tidy borders and encourage a second flush.
• Collect seed from annuals such as calendula, nigella and cornflowers.
• Keep feeding pots and hanging baskets weekly.
• Trim lavender after flowering to keep it neat.
• Water evening displays to stop pots drying out overnight.

For more options, filter the flowers by sow in August in the Easy Seed Planner.

🍓 Fruity Actions

• Pick raspberries, currants and gooseberries as they ripen.
• Harvest early apples and pears.
• Cut back fruited raspberry canes and tie in new growth.
• Water fruit trees and bushes well — it helps next year’s buds form.
• Feed soft fruit after picking with a balanced fertiliser.
• Keep an eye out for wasps near ripe fruit!

🧹 General Bits and Bobs

• Keep weeding — it’s easier to pull them when the ground’s soft.
• Mow lawns regularly, raising blades if it’s hot and dry.
• Water early or late in the day to make the most of each drop.
• Ventilate greenhouses and damp down paths on hot days.
• Keep birdbaths filled — wildlife appreciates a drink as much as you do.
• Take a few moments each evening to enjoy the glow of the garden at its best.

🧺 Abundance & Preservation

With the garden at its most generous, August is about enjoying the feast and storing the surplus.

• Pick fruit and veg at their best — don’t let them go overripe.
• Freeze beans, peas, and herbs for winter use.
• Make chutneys, jams or sauces while produce is plentiful.
• Dry herbs or string up onions and garlic in a cool, airy place.
• Share spare produce with friends, neighbours or local food schemes.

Taking a little time to store what you've grown is another way of looking ahead. Your August garden can still be feeding you well into autumn and winter.

🌻 August is a month to savour.

Enjoy the harvests, make the most of every sunny day, but don't forget to look ahead too. A handful of seeds sown now, a few flowers planned for next year, or some produce tucked away for winter will all reward you later.

Check the Easy Seed Planner and our August Offers for plenty of ideas to help your garden keep giving well beyond summer.