5 Vegetables You Can Still Sow in August for a Late Autumn Harvest

August feels like the garden is winding down, but it is actually the last chance to get seeds in the ground for a fresh harvest before winter. Most UK gardeners stop sowing by mid-July, which means the August window is underused and underrated. Here are five vegetables that still have time to establish, grow, and produce before the first frosts hit.

1. Carrots - Sow Now for a November Dig

Carrots are one of the best August crops because early varieties mature in just 10 to 12 weeks. The key is picking the right type: Early Nantes carrot seeds are ideal for late sowings because they reach full size faster than maincrop varieties like "Autumn King," which needs 16 weeks or more.

Sow seeds about 1cm deep in rows 15 to 20cm apart. The soil needs to be loose and stone-free, or the roots will fork. Raised beds and deep containers (at least 30cm deep) work brilliantly for carrots, especially if your garden soil is heavy clay. Thin seedlings to 5cm apart once they are big enough to handle.

For a variety pack that covers carrots alongside beetroot and radish, the Vegetable Seeds Variety Pack includes carrot, beetroot, radish, and onion seeds in one purchase.

2. Beetroot - Quick Results, Multiple Pickings

Beetroot from an August sowing takes 8 to 10 weeks to reach a usable size, which means you can start harvesting in October. The Detroit Crimson Globe beetroot seeds are a reliable round variety that does well in the cooler temperatures of autumn.

Sow seeds 2 to 3cm deep, 10cm apart. Beetroot is forgiving of poor soil and grows happily in containers as shallow as 15cm. One trick for extending the harvest: sow half your beetroot seeds in early August and the rest two weeks later. This gives you a staggered crop rather than everything maturing at once.

Beetroot leaves are edible too. Young leaves make a good addition to salads, so you get two crops from the same plant.

3. Kale - The Winter Warrior

Kale is uniquely suited to August sowing because it actually tastes better after a frost. The cold converts starches in the leaves to sugars, giving autumn and winter kale a sweeter, more complex flavour than summer-grown leaves. Curly Kale Westland Autumn seeds are specifically bred for late sowings and will produce through to March in most parts of the UK.

Sow seeds 1cm deep, 30cm apart. Kale grows tall, so give it space. Once established, you can pick outer leaves continuously while the centre keeps producing new growth. This means a single August sowing can provide kale from October right through to early spring.

If you are growing in a small space, kale works well in large pots (at least 40cm diameter) positioned against a south-facing wall for extra warmth.

4. Radish - The Fastest Autumn Crop

If you want results fast, radish is unbeatable. Most varieties mature in just 4 to 6 weeks from sowing, which means an August sowing gives you crisp, peppery radishes by late September. Radish is also one of the most beginner-friendly crops: it needs minimal space, grows in almost any soil, and does not require special feeding.

Sow seeds 1cm deep, 2 to 5cm apart, in rows 15cm apart. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. The Garden Pack Grow Your Own Vegetable Seeds includes 20 packets with radish among the varieties, giving you plenty of seed for multiple successional sowings.

Radish makes an excellent companion plant for carrots. The fast-growing radish breaks up the soil surface, which helps carrot seeds germinate more evenly.

5. Salad Leaves - Cut-and-Come-Again Cropping

Mixed salad leaves, rocket, and winter lettuce can all be sown in August for harvesting from September onwards. The cut-and-come-again method means you snip the outer leaves and let the plant keep producing from the centre, giving you multiple harvests from a single sowing.

Sow seeds thinly across a container or garden bed, about 1cm deep. A 30cm window box can produce enough salad leaves for a family of two. Keep the soil consistently moist, as salad leaves dry out quickly in late summer heat.

For an indoor option, the Herb Seeds 15 Varieties Pack includes basil, coriander, and other kitchen herbs that grow well on a sunny windowsill alongside your outdoor salad crops.

Quick Reference: August Sowing Calendar

Tips for Success with August Sowing

Water consistently. Late summer soil can dry out quickly. Newly sown seeds need moisture to germinate, so check daily and water gently in the morning.

Use a cloche or fleece. As nights get cooler in September, a simple fleece tunnel or plastic cloche over your crops adds a few degrees of warmth and can extend your harvest by 2 to 3 weeks.

Feed the soil, not just the plants. A handful of garden compost worked into the sowing row before planting gives seeds the nutrients they need without chemical fertilisers.

Mark your rows. With multiple successional sowings, it is easy to forget which batch is which. Label each row with the vegetable name and sowing date.

A

Alex Green

Alex writes about vegetable growing and plant care for MyLushGarden, covering everything from balcony tomatoes to full allotments.

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Last reviewed: August 18, 2026 · Evidence-based content · Contains affiliate links