August in Zone 7 is like standing in the middle of two seasons; summer is still shining hard, but fall is quietly knocking at the door. This is not just the end of summer, actually, it's the start of a great planting season. While most people think this is not the right time to plant anything, smart gardeners know this is the perfect time to prepare for fresh fall harvests, beautiful late-season flowers, and even next year's crops.
I have spent a lot of time reading gardening guides, learned from experienced growers in forums, and gathered great tips from experts. Based on the information I have gathered, I made this guide to show you what to plant, when to plant it, and how to do it, to get the best harvest before the frost comes.
I have organized this guide into 5 simple categories so you can quickly find what to plant and how to do it right.
- Leafy Greens
- Vegetables
- Fruits & Berries
- Herbs
- Flowers
I have added tables for each section with the best time to plant, how to plant it, and variety ideas, so you can get great results without wasting time or seeds.
Leafy Greens
Leafy greens planted in August grow quickly because the soil is warm. When the weather gets cooler, they taste sweeter and become softer.
Plant a new batch every 2–3 weeks so you can keep harvesting fresh greens until the frost comes.
| Leafy Green | Best Planting Time | Planting Method | Transplanting Time | First Harvest | Variety Recommendations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lettuce | Early to mid-August | Direct sow or start indoors | 3–4 weeks after sowing | 30–50 days | ‘Buttercrunch’, ‘Romaine’ |
| Spinach | Mid to late August | Direct sow | Not required | 35–50 days | ‘Bloomsdale’, ‘Tyee’ |
| Swiss Chard | Early to mid-August | Direct sow or start indoors | 3–4 weeks after germination | 50–60 days | ‘Bright Lights’, ‘Fordhook Giant’ |
| Kale | Early to mid-August | Direct sow or start indoors | 4–6 weeks before frost | 50–65 days | ‘Lacinato’, ‘Winterbor’ |
| Collard Greens | Early to mid-August | Direct sow or start indoors | 4–6 weeks before frost | 60–75 days | ‘Georgia Southern’ |
| Mustard Greens | Mid to late August | Direct sow | Not required | 30–45 days | ‘Red Giant’, ‘Southern Giant Curled’ |
| Arugula | Throughout August | Direct sow | Not required | 20–40 days | ‘Astro’, ‘Rocket’ |
| Endive | Early to mid-August | Direct sow or transplant | 3–4 weeks after sowing | 50–60 days | ‘Frisée’, ‘Batavian’ |
| Mâche (Corn Salad) | Mid to late August | Direct sow | Not required | 40–50 days | ‘Vit’, ‘Gala’ |
Water your plants regularly in hot weather to stop them from flowering too early. You can also use a light shade cloth to keep your greens fresh and last longer into the warm days.
Vegetables
August is the perfect time to plant veggies that grow fast and give you a tasty fall harvest. Think about crops that can handle a light frost, they're your little warriors against chilly nights.
Also, the tarm soil is perfect for root vegetables, they grow well in the warm soil now and can be stored for use during winter.
| Vegetable | Best Planting Time | Planting Method | Transplanting Time | First Harvest | Variety Recommendations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beets | Early to mid-August | Direct sow | Not required | 50–70 days | ‘Detroit Dark Red’, ‘Chioggia’ |
| Carrots | Early to mid-August | Direct sow | Not required | 60–80 days | ‘Danvers 126’, ‘Nelson’ |
| Radishes | Throughout August | Direct sow | Not required | 20–40 days | ‘Cherry Belle’, ‘French Breakfast’ |
| Turnips | Mid-August | Direct sow | Not required | 40–60 days | ‘Purple Top White Globe’, ‘Hakurei’ |
| Broccoli | Early August | Start indoors / transplant | 4–6 weeks before frost | 60–80 days | ‘Calabrese’, ‘Green Magic’ |
| Cauliflower | Early August | Start indoors / transplant | 4–6 weeks before frost | 55–80 days | ‘Snow Crown’, ‘Amazing’ |
| Cabbage | Early to mid-August | Start indoors / transplant | 4–6 weeks before frost | 70–100 days | ‘Stonehead’, ‘Copenhagen Market’ |
| Brussels Sprouts | Early August | Start indoors / transplant | 4–6 weeks before frost | 90–120 days | ‘Long Island Improved’, ‘Jade Cross’ |
| Kohlrabi | Mid to late August | Direct sow or transplant | 3–4 weeks after sowing | 45–60 days | ‘Early White Vienna’, ‘Purple Vienna’ |
| Garlic (for next year) | Late August | Plant cloves | Not applicable | Next summer | ‘German Extra Hardy’, ‘Music’ |
| Onions (sets for overwintering) | Late August | Plant sets | Not applicable | Next summer | ‘Yellow Globe’, ‘Walla Walla’ |
After sowing seeds, cover your soil with mulch to keep the ground moist and cool. This helps the seeds sprout faster and protects them during hot days.
