I have spent years working in my garden growing plants. I don't believe what the internet says about gardening until I witness it myself. If you want your plant to be healthy, you must maintain the right time of plantation. August is the best time to start planting for the fall harvest in Zone 8.
In August in Zone 8, the days are still hot, so the soil is perfect for most seeds to sprout quickly, and the cooler evenings help plants grow strong. This is a great time to plant quick-growing vegetables, start cool-season greens, get flowers ready for fall, and grow fruits and herbs for next season.
Leafy Greens
Leafy greens do well in the cooler nights of late August. Many gardeners suggest planting them in the second half of the month so they don’t bolt in the remaining summer heat.
You can sow the seeds directly in the garden, this works best for most greens, or start them indoors and transplant them later for an earlier harvest.
| Leafy Green | Best Planting Time | How to Plant | Transplant? | When to Harvest | Suggested Varieties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kale | Mid to Late August | Sow seeds directly or start indoors | 3–4 week-old seedlings | 50–65 days | Lacinato, Winterbor |
| Lettuce | Late August | Sow seeds directly or start indoors | 3–4 week-old seedlings | 40–55 days | Buttercrunch, Romaine |
| Arugula | Late August | Sow seeds directly | No | 20–30 days | Astro, Rocket |
| Mustard Greens | Late August | Sow seeds directly | No | 30–40 days | Southern Giant, Green Wave |
| Pak Choi (Bok Choy) | Late August | Sow seeds directly or start indoors | 3–4 week-old seedlings | 30–45 days | Joi Choi, Mei Qing Choi |
| Mizuna | Late August | Sow seeds directly | No | 25–35 days | Early Mizuna, Red Mizuna |
Plant these greens in some shade and keep the soil moist, so they don't get stressed by the late-summer heat and grow well.
Use a light shade cloth during the hottest hours of the day to prevent your greens from drooping leaves.
Harvest leaves early in the morning for the best taste and crispness.
Water the plants regularly and add a layer of mulch around them. This keeps the soil cool, stops it from drying out, and gives you a better harvest.
Vegetables
August is your last chance to plant warm-season crops like beans, but it's also the perfect time to start some cool-weather veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage.
If you plant these brassicas indoors now, they will have enough time to grow and be ready for the cooler months.
| Vegetable | Best Time to Plant | Planting Method | Transplanting Time | First Harvest | Recommended Varieties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carrots | Early to mid August | Direct sow | Not required | 60–80 days | Nantes, Danvers 126 |
| Beets | Early to mid August | Direct sow | Not required | 50–60 days | Detroit Dark Red, Chioggia |
| Radishes | Mid to late August | Direct sow | Not required | 20–30 days | Cherry Belle, French Breakfast |
| Broccoli | Early August | Start indoors | 4–6 weeks old seedlings | 60–90 days | Calabrese, Waltham 29 |
| Cauliflower | Early August | Start indoors | 4–6 weeks old seedlings | 70–100 days | Snowball Y, Graffiti |
| Cabbage | Early August | Start indoors | 4–6 weeks old seedlings | 65–90 days | Golden Acre, Red Express |
| Green Beans | Early August | Direct sow | Not required | 50–60 days | Provider, Contender |
| Summer Squash | Early August | Direct sow | Not required | 45–55 days | Yellow Crookneck, Zucchini |
| Cucumbers | Early August | Direct sow | Not required | 50–70 days | Marketmore 76, Straight Eight |
| Brussels Sprouts | Early August | Start indoors | 4–6 weeks old seedlings | 90–120 days | Long Island Improved, Jade |
Plant these vegetables in well-drained soil, keep them consistently watered, and give young seedlings some shade to protect them from the hottest sun in August so they grow strong.
Always transplant your brassicas (like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage) on a cloudy day to reduce transplant shock.
Fruits & Berries
In zone 8, August isn't the best month for planting most fruits, but it's a great time to plant perennial fruit plants that will give you a harvest next year or later.
