What to Plant in August
August is a month of two gardens in Florida Zone 9. Summer heat, humidity, and afternoon storms are still very much present, but the first opportunities for the coming fall garden begin to appear. Beans, cucumbers, squash, carrots, onions, and turnips can return to the planting calendar while heat-loving summer crops continue producing.
August at a Glance
August is the turning point between Florida summer and the approaching cool-season garden. Summer crops such as tropical greens and long beans may still be producing, while new sowings of beans, cucumbers, squash, carrots, bunching onions, and turnips begin preparing the garden for fall. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, kale, and other transplants can also start returning to the YardStead.
Vegetables
August expands the planting possibilities after the narrow midsummer calendar. The weather is still hot, so seedlings need careful moisture management, but several familiar vegetables can begin returning as the YardStead starts looking toward fall.
Direct Sow in the Garden
Bush Beans
Sow directly into warm, well-drained soil. Bush beans can provide a relatively quick late-summer crop without requiring a trellis.
Pole Beans
Direct sow beside a sturdy trellis or other support. Vertical growing makes good use of limited space in raised beds and small urban gardens.
Lima Beans
Sow directly into warm soil and keep the seedbed evenly moist during germination. Provide support for climbing varieties.
Cucumbers
Sow directly into a sunny, well-drained location. Trellising can improve air movement around the vines during humid late-summer weather.
Summer Squash
Direct sow into fertile soil with good drainage. Give plants adequate room for airflow and monitor young growth closely for insect activity.
Winter Squash
Sow directly in full sun and provide enough room for vigorous vines. Train or guide vines where garden space is limited.
Carrots
Sow directly into loose soil free of stones and large debris. Keep the soil surface consistently moist while the small seeds germinate.
Bunching Onions
Sow directly into beds or containers. Their upright, compact growth makes bunching onions particularly useful in small garden spaces.
Turnips
Direct sow into loose soil for edible roots and greens. Keep seedlings watered carefully during hot August conditions.
Start for Transplanting Later
Tomatoes
Establish healthy transplants for the approaching fall production window. Protect newly planted tomatoes from severe heat stress and keep the root zone evenly moist.
Peppers
Pepper transplants can settle into the garden during August. They appreciate warmth but need regular moisture while new roots become established.
Eggplant
Transplant into full sun and warm soil. Eggplant handles heat well and can continue growing as the garden transitions toward fall.
Tomatillos
Establish young plants in a sunny garden space with good air circulation. More than one compatible plant can help improve pollination.
Kale
Start the return of cool-season greens with young kale plants. Give new transplants careful moisture management while August temperatures remain high.
Endive
Transplant young plants carefully and keep the soil evenly moist. Some protection from intense afternoon conditions can help new plants establish.
Tropical Spinaches
Continue establishing heat-tolerant greens while Florida summer conditions persist. They bridge the gap between the summer garden and returning cool-season leafy vegetables.
Mustard
Transplant carefully as the fall garden begins. Young plants need consistent moisture and close attention during August's remaining heat.
Flowers
August remains demanding for flowers, so dependable heat-tolerant choices are still important. At the same time, shortening days begin giving the garden the first hint that another season is approaching.
Direct Sow in the Garden
Zinnias
Sow directly into full sun. Give seedlings enough room for good airflow as humidity and summer rain remain high.
Gomphrena
Sow into sunny, well-drained soil. Gomphrena tolerates heat and produces durable globe-shaped flowers through late summer.
Amaranthus
Direct sow into warm soil in full sun. Depending on the variety, plants may provide dramatic foliage, flowers, or edible leaves.
Celosia
Sow in warm soil with plenty of sunshine. Celosia handles Florida heat well and provides bold color through the summer garden.
Start for Transplanting Later
Angelonia
Transplant into sunny beds or containers. Angelonia handles heat well and continues providing upright flower spikes through warm weather.
Pentas
Establish plants in sunny or lightly shaded locations. Their clusters of flowers are especially attractive to butterflies.
Moss Rose
Plant in sunny, well-drained locations. Moss rose is particularly useful in containers and garden edges that experience intense heat.
Tropical Sage
Establish in sunny or lightly shaded locations. Tropical sage fits naturally into a Florida garden and provides flowers for visiting pollinators.
Torenia
Transplant into containers or partially shaded garden areas where plants receive protection from intense afternoon sun.
Melampodium
Plant in full sun for dependable yellow flowers. Melampodium performs well during hot weather and requires relatively little attention once established.
Wax Begonia
Transplant into beds or containers with suitable light, good drainage, and regular moisture for dependable late-summer color.
Periwinkle
Plant in warm, well-drained locations. Avoid waterlogged soil during August's frequent summer rain.
Gaillardia
Establish in a sunny, well-drained location. Gaillardia tolerates heat and provides colorful daisy-like flowers for pollinators.
Milkweed
Establish appropriate milkweed selections in sunny garden areas where they can contribute to a pollinator-friendly landscape.
August Planting Notes
- August is still part of the UrbanYardStead Summer Season, but it marks the beginning of the transition toward Florida's fall and cool-season garden.
- Bush beans, pole beans, lima beans, cucumbers, squash, carrots, bunching onions, and turnips can return to the direct-sowing calendar this month.
- Long beans planted during their summer planting window may still be climbing, flowering, and producing in August. Continue harvesting pods while they are young and tender to encourage continued production.
- Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants can begin a new late-summer planting cycle. Newly transplanted plants need particular attention to moisture while temperatures remain high.
- August begins the return of cool-season greens. Kale, endive, and mustard can start appearing again, although young plants still need protection from severe heat stress.
- Carrot seed needs consistent surface moisture while germinating. During August heat, check the seedbed frequently so the shallow soil does not dry out.
- Heavy summer rain makes drainage especially important in raised beds, pots, and grow bags. Never allow containers to remain waterlogged after storms.
- Good airflow remains essential around tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and flowers because August humidity can encourage disease problems.
- Continue inspecting the garden regularly for insects, eggs, leaf damage, and early signs of disease. Warm temperatures can allow problems to develop quickly.
- Heat-tolerant flowers such as zinnias, gomphrena, celosia, pentas, angelonia, tropical sage, and melampodium can carry garden color through the final stretch of Florida summer.
- August is also a planning month. As summer crops finish, begin deciding which raised beds, pots, and grow bags will become home to the larger cool-season garden beginning in the months ahead.