Fruits & Berries
August may not be the best time to plant most fruits in Zone 7, but it's a great month to put perennials in the soil.
Perennials are plants that come back year after year. Planting them now gives their roots time to grow strong before the cold winter comes.
| Fruit/Berry | Best Planting Time | Planting Method | First Harvest | Variety Recommendations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strawberries | Mid to late August | Plant crowns | Next spring | Earliglow, Allstar |
| Raspberries | Late August | Plant canes | Next summer | Heritage, Caroline |
| Blackberries | Late August | Plant canes | Next summer | Natchez, Triple Crown |
| Grapes | Late August | Plant bare-root or potted | 2–3 years | Concord, Himrod |
| Blueberries | Late August | Plant bushes | 2–3 years | Bluecrop, Jersey |
| Figs | Late August | Plant young trees | 1–2 years | Celeste, Brown Turkey |
| Apples | Late August | Plant bare-root or potted | 2–3 years | Fuji, Gala |
| Peaches | Late August | Plant bare-root or potted | 2–3 years | Redhaven, Elberta |
| Plums | Late August | Plant bare-root or potted | 2–3 years | Santa Rosa, Methley |
| Pears | Late August | Plant bare-root or potted | 2–3 years | Bartlett, Bosc |
After planting, water your new plants well so their roots can get comfortable in the soil. Spread some compost around the base to give them extra nutrients.
Herbs
If you plant herbs now, they will grow well in the cooler fall weather. You can also bring them indoors before the frost to have fresh herbs all winter.
| Herb | Best Planting Time | Planting Method | Transplanting Time | First Harvest | Variety Recommendations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cilantro | Mid to late August | Direct sow | Not required | 30–45 days | Santo, Leisure |
| Dill | Mid to late August | Direct sow | Not required | 40–60 days | Bouquet, Fernleaf |
| Parsley | Early to mid-August | Direct sow or start indoors | 3–4 weeks after germination | 70–90 days | Flat Leaf Italian, Curly Moss |
| Chives | Throughout August | Direct sow or transplant | 3–4 weeks after germination | 60–80 days | Common Chives, Garlic Chives |
| Thyme | Early August | Start indoors / transplant | Not applicable | 85–90 days | English, Lemon |
| Sage | Early August | Start indoors / transplant | Not applicable | 75–85 days | Common Sage, Purple Sage |
| Oregano | Early August | Start indoors / transplant | Not applicable | 80–90 days | Greek, Italian |
| Basil | Early August | Direct sow or start indoors | 3–4 weeks after germination | 30–45 days | Genovese, Sweet Thai |
Herbs like basil and dill are sensitive to cold, so grow them in pots if you plan to bring them indoors later.
Flowers
Some flowers grow quickly and bloom within a few weeks, so planting them now can make your garden look colorful even as summer ends.
You can also plant perennials in August. This gives them time to grow strong roots, so they will bloom beautifully next year.
| Flower Name | Best Planting Time | Planting Method | Transplanting Time | First Bloom | Perennial or Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marigold | Early August | Direct sow or start indoors | 3–4 weeks after germination | 8–10 weeks | Annual |
| Zinnia | Early August | Direct sow | Not required | 6–8 weeks | Annual |
| Calendula | Mid-August | Direct sow | Not required | 6–8 weeks | Annual |
| Pansy | Late August | Start indoors / transplant | 6–8 weeks after sowing | Next spring | Perennial |
| Viola | Late August | Start indoors / transplant | 6–8 weeks after sowing | Next spring | Perennial |
| Snapdragons | Late August | Start indoors / transplant | 6–8 weeks after sowing | Next spring | Annual/Short-lived |
| Dianthus | Late August | Start indoors / transplant | 6–8 weeks after sowing | Next spring | Perennial |
| Sweet Alyssum | Mid to late August | Direct sow | Not required | 6–8 weeks | Annual |
Keep new plants or transplants consistently watered and protected from extreme heat so they establish strong roots.
Perennials planted in August will bloom next spring, so give them about 6–8 weeks to grow before the first hard frost comes in your area.
