What to plant in August in Central Texas
By Parvez Akhtar Pasha | Aug 01, 2025
In Central Texas, August is not just a survival month for your plants, it’s a launchpad for a bountiful fall harvest and vibrant blooms.
This guide will walk you through what to plant in August in Central Texas, based on my personal experiences and research.
For a better reading experience and visual, I decided to categorize all the plants into the following categories.
- Vegetables
- Fruits & Berries
- Flowers
- Herbs
I have made simple, easy-to-read tables with planting tips for each type of plant, so you can quickly find what to grow and when to grow it.
Vegetables to plant in August in Central Texas
The soil is already warm, so seeds can sprout faster now. Some vegetables grow well in the heat and don’t take long to grow. Others like broccoli and kale need more time, so it’s good to start them early, before the weather gets cooler.
For vegetables, I have noticed people asking for the harvesting time. This is why I have added the harvesting time in my charts.
You can plant seeds straight into the ground or start them inside first.
| Vegetable | Planting Method | Planting Date Range | Recommended Timeframe | Transplanting Time | Variety Recommendation | Harvesting Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broccoli | Start Indoors | Mid–Late August | Cool-season prep | September | Packman, Waltham 29 | Oct–Nov |
| Cabbage | Start Indoors | Mid–Late August | Cool-season prep | September | Bravo, Early Jersey | Nov–Dec |
| Collards | Direct Sow / Transplant | Late August | Heat & cold tolerant | September | Champion, Georgia | Oct–Dec |
| Summer Squash | Direct Sow | Early August | Fast grower | — | Black Beauty, Sunburst | Sept |
| Snap Beans | Direct Sow | Early–Mid August | Fall harvest | — | Contender, Blue Lake | Oct |
| Turnips | Direct Sow | Late August | Quick fall crop | — | Hakurei, Purple Top | Oct–Nov |
| Beets | Direct Sow | Late August | Cool-season start | — | Detroit Dark Red | Nov |
| Kale | Start Indoors | Late August | Overwinters well | September | Lacinato, Red Russian | Nov–Mar |
| Mustard Greens | Direct Sow | Late August | Fast & hardy | — | Southern Giant | Oct–Nov |
| Swiss Chard | Direct Sow | Late August | Heat & cold tolerant | — | Bright Lights | Oct–Feb |
Plant seeds indoors in a seedling tray and cover it with a humidity dome to help them sprout better. After transplanting outside, keep seedlings in partial shade for the first 1–2 days so they can get used to the sun.
Fruits And Berries
In August, you can start preparing for a variety of fruits and berries in Texas. Some fruits like figs and pomegranates do well when planted in August, especially in containers.
For berries like strawberries and blueberries, now is the time to prepare the soil so they grow better later.
| Fruit / Berry | Planting Time (Date Range) | Transplanting Time | Harvest Time | Perennial or Deciduous | Recommended Varieties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Figs (container) | Early August | Now | Next summer | Perennial | Celeste, Brown Turkey |
| Pomegranate (container) | Early–Mid August | Now | Next fall | Perennial | Wonderful, Granada |
| Strawberry (soil prep only) | Late August (prep beds) | October | Next spring | Perennial | Chandler, Albion |
| Blackberries (bare-root planning) | Prepare beds | Winter | Spring–Summer | Perennial | Natchez, Apache |
| Blueberries (acidify soil) | Start soil prep now | Late Fall–Winter | Spring | Deciduous | Climax, Tifblue |
Blueberries need acidic soil (pH 4.5–5.5) to grow well. So it’s best to grow them in pots with a mix of peat moss, pine bark, and perlite. You can also add sulfur to lower the soil pH and help them grow better.
Flowers to plant in August in Central Texas
If you want color in your garden, August is perfect for planting fast-blooming summer flowers like zinnias and marigolds. You can also start planting flowers now that will bloom in spring.
Flowers also attract pollinators like bees and butterflies to your garden.
| Flower Name | Best Planting Time | Planting Method | Transplanting Time | First Bloom | Perennial or Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zinnias | Early August | Direct Sow | — | Sept | Annual |
| Marigolds | Early–Mid August | Transplant or Direct Sow | Immediate | Sept | Annual |
| Cosmos | Early August | Direct Sow | — | Late Sept | Annual |
| Salvia | Late August | Transplant | Sept | Spring (next year) | Perennial |
| Sunflowers | Early August | Direct Sow | — | Sept | Annual |
| Coreopsis | Late August | Transplant | Sept | Next Spring | Perennial |
| Mexican Mint Marigold | Late August | Transplant | Sept | Fall | Perennial |
Always water your plants early in the morning or in the evening, so the sun doesn’t dry the water too quickly. Also, put mulch around the plants to keep the soil cool and moist.
Herbs to plant
August is a great time to grow warm-weather herbs like basil and oregano. You can also start cooler-weather herbs like cilantro and dill indoors now, so they’ll be ready when the weather cools down.
| Herb | Planting Method | Planting Time | Transplanting Time | Time to First Harvest | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basil | Direct Sow / Transplant | Early August | Now | 3–4 weeks | Pinch for bushier growth |
| Oregano | Transplant | Mid–Late August | Sept | 1 month | Sun-loving, drought tolerant |
| Rosemary | Transplant | Anytime | — | 2–3 months | Well-drained soil essential |
| Cilantro | Start Indoors | Late August | Sept | 3–4 weeks | Bolts in heat; fall is better |
| Chives | Start Indoors | Late August | Sept | 2 months | Cold hardy |
| Dill | Direct Sow | Late August | — | 1 month | Short-lived but fast growing |
| Mint | Transplant (container) | Mid–Late August | — | 2–3 weeks | Keep contained to prevent spreading |
Mint and oregano spread quickly, so grow them in containers. Herbs need sun, but if it’s really hot, give them a little afternoon shade.
If you want the PDF printable chart, just subscribe to this site and let me know.
