WHAT TO PLANT IN AUGUST

August is a month of contrasts in the Australian vegetable garden. Southern gardeners may still be waking to frost, while northern growers are enjoying some of their most productive conditions of the year. Days are getting longer across the country, but the best planting choices depend on whether your garden is moving towards spring warmth, leaving its cool-season window or approaching the tropical build-up.

Knowing what to plant in August in Australia is therefore less about following one national calendar and more about matching crops to your climate. In cool and temperate regions, August is ideal for hardy greens, roots, peas and the first protected sowings of summer vegetables. In warmer northern areas, it can already be time to plant beans, cucumbers, corn and other heat-loving crops.

Cool Temperate

August remains cold in Tasmania, Canberra, the Victorian high country and other cool temperate areas. Frosts are still possible, soils may be wet and growth can be slow, so concentrate on vegetables that tolerate cool conditions.

Leafy greens

• Asian greens
• Lettuce
• Rocket
• Silverbeet
• Spinach

Roots

• Beetroot
• Carrots
• Onions
• Parsnips
• Potatoes
• Radishes
• Spring onions

Brassicas

• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Kale

Legumes

• Broad beans
• Peas

Herbs

• Chives
• Coriander
• Parsley

Direct-sow broad beans, peas, carrots, parsnips and radishes where they will grow. Lettuce and brassicas can be started in trays or planted as established seedlings. Protect tender new growth from slugs, snails and late frost.

Wait before sowing summer vegetables outdoors. Tomatoes can be started late in the month in a heated propagator or genuinely warm indoor position, but seedlings should not be planted outside until the soil and nights have warmed.

Warm Temperate

Warm temperate gardens around Sydney and similar coastal districts begin to feel the approach of spring during August. Hardy winter crops remain reliable, while tomatoes, capsicums and eggplants can be started under cover.

Leafy greens

• Asian greens
• Lettuce
• Mizuna
• Rocket
• Silverbeet
• Spinach

Roots

• Beetroot
• Carrots
• Leeks
• Onions
• Parsnips
• Potatoes
• Radishes
• Spring onions

Brassicas

• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Kohlrabi

Fruiting plants

• Capsicum
• Eggplant
• Tomatoes

Legumes

• Peas

Herbs

• Chives
• Coriander
• Dill
• Parsley

Continue planting leafy vegetables in small batches so they do not all mature together. Tomatoes, capsicums and eggplants need warmth to germinate, so use a sunny windowsill, greenhouse or propagation setup rather than cold outdoor soil.

Prepare their future beds now with compost. Allowing amendments time to settle creates a better planting area when seedlings are ready to move outside in spring.

Mediterranean

Mediterranean areas such as Perth and parts of southern South Australia are nearing the end of their cool, wetter growing period. August is a useful overlap month: winter crops are still productive, but gardeners in mild, frost-free positions can begin preparing summer vegetables.

Leafy greens

• Asian greens
• Lettuce
• Rocket
• Silverbeet
• Spinach

Roots

• Beetroot
• Carrots
• Leeks
• Onions
• Potatoes
• Radishes
• Spring onions

Brassicas

• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Kohlrabi

Fruiting plants

• Capsicum
• Eggplant
• Tomatoes

Legumes

• Broad beans
• Peas

Herbs

• Coriander
• Dill
• Parsley
• Thyme

Sow tomatoes, capsicums and eggplants in a warm, protected place. Coastal gardeners may be able to move early tomato seedlings outside later in August, but inland and elevated areas should wait until frost risk has passed.

The late-winter moisture is valuable. Use it to establish onions, leeks, potatoes and leafy greens before rainfall declines and irrigation becomes more important.

Arid

August is an important transition month in arid gardens. Days can warm quickly, but nights may remain cold and frost is possible in many inland locations. The aim is to keep harvesting cool-season crops while starting warm-season plants early enough to beat extreme summer heat.

