Vegetables and Herbs to Plant in August

Arugula

Arugula is a leafy green with a unique, peppery flavor that some people love and others (including the late Julia Child) hate. It's popular in salads, but can also be added to a wide range of cooked dishes. If you plant arugula, you'll have to select from one of several varieties including the popular wild rocket or wall-rocket.

Where You Can Plant in August

• Central U.S./Midwest 
• New England and the Mid-Atlantic Region 
• North Central U.S., Rocky Mountains 
• Pacific Northwest

Basil

One of the most popular cooking herbs in the garden, basil is a particular favorite in the Italian kitchen. Both the leaves and the flowers are edible, and they are often puréed with olive oil and nuts to form pesto. Basil is easy to grow in many climates and can be cultivated indoors. It's worth your time to grow, as dried basil doesn't come close to the aroma and flavor of the fresh variety.

 Where You Can Plant in August

• Southeast/Gulf Coast Region
• Southwest

Beets

Beets are fast-growing root vegetables that grow almost anywhere. Surprisingly, both the bright red root and the leaves are edible. While beets may sound boring, they can provide the basis for a wide range of tasty recipes such as pickled beets, beet salad, and wilted beet greens.

Where You Can Plant in August

• Central U.S./Midwest 
• New England and the Mid-Atlantic Region 
• North Central U.S., Rocky Mountains 
• Pacific Northwest
• Southeast/Gulf Coast Region
• Southwest

Broccoli (Transplants)

You can harvest broccoli twice in a single season because the plant grows quickly and can be planted quite early. The part we eat is the broccoli flower; it's important to harvest broccoli early to avoid the possibility of the flowers opening up and becoming unpleasant to eat. 

Where You Can Plant in August

• Central U.S./Midwest 
• New England and the Mid-Atlantic Region 
• Pacific Northwest
• Southwest

Brussels Sprouts (Transplants)

Brussels sprouts require a long growing season​ but can grow successfully in many regions. Once maligned, this nutritious vegetable has undergone a sort of culinary renaissance. Enjoy sprouts roasted, tossed with bacon, sautéed, or mixed into a crunchy salad.

Where You Can Plant in August

• Central U.S./Midwest 
• New England and the Mid-Atlantic Region 
• Pacific Northwest
• Southwest

Cabbage (Transplants)

Start your cabbages early in the season, and then plant throughout the summer for an ongoing harvest. Cabbages tend to grow well in home gardens and are the basis for coleslaw and other summer salads.

Where You Can Plant in August

• Central U.S./Midwest 
• New England and the Mid-Atlantic Region 
• North Central U.S., Rocky Mountains 
• Pacific Northwest
• Southwest

Carrots

If you think you know all about carrots, think again. Those long, orangey-yellow veggies in the grocery store are just the tip of the iceberg. You can also grow red, purple, or yellow carrots that are round or extra-thin. Different types of carrots do better in different soils, so it's worthwhile learning something about each variety before selecting the best option for your garden. In addition to eating them raw or diced and steamed, consider pickling carrots, roasting them, and using them as the basis for delicious summer (or winter) soups.  

Where You Can Plant in August

• Central U.S./Midwest 
• New England and the Mid-Atlantic Region 
• Pacific Northwest
• Southeast/Gulf Coast Region
• Southwest

Cauliflower (Transplants)

Cauliflower seems to be the new "it" veggie, with cauliflower "rice" (grated cauliflower) taking the place of starchy grains and cauliflower "steaks" standing in for meatier dishes. It's not easy to grow​ and can take a whole season to ripen, but you'll certainly have plenty of ways to use your cauliflower harvest, no matter if it's white or purple.

Where You Can Plant in August

• Central U.S./Midwest 
• New England and the Mid-Atlantic Region 
• Pacific Northwest
• Southwest

Chinese Cabbage

Chinese cabbage also called Napa cabbage, is a sweet, mild, and delicate veggie that many prefer to the heavier traditional cabbage. It can be used in place of the more expensive bok choy, or grated and used in coleslaw. It does well in cooler weather, so many want to plant it later in the season.

