Late Summer Planting: Vegetables and Flowers for a Fall Harvest

Refresh Your Garden in August

Mid-summer doesn't mean the growing season's over. August planting yields a second harvest of vegetables and a burst of fall color. Warm soil speeds germination; cooler nights ahead reduce stress.

Vegetables to Plant Now

• Tomatoes: Set out determinate (bush) varieties from transplants for November fruit.
• Beans, corn, cucumbers, summer squash: Direct-sow fast-maturing varieties (50–60 days).
• Lima beans, celery: Transplants establish before frost.
• Cool-season crops: Start broccoli, cabbage, kale, spinach, lettuce indoors or in shade for September transplant.

Herbs for Fall Harvest

Transplant basil, oregano, parsley, rosemary, thyme, mint. They'll thrive into autumn. Pinch flowers to prolong leaf production.

Summer-Blooming Trees

Jacaranda, Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora), Crape Myrtle—plant now with diligent watering. They establish roots before winter.

Annuals for Quick Color

• Transplants: Cosmos, zinnias, marigolds—bloom until frost. Deadhead daily.
• Seeds (start indoors): Calendula, delphinium, pansies, snapdragons—for early spring bloom.

Perennial Maintenance

Cut back scraggly perennials to a few inches. They'll rebound with fresh growth for fall or next spring. Divide overcrowded clumps (iris, daylilies, hostas).

Water Wisely

• Early morning (5–9 AM), 2–3 times/week deeply (6+ inches).
• Soaker hoses/drip irrigation target roots, not leaves.
• Wilting containers? Move to afternoon shade.
• Mulch 2–3 inches to retain moisture.

August planting extends your garden's productivity and beauty well into fall. The effort now pays off in November salads and spring blooms.