What I Sow in My Vegetable Garden in August

August is an interesting and busy time in a vegetable garden, as many readers will no doubt be well aware. Most of your attention is likely to be on harvesting and tending the summer crops.

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. And I continue to sow right up into September in the polytunnel and sometimes even beyond.

Many of the crops that will overwinter outside in my 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—mostly in my polytunnel garden:

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. This month, I often fill gaps in the summer garden with quick crops of lettuce or other quick leafy greens.

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.

Not mentioned above are many other leafy vegetables belonging to the cabbage or