Planting options for August:
Peak Planting Season Kicks Off in the UK's August Gardens
August brings a perfect opportunity for garden enthusiasts in the UK to sow seeds and plant young vegetable and flower plants, ensuring the continuation of their cropping and flowering season.
On the vegetable patch, sowing and planting out in August will keep the harvests coming. Salad leaves, radishes, and other quick-growing crops can provide short-term harvests, while winter cabbages take advantage of the summer's remaining warmth before autumn sets in. For vegetables that require a longer growing period, planting in August ensures ample sunshine and warm temperatures.
When it comes to ornamental borders and cutting patches, August is an ideal time to prepare for the following year. Sowing hardy annuals now will result in an early crop of flowers in spring, while biennials sown in August will flower by the following summer.
Although the warm August temperatures aid seed germination, the water table may be lower, necessitating additional water for seedlings and newly planted plants. Gardeners should be mindful of periods of dry weather or drought, and be prepared to reduce their water use accordingly.
Vegetables to Plant in August
Lettuce and spinach are hardier than they appear and can be overwintered in greenhouses and beneath cloches, providing leaves from April through June. Oriental leaves, rocket, and corn salad are also suitable for planting in August, offering tasty salad crops throughout the winter months. Spring onions, turnips, and chicory also thrive when sown in August, ensuring a harvest in the coming seasons.
Cabbages and chard are ideal for sowing in August, with the spring varieties being sown outdoors, and the winter varieties planted out now. Protect these plants from cabbage white caterpillars and pigeons using fine netting suspended 1m off the ground to accommodate hedgehogs.
Japanese onions are perfect to sow at this time, with cultivars like 'Senshyu' and 'Radar' particularly suitable for winter cold. Kohlrabi should also be sown in August for a late harvest in October, with both the leaves and swollen stems being edible.
Flowers to Plant in August
August is the perfect time to sow pot marigolds and cornflowers for May flowers, while forget-me-nots, California poppies, and wild carrot can be sown for next year's displays. For those looking for early spring blooms, consider planting biennials like foxgloves and wallflowers now. Alternatively, consider planting spring-flowering bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths in September or October for a vibrant display in early spring. Colchicums, an autumn-flowering crocus, can still be planted in early August for autumn flowers.
In summary, August presents a great opportunity for gardeners to sow seeds and plant young plants in both the vegetable and flower gardens, ensuring a bountiful harvest and colourful blooms throughout the year.
- Gardeners can take advantage of August's favorable conditions to sow hardy annuals like pot marigolds and cornflowers for a beautiful display of flowers in May, aligning with the UK's home-and-garden lifestyle.
- To maintain a continuous provision of letters, oriental leaves, rocket, and corn salad for salad dishes, gardeners should consider planting them during the peak season in August, providing an extended lifestyle of gardening and culinary pursuits.