So, planting them in the ground now helps the plants settle in before winter comes in your area.
| Fruit / Berry | Best Planting Time | Planting Method | Transplanting Time | First Harvest | Variety Recommendations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strawberries | Early to mid August | Bare-root or plugs | N/A | Next spring/summer | Chandler, Seascape |
| Blueberries | Early August | Transplant seedlings | When seedlings are 6–12 inches tall | 2–3 years | Bluecrop, Legacy |
| Raspberries | Early August | Bare-root or potted | N/A | Next summer | Heritage, Fall Gold |
| Blackberries | Early August | Bare-root or potted | N/A | Next summer | Navaho, Apache |
| Grapes | Early August | Transplant vines | When vines are 12–18 inches | 2–3 years | Concord, Flame Seedless |
| Apples (bare-root) | Mid to late August | Bare-root trees | Dormant season (late fall/winter) | 2–3 years | Gala, Fuji |
| Pears (bare-root) | Mid to late August | Bare-root trees | Dormant season (late fall/winter) | 2–3 years | Bartlett, Kieffer |
| Figs | Early to mid August | Potted or bare-root | N/A | 1–2 years | Brown Turkey, Celeste |
| Pineapple Guava (Feijoa) | Early to mid August | Potted or bare-root | N/A | 2–3 years | Apollo, Mammoth |
Plant in well-drained soil, water regularly, and add a layer of mulch around them to keep roots moist and protected from late summer heat.
For blueberries, make sure the soil is acidic, these plants grow best when the pH is between 4.5 and 5.5.
Flowers
In Zone 8, August is like a magic bridge between summer and spring. You can plant bright summer flowers like Marigolds and Zinnias now, and they will keep blooming until the first frost.
At the same time, you can start cool-weather beauties like Pansies and Snapdragons, which will fill your garden with gorgeous colors in fall and again next spring.
| Flower Name | Type | Best Planting Time | Planting Method | Transplanting Time | First Bloom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marigold | Annual | Early August | Direct sow or start indoors | 3–4 weeks | 8–10 weeks |
| Zinnia | Annual | Early August | Direct sow | Not required | 6–8 weeks |
| Sunflower | Annual | Early August | Direct sow | Not required | 8–12 weeks |
| Cosmos | Annual | Early August | Direct sow | Not required | 7–10 weeks |
| Portulaca | Annual | Early August | Direct sow or transplant | Not required | 8–10 weeks |
| Lantana | Perennial | Early August | Transplant nursery plants | Not required | Same season |
| Salvia (perennial) | Perennial | Early August | Transplant or direct sow | Not required | Next season |
| Dianthus | Perennial | Late August | Start indoors or transplant | 4–6 weeks | Early spring |
| Calendula | Annual | Late August | Direct sow | Not required | 6–8 weeks |
| Snapdragons | Annual | Late August | Start indoors | 4–6 weeks | Early spring |
| Pansies | Annual | Late August | Start indoors | 4–6 weeks | Early spring |
| Viola | Annual | Late August | Start indoors | 4–6 weeks | Early spring |
If you have plants that bloom late in the season, give them a small amount of fertilizer so their roots grow strong before winter comes.
Herbs
You can still plant many herbs in August. Cool-loving herbs like Cilantro and Dill grow fast now and taste best when you pick them young.
Some herbs, like Parsley and Chives, sprout well in the warm late-summer weather but grow best in cooler fall air, so you can sow them directly now or start them indoors to transplant later.
| Herb | Best Planting Time | Planting Method | Transplanting Time | First Harvest | Variety Recommendations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cilantro | Early–Late August | Direct sow | Not required | 30–45 days | Santo, Leisure |
| Dill | Early–Late August | Direct sow | Not required | 40–50 days | Bouquet, Fernleaf |
| Chives | Mid–Late August | Direct sow | Not required | Next spring | Common Chives, Garlic Chives |
| Basil | Early–Late August | Direct sow or start indoors | 3–4 weeks old seedlings | 50–70 days | Genovese, Sweet, Thai |
| Thyme | Mid–Late August | Direct sow or start indoors | 3–4 weeks old seedlings | 90–120 days | English, French, Lemon Thyme |
| Oregano | Mid–Late August | Direct sow or start indoors | 3–4 weeks old seedlings | 90–120 days | Greek, Italian |
| Parsley | Early August | Direct sow or start indoors | 3–4 weeks old seedlings | 70–90 days | Italian Flat Leaf, Curly |
Water your herbs regularly while their seeds are sprouting, and remove any early flower buds so the plant focuses on growing more leaves.
Harvest herbs young for the best flavor, especially for fast-growing herbs like cilantro and dill.
You can plant most herbs directly in the garden, but herbs that grow slowly are better to start indoors and transplant outside later for the best results.
