For most temperate climate growers, the primary seed-sowing time is the spring. But it is important, if you want to grow year-round, to continue sowing throughout the rest of the growing season.
While there is usually a lull around midsummer, I sow more crops for autumn, winter, and the following spring while the current summer is very much still in full flow.
Many of the crops that will overwinter outside in garden have already been sown in July—such as some brassicas, for example. And some overwintering crops, like peas and beans, winter onions, and garlic, will not be sown until autumn arrives, in September or October. But here’s what I have or will sow in my vegetable garden this August
Lettuce & Other Leafy Greens
Cut-and-Come Again Lettues, Land Cress, Chards, Endives, Radicchio
The great thing about many lettuce varieties, especially cut-and-come-again varieties, is that they can provide a very quick crop. Some sown in August can be ready to harvest in only a month or so, making them available for autumn and winter eating.
Longer-term lettuces can also be sown this month for winter or early spring harvesting. And land cress, chards/perpetual spinach, and endives/radicchio, are other hardier winter greens that I sow through later summer and into fall for harvests through the colder months in my polytunnel.
Brassicas
Kale, Broccoli, Tatsoi, Pak Choi, Mizuna, and More
Not mentioned above are many other leafy vegetables belonging to the cabbage or brassica plant family. But brassicas are, where I live, staples of the winter garden. And they are in many other locations too. This group of plants offers a range of options for cool season/winter growing.
Kale can be eaten while they are small over the autumn or overwintered for a staple and hardy winter crop.
You can continue to sow a wide range this month and next in my polytunnel, including tatsoi, pak choi, mizuna, mibuna, various mustard greens, and more.
Alliums
Bunching Onions, Scallions, Spring Onions
Many gardeners will sow onion sets and garlic sets in autumn for overwintering. Onions grown for their greens are easier to grow from seed than bulb-forming ones.
These onions are not just grown for their edible yield. One of the other main reasons that I like to make sure I sow some this month is that they make a great companion crop for other winter crops or overwintering species. They are helpful with their pungent aroma in organic pest control.
Radishes
French Breakfast, Red Globe, Black Spanish, Daikon
Radishes are sown little and often throughout the growing season, and as long as they get enough water
Keep sowing in August, and this can help you to transition from summer into the following seasons and develop a garden that won’t just feed you and your family in summer but all year round.