Where You Can Plant in August

• Central U.S./Midwest

Cilantro

When you plant cilantro, you can harvest both the leaves (cilantro) and the seeds (coriander). Cilantro, an herb with a unique flavor, is ideal in Asian stir-fries and Mexican dishes. Coriander, a spice, is made by grinding up the cilantro seeds and can be used in curries and many other ethnic dishes. You'll need to plant cilantro frequently throughout the summer, as it goes to seed almost as soon as it's ready to harvest.

Where You Can Plant in August

• Pacific Northwest
• Southeast/Gulf Coast Region
• Southwest

Collard Greens

Collard greens are non-head-forming cabbage that can be steamed, sautéed, or braised. They're often associated with southern cooking. Since many cups of collards cook down to almost nothing, cooking collards is often referred to as "fixing a mess of greens."

Where You Can Plant in August

• Central U.S./Midwest 
• Pacific Northwest
• Southeast/Gulf Coast Region

Corn

Corn is easy to grow, but it can be hard to harvest as humans are always in competition with corn-loving wildlife including birds, mice, raccoons, and squirrels. It can take two months for corn to mature, and many gardeners like to plant multiple varieties at different times so that fresh corn is always available through the growing season. 

Where You Can Plant in August

• Southwest

Cucumber

Cucumbers grow only in warm weather, but they do grow quickly. Whether you choose smaller "pickling" cucumbers or the larger "slicing" variety, you can expect a good harvest if you start your plants well after the ground thaws.

Where You Can Plant in August

• Southeast/Gulf Coast Region
• Southwest

Dill

Dill is a culinary herb that goes well in salads, with chicken, and in many kinds of soup. It grows quickly and can be harvested at any time (its leaves are used for flavoring). Once it starts to flower, however, the harvest is over. Many gardeners grow a succession of dill plants so that the fresh herb can be picked throughout the growing season.

Where You Can Plant in August

• Southeast/Gulf Coast Region
• Southwest

Kale

A non-heading cabbage, kale is a powerhouse of nutrition and an increasingly popular veggie for health enthusiasts. Used in smoothies, salads, stir-fries, and even hash, kale is a cool-season plant that can take up to two months to grow. There are many different kale varieties, including flat and curly options.

Where You Can Plant in August

• Central U.S./Midwest 
• New England and the Mid-Atlantic Region 
• North Central U.S., Rocky Mountains 

Where You Can Transplant in August

• New England and the Mid-Atlantic Region 
• Pacific Northwest

Leeks (Transplants)

This frost-tolerant relative of the onion can grow into the winter months. This is fortunate, as it can take most of a growing season to mature. Leeks are typically used in soups and stews; their stems taste very much like a milder, sweeter onion.

Where You Can Plant in August

• New England and the Mid-Atlantic Region

Lettuce

There are five main types of lettuce and dozens of varieties. Some take just a few weeks to mature while others can take the whole summer. Before planting your lettuce, take some time to learn about the many available varieties; then mix and match different types of lettuces in your garden. Be sure to schedule your planting times so that the lettuces are ready to be harvested throughout the season.

Where You Can Plant in August

• New England and the Mid-Atlantic Region 
• North Central U.S., Rocky Mountains 
• Pacific Northwest
• Southeast/Gulf Coast Region
• Southwest

Mache

Mache is a tender salad green sometimes called "corn salad." It can grow almost anywhere and often does well even in the heat of summer. If you plant succession crops every few weeks, you can continue to harvest mache well into the fall.

Where You Can Plant in August

• New England and the Mid-Atlantic Region
• North Central U.S., Rocky Mountains
• Pacific Northwest

Mustard Greens

Mustard greens are a favorite southern dish, often paired with bacon, ham, or salt pork. Before cooking, be sure your mustard greens are grit-free by rinsing several times. Most southern cooks sautée their mustard greens with fatback or ham before boiling them until tender.

