August is high summer but keen gardeners know it’s also prime time to sow for an autumn harvest. While blooms begin to fade and harvest baskets grow heavier, there’s still time to sow crops that will reward you with fresh, homegrown food into autumn – and even through the winter.
With the soil still warm and the days gently beginning to shorten, now is a beautiful moment to slow down, reconnect with the rhythm of the seasons and plant for the months to come. Whether you’ve got a windowsill, a raised bed or a full veg patch, here’s what to plant now for a nourishing autumn harvest.
Leafy Greens That Keep on Giving
When it comes to easy wins for an autumn garden, leafy greens are top of the list. Fast-growing, low-maintenance and incredibly resilient, these plants are perfect for cooler days and can even survive mild frosts with a little protection.
Try sowing:
Spinach – harvest baby leaves in as little as four weeks
Rocket – quick to grow and full of peppery flavour
Chard – colourful, hardy and continues to grow into winter
Mizuna, mustard greens and pak choi – great in salads or stir fries
Sow these directly into well-prepared soil or compost or into trays or coir pots if space is tight. Keep them well-watered during dry spells and cover with fleece as temperatures drop later in the season.
Roots with Depth and Flavour for a Sweet Autumn Harvest
Root veg planted in late summer will happily dig deep through early autumn, soaking up the last of the warmth before cooler nights arrive. In fact, many roots develop even more flavour after the first light frosts.
Consider sowing:
Radishes – incredibly quick to mature (just 4–6 weeks)
Beetroot – round or cylindrical types work well for autumn harvests
Carrots – choose autumn varieties like ‘Autumn King’ for best results
Turnips – underrated, but tasty and quick to establish
These crops prefer loose, stone-free soil and consistent moisture. Try mulching lightly to moderate soil temperature and reduce watering. A mid‑month feed with Ecoworm Vermicompost Extract boosts root development for a flavoursome autumn harvest.
Brassicas for Autumn and Beyond
Brassicas are the backbone of a hardy garden. Sow them now and they’ll carry you into late autumn and early winter, providing you with crisp leaves and nutrient-rich meals when most of the garden is resting.
Plant:
Kale – one of the hardiest greens you can grow
Spring cabbage – sow now for transplanting in early autumn
Pak choi – fast-growing and happy in containers
Cauliflower – can be sown in early August for harvest in October–November
If cabbage white butterflies are still around, cover brassica seedlings with mesh or fine netting to prevent egg-laying.
Onions, Garlic & Spring Rewards
If you’re thinking long-term, sow spring onions, salad onions or overwintering garlic now to harvest early next year. These crops don’t mind cooler conditions and can be tucked into corners of beds or even containers.
Spring onions grow well in shallow trays or coir pots, making them ideal for gardeners with less space. Just keep them moist and give them a sunny spot.
Grow Soil, Not Just Food
At The Natural Gardener, we always say: if you look after the soil, everything else will follow.
This is the perfect time to feed your soil for the cooler months ahead. Use a gentle, biology-boosting fertiliser like our Ecoworm Vermicompost Soil Extract, made from worm-processed organic matter. It’s packed with enzymes and nutrients that improve structure, strengthen roots and support microbial life – exactly what your autumn harvest need.
You can also sow green manures like mustard or phacelia to cover bare soil. These help fix nitrogen, prevent weeds and add organic matter when cut down in late autumn.
Bonus Tip: Flowers for Pollinators
It’s not just veg that can be planted now – sowing hardy annual flowers like cornflowers, calendula and poppies will give you a head start for next spring. These can overwinter and bloom early, providing colour and food for pollinators when they need it most.
Leave some seed heads for finches – nature’s bonus after your main autumn harvest.
Keep Growing, Keep Grounded
August can feel like a winding-down moment in the garden, but it’s actually a time of quiet momentum. A month of thoughtful sowing, gentle watering and preparing the ground for what comes next.
Whether you’re planting spinach in a pot, garlic in a raised bed or kale among your flowers, the work you do now will feed both your soil and your spirit through the months ahead.
Grow slowly. Grow with the season. Grow with nature.
Need supplies for your autumn planting? Explore our organic composts, eco-friendly tools and soil enhancers – everything you need to sow, grow and enjoy a thriving autumn harvest, naturally.
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