July and August represent the beginning of the fall gardening season. These mid-summer months offer a valuable window to sow seeds that will mature into a rewarding harvest before the first hard frost arrives. Planning for a fall yield requires understanding which crops thrive in cooler weather and applying specific techniques to manage the intense summer heat during germination. Gardeners can successfully extend the fresh food harvest well into autumn.
Fall Vegetable Favorites
The most substantial fall harvests require planting longer-maturing crops in July and early August, focusing on species that benefit from cooler temperatures. Brassicas, including broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower, generally require 60 to 100 days from seed to harvest, making an early-to-mid-July start mandatory. These plants often develop a sweeter flavor profile after exposure to light frost, where starches convert to sugars.
Calculating the correct planting date involves a precise backward projection from the average first frost date. Identify the “Days to Maturity” (DTM) for the variety, add two weeks to account for slower growth in short-day light cycles, and count that total number of days back from the expected frost date. For example, a 70-day broccoli variety needs to be started about 84 days before the expected frost.
Root vegetables like carrots and beets also form the foundation of a robust fall harvest and can be sown directly in late summer. Carrots typically need 60 to 80 days and require consistent moisture during germination. Beets mature in a similar timeframe, and cooler autumn soil enhances their root development and flavor.
Leafy greens intended for a prolonged harvest, such as kale and collard greens, should also be established now. These hardy greens are tolerant of light freezes and can continue producing leaves after other vegetables have finished. Starting these crops ensures they establish a strong root system before light and warmth diminish significantly.
Speedy Successions: Quick Turnaround Crops
Late summer is an ideal time to implement succession planting using vegetables with a very short DTM, ensuring continuous, rapid yields. Crops that mature in under 45 days allow for multiple plantings in the same space throughout July and August. This strategy maximizes garden productivity during the transition from summer heat to autumn coolness.
Radishes reach harvestable size in 21 to 30 days, making them perfect for filling small gaps. Loose-leaf lettuce and spinach should also be sown repeatedly, as they mature quickly and prefer cooler soil conditions. Loose-leaf varieties can be harvested by removing outer leaves, allowing the plant to continue production.
Bush beans, which are determinate and mature faster than pole varieties, can be planted in early to mid-July in regions with a later frost date. They typically yield a harvest around 50 to 60 days after sowing. Replanting these quick-maturing vegetables every two to three weeks ensures a steady supply of fresh produce.
Essential Strategies for Summer Sowing
Successfully planting seeds in the peak heat of July and August requires specific modifications to overcome high soil and air temperatures. The primary difficulty is achieving seed germination, as many vegetable seeds enter thermal dormancy when soil temperatures exceed 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Utilizing shade cloth or planting seeds in areas that receive afternoon shade can lower the soil temperature enough to break this dormancy.
Proper soil preparation directly impacts moisture retention. Incorporating a generous layer of finished compost or other organic matter increases the soil’s capacity to hold water, reducing irrigation stress on young seedlings. This enriched soil structure also provides a cooler, more stable environment for root development.
Watering techniques must be adjusted to accommodate high summer evaporation rates. Deep, less frequent watering is more effective than light, daily sprinkling, as it encourages roots to grow downward, making the plant more resilient to heat. Watering in the early morning or late evening minimizes water loss to evaporation and reduces the chance of fungal diseases.
A common issue in summer is the formation of a hard surface crust on the soil after watering, which can physically impede emerging seedlings. Lightly covering the seeds with vermiculite or a fine layer of aged compost instead of heavy garden soil helps maintain a permeable surface.
Adding Late-Season Color
Gardening in July and August also provides an opportunity to ensure the landscape remains vibrant with color through the autumn. Fall-blooming annuals and perennials should be planted now to establish roots and foliage for a late-season display. Plants like chrysanthemums, asters, and certain varieties of ornamental cabbage and kale thrive as temperatures begin to moderate.
These plants offer color when earlier summer flowers fade, and they are often resilient to the first light frosts. Planting established nursery stock of these fall favorites in mid-to-late summer gives them sufficient time to acclimate before their flowering cycle begins. This ensures a denser, more impressive floral show in September and October.
August is also the appropriate time to plan for the following spring by planting certain types of bulbs. While many spring-flowering bulbs are planted closer to the first frost, allium and Madonna lily bulbs benefit from a mid-to-late August planting. This earlier timing allows their root systems to develop fully in the warm soil before the ground cools, resulting in stronger blooms the following spring.