Leafy greens

• Asian greens
• Lettuce
• Rocket
• Silverbeet
• Spinach

Roots

• Beetroot
• Carrots
• Onions
• Radishes
• Spring onions

Brassicas

• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower

Fruiting plants

• Capsicum
• Eggplant
• Tomatoes

Legumes

• Beans
• Peas

Herbs

• Basil
• Chives
• Coriander
• Parsley

Start tomatoes, capsicums and eggplants in punnets in a warm location. This gives plants a head start so they can establish and produce before the harshest summer temperatures arrive. An August start is particularly useful in places where spring is short.

Beans can be sown once the soil has warmed and local frost risk is easing. Keep planting quick crops such as radish, lettuce and Asian greens, but expect them to need more shade and water as spring advances.

Savannah

Savannah and grassland regions are generally in their dry-season growing period during August. Conditions are sunny and relatively comfortable, although rainfall may be scarce and irrigation is essential.

Leafy greens

• Asian greens
• Lettuce
• Rocket
• Silverbeet

Roots

• Beetroot
• Carrots
• Radishes
• Spring onions

Brassicas

• Cabbage
• Chinese cabbage
• Kohlrabi

Fruiting plants

• Capsicum
• Chilli
• Cucumber
• Eggplant
• Sweet corn
• Tomatoes

Legumes

• Bush beans
• Climbing beans

Herbs

• Basil
• Chives
• Coriander
• Dill
• Parsley

Plant warm-season vegetables now so they can establish before humidity and storm activity increase. Tomatoes, capsicums and eggplants can be transplanted, while beans, cucumbers and corn are generally best sown directly into warm soil.

Fast-growing leafy vegetables remain possible, especially with afternoon shade. Sow modest amounts every two or three weeks rather than filling an entire bed at once.

Subtropical

August marks the shift from a mild subtropical winter towards spring. Winter vegetables are still producing, but the remaining window for planting broccoli and cauliflower is closing.

Leafy greens

• Asian greens
• Lettuce
• Rocket
• Silverbeet
• Spinach

Roots

• Beetroot
• Carrots
• Radishes
• Spring onions

Brassicas

• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Kohlrabi

Fruiting plants

• Capsicum
• Cucumber
• Eggplant
• Tomatoes
• Zucchini

Legumes

• Beans
• Peas

Herbs

• Basil
• Chives
• Coriander
• Dill
• Parsley

Make final plantings of broccoli and cauliflower using healthy seedlings rather than seed. Start or transplant tomatoes, capsicums and eggplants in frost-free gardens, hardening them off gradually before they move into full sun.

Beans, cucumbers and zucchini can begin as the soil warms. In colder inland pockets, delay these crops until nights become milder. Subtropical August guides similarly identify this month as the crossover between final brassica planting and the beginning of warm-season crops.

Tropical

August is prime dry-season gardening weather across much of tropical Australia. Humidity is lower, rainfall is limited and gardeners can grow crops that struggle during the wet season. However, the remaining dry-season window is shortening.

Leafy greens

• Asian greens
• Heat-tolerant lettuce
• Rocket
• Silverbeet

Roots

• Beetroot
• Carrots
• Radishes
• Spring onions

Brassicas

• Chinese cabbage
• Kohlrabi

Fruiting plants

• Capsicum
• Chilli
• Cucumber
• Eggplant
• Pumpkin
• Sweet corn
• Tomatoes

Legumes

• Bush beans
• Climbing beans
• Snake beans

Herbs

• Basil
• Chives
• Coriander
• Dill
• Parsley

August is generally the final dependable opportunity to establish dry-season tomatoes in hot tropical locations. Beans, cucumbers, corn and pumpkin can also be planted, although vigorous crops need enough time to produce before wet-season humidity and disease pressure increase.

Choose heat-tolerant lettuce and sow it in a position with afternoon shade. Keep water consistent, particularly for carrots, beetroot and young seedlings, because dry-season winds can remove moisture quickly.