Where You Can Plant in August

• Central U.S./Midwest 
• New England and the Mid-Atlantic Region 
• Pacific Northwest
• Southeast/Gulf Coast Region

Peas

There are shelling peas, snow peas, snap peas, and soup peas. All are delicious (especially fresh) and all are relatively easy to grow. The key to a good pea harvest is to avoid the hottest part of summer, as pea plants cease producing when the weather is too hot. 

Where You Can Plant in August

• Central U.S./Midwest 
• New England and the Mid-Atlantic Region

Potatoes

Potatoes come in every size and color, and different varieties require different growing conditions. You'll start by allowing your seed potatoes to sprout, and then you'll select a growing method: you can grow potatoes in trenches, holes, or containers. You can dig up new potatoes at any time during the growing season, or wait for full-sized potatoes at maturity.

Where You Can Plant in August

• Southeast/Gulf Coast Region

Radishes

Radishes can be round and red or long and white, and they can be mild, sweet, or bitter. Some, such as the large Japanese Daikon radish, can grow in cold weather while others do best in spring or summer. While most people eat radishes in a salad, radishes can also be sautéed, stewed, or added to Japanese sushi. Before planting, plan out your radish season so you can enjoy different radish varieties throughout the season. 

Where You Can Plant in August

• Central U.S./Midwest 
• New England and the Mid-Atlantic Region 
• North Central U.S., Rocky Mountains 
• Pacific Northwest
• Southeast/Gulf Coast Region
• Southwest

Spinach

Spinach is a rather difficult vegetable to grow, as it dislikes both cold and hot weather and requires well-drained soil to thrive. It is, however, packed with nutrients and is a major ingredient in many recipes from a wide range of cultures. Spinach can do well in fall, provided there is no frost.

Where You Can Plant in August

• Central U.S./Midwest 
• New England and the Mid-Atlantic Region 
• North Central U.S., Rocky Mountains 
• Pacific Northwest
• Southeast/Gulf Coast Region
• Southwest

Summer Squash

Summer squash can be grown from seed and thrives in the full, hot sun. Be sure your squash gets plenty of water and fertilizer, and you'll be overwhelmed with a bountiful harvest. Squash is terrific in stews and soups and can be "spiralized" and used instead of pasta for healthy, low-calorie meals.

Where You Can Plant in August

• Southeast/Gulf Coast Region
• Southwest

Swiss Chard

If you've never grown swiss chard, you're in for a treat. While it takes a while (60 days or so) to reach maturity, the glossy, delicious leaves are worth the wait. You can also grow chard in the fall in many locations. Chop the chard and sautée it with olive oil and garlic, or use it in dishes that usually include spinach.

Where You Can Plant in August

• Central U.S./Midwest 
• Pacific Northwest
• Southwest

Tomato (Transplants)

Everyone loves tomatoes, whether they're large and beefy or tiny and sweet. And, of course, there are a hundred and one different ways to use tomatoes fresh from the vine. In most areas, tomatoes grow fairly quickly and are harvested well before fall, but in the Southwest, you may be able to grow a crop of fall tomatoes.

Where You Can Plant in August

• Southwest

Turnips

Like beets, both the root and the leaves of turnips are edible. Turnips are root vegetables that take about 60 days to mature, so it's possible to get two harvests in a single summer. Turnips are classic additions to soups and stews; they can also be mashed with butter or chopped for salad. Do be sure to harvest your turnips while they're still young and tender, as older turnips can be tough.

Where You Can Plant in August

• Central U.S./Midwest 
• New England and the Mid-Atlantic Region 
• North Central U.S., Rocky Mountains 
• Pacific Northwest
• Southeast/Gulf Coast Region
• Southwest