Welcome to our August vegetable sowing guide, as August arrives, we’re greeted with warm days and slightly cooler nights, creating perfect conditions for sowing a wide variety of crops to ensure a bountiful harvest into the autumn and beyond. This month on the allotment, we’re focusing on sowing a diverse range of vegetables and greens that will keep our gardens productive and our plates full of fresh, tasty produce. Here’s an in-depth look at what we’re sowing this August on our UK allotment.
What We’re Sowing (August vegetable sowing guide)
Red Lettuce
Sowing red lettuce from seed this month will keep our salads vibrant and varied. Varieties like ‘Lollo Rosso’ and ‘Red Salad Bowl’ are ideal for August sowing. These lettuces provide beautiful, crisp leaves that are perfect for adding a pop of colour and texture to our autumn salads. Ensure the soil is well-prepared and kept consistently moist to encourage healthy growth.
Rocket
Rocket, with its quick-growing nature and peppery flavour, is a fantastic addition to the garden. August sowing allows for a rapid turnaround, giving us fresh leaves in just a few weeks. Rocket’s spicy leaves are excellent for salads and sandwiches, adding a zesty kick to our meals. Regular harvesting encourages new growth, ensuring a steady supply.
Black Nero Kale
Known for its rich flavour and dark, textured leaves, Black Nero kale is a hardy crop that thrives in cooler temperatures. Sowing it now will ensure we have a continuous supply of nutritious leaves through the autumn and winter. This variety of kale is particularly well-suited for soups, stews, and even making crispy kale chips. Regular feeding with a high-nitrogen fertilizer will promote lush, healthy foliage.
Beetroot
Sowing beetroot from seed in August ensures a steady supply of this versatile root vegetable. Varieties like ‘Boltardy’ and ‘Detroit Dark Red’ are great choices. Beetroot is perfect for roasting, pickling, or adding to salads. To encourage even growth, thin the seedlings to about 10cm apart once they are established.
French Radish
French radishes are fast-growing and perfect for August sowing. Varieties like ‘French Breakfast’ and ‘Sparkler’ will produce spicy, crunchy radishes in a matter of weeks, ideal for salads and snacking. These radishes thrive in well-drained soil and regular watering, ensuring they don’t become woody.
Bright Lights Chard
This colourful and productive crop is a joy to grow. Sowing ‘Bright Lights’ chard now will add a splash of vibrant colour to our allotment and our meals. The brightly coloured stems and dark green leaves are not only beautiful but also highly nutritious. Chard is perfect for salads, sautés, and as a spinach substitute.
Carrots
We’re continuing to sow carrots this month to ensure a continuous harvest. Varieties like ‘Nantes 2’ and ‘Autumn King’ are reliable and sweet, providing delicious roots well into the cooler months. Carrots prefer a loose, well-drained soil free from stones to develop straight, long roots. Regular thinning will help ensure they have enough space to grow.
Ruby Streak Mustard
With its beautiful purple leaves and spicy flavour, Ruby Streak mustard is a great addition to our garden. It’s perfect for adding colour and a peppery taste to salads and dishes. This mustard variety is quick to mature and can be harvested as baby greens or allowed to grow to full size for a more robust flavour.
Spinach
Spinach is a hardy green that thrives in cooler weather. Sowing it now will ensure a supply of tender, nutritious leaves for salads, soups, and sautés throughout the autumn. Spinach prefers a well-drained, fertile soil and benefits from regular watering to prevent bolting in warm weather.
Pak Choi
This versatile and fast-growing Asian green is perfect for sowing in August. Pak choi is excellent for stir-fries, soups, and salads, providing a crisp texture and mild flavour. It grows best in a fertile, well-drained soil with consistent moisture. Regular harvesting of the outer leaves encourages new growth.
Onion Seeds
Sowing onion seeds in August gives us a head start on next year’s harvest. Varieties like ‘White Lisbon’ and ‘Bedfordshire Champion’ will develop over the winter and be ready for harvesting next summer. Onions prefer a sunny location and well-drained soil. Early sowing allows the plants to establish before the colder months set in.
August vegetable sowing guide YouTube
Allotment Tips for August
Watering
Consistent watering is crucial, especially during warm days. Water early in the morning or late in the evening to minimize evaporation and ensure deep soil penetration. Focus on watering at the base of the plants to encourage strong root growth and avoid wetting the foliage, which can lead to disease.
Weeding
Regular weeding is essential to reduce competition for nutrients and water. Keep an eye on those weeds and remove them promptly to help your crops thrive. Mulching around plants can also help suppress weed growth and retain soil moisture.
Feeding
Feed your crops regularly with a balanced fertilizer to support their growth and development. Use a high-nitrogen feed for leafy greens like kale and chard to encourage lush foliage. For root vegetables, a balanced fertilizer will promote healthy root development.
Pest Control
Watch out for pests such as aphids, cabbage white caterpillars, and slugs. Use organic methods like neem oil, natural predators, and barriers to protect your plants. Regularly inspect your plants for signs of pests and take action promptly to prevent infestations.
Harvest Highlights
As we sow new crops, we’re also enjoying the rewards of our earlier efforts. This month, we’re harvesting:
- Lettuce: Fresh, crisp leaves for our salads.
- Carrots: Sweet and crunchy, perfect for snacking and cooking.
- Potatoes: Creamy and delicious, ideal for salads and side dishes.
- Strawberries: Juicy and sweet, perfect for desserts and snacks.
- Radishes: Spicy and crisp, great for salads.
- Kale: Picking those perfect green leaves.
My Top 3 of July’s Videos
- What I’m sowing in August
- How to care for Chilli Plants in Pots & What to Avoid!
- Years of Polytunnel Growing Experience in 10 minutes
Want to direct sow in August?
August is a fantastic month on the allotment. The warm days and slightly cooler nights make for enjoyable gardening, and there’s always something new to sow or harvest. Keep nurturing your plants, enjoy the sunshine, and relish the fruits of your labour.
What Next?
👇🏼 Let me Guide you through the season “NEWSLETTER” ✅ Always know what to sow and when, your full guide to the growing season. (Monthly Newsletter) Simple easy to follow (No Fluff, Spam or filler) just good advice. https://veggiepatchideas.substack.com/
✅ Helpful links
Shopping Amazon store front for guides and product reviews of the things that you need.
RHS: facts about grow your own Click here
Just starting your veggie patch? Start here with our beginners guide
Problems on the allotment? Remove Couch Grass or Remove Bindweed
Looking for an allotment in the UK? Try searching here first GOV.UK
The national allotment society Click Here
Other sites we love Gardeners world
