August in the Garden
August is generous but demanding: the vegetable plot and borders can be full, dry and highly productive, while nights slowly begin to draw in. Regular harvesting keeps plants flowering and fruiting, yet tired areas start to appear as early crops finish. Rain after drought can split fruit or trigger disease, so steady care matters. This is also a useful month for making autumn sowings and preparing for next spring.
What to sow & plant in August
Sow spinach, winter lettuce, rocket, mizuna, pak choi and other oriental leaves in cooler positions or under cover for autumn picking. Make small sowings of radish, turnip and spring onions where soil remains moist. Start hardy salads in module trays for the greenhouse, cold frame or polytunnel. Plant out winter brassicas, leeks and strawberry runners if they have reliable water. Order spring bulbs while choice is good, and pot up rooted herb cuttings. In a greenhouse, sow parsley, coriander and winter salads for later harvests.
Garden jobs for August
Keep picking runner beans, French beans, courgettes, cucumbers and tomatoes before pods or fruit become overgrown. Water containers and newly planted crops thoroughly, then mulch bare soil with compost. Cut back herbs before flowering and dry or freeze the surplus. Prune summer-fruiting raspberries after cropping, removing old canes at ground level, and prune stone fruit in dry weather. Save seed from healthy, open-pollinated plants if desired. Clear finished crops, compost sound material, and inspect potatoes and tomatoes regularly for blight.
Northern England & Scotland
Northern gardens may cool noticeably by late August, so use a greenhouse, polytunnel or cloche for spinach and oriental leaves. Protect tender tomatoes, peppers and aubergines from chilly nights by closing doors early and ventilating during the day. Outdoor squash and sweetcorn need every remaining warm day, so keep foliage healthy and avoid late nitrogen-rich feeding. Start clearing vacant beds promptly for green manures.
Southern England
In southern England, warmth often allows a longer run of outdoor salads and beans, provided seedlings receive shade and regular water. August can be especially dry, so sow into well-watered drills and cover young plants with fleece until established. Tomatoes and peppers may crop heavily under cover: ventilate well to reduce overheating. Begin bulb orders early, as popular varieties can sell out.
Gardening in August: frequently asked questions
What can I sow or plant in August in the UK?
Sow spinach, winter lettuce, rocket, mizuna, pak choi and other oriental leaves in cooler positions or under cover for autumn picking.
What garden jobs are there in August?
Keep picking runner beans, French beans, courgettes, cucumbers and tomatoes before pods or fruit become overgrown.
What is different in northern Britain in August?
Northern gardens may cool noticeably by late August, so use a greenhouse, polytunnel or cloche for spinach and oriental leaves.
Timing varies with the season and your local conditions; the RHS or a local garden centre can advise. Page updated 19 Sep 2026.