What to Plant in August

Cincinnati, OH · Zone 6b

Last frost: Apr 12 Frost-free days: 193

Fall planting season is starting. Direct sow radishes, lettuce, spinach, and other fast cool-season crops for autumn harvest. Start brassica transplants indoors.

August at a Glance

Indoor Transplant Direct Sow
1 5 10 15 20 25
Dill
Parsley
Beet
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrot
Cauliflower
Garlic
Kale
Swiss Chard
Turnip

Start Indoors 1

Start these seeds indoors under grow lights or on a sunny windowsill.

Swiss Chard
Swiss Chard
Feb 1 – Aug 16
4 per sq ft 50–60 days

Transplant 6

Move these seedlings from indoors to your garden beds.

Parsley
Parsley
Mar 1 – Aug 23
4 per sq ft 70–90 days
Swiss Chard
Swiss Chard
Mar 1 – Sep 15
4 per sq ft 50–60 days
Kale
Kale
Mar 9 – Sep 15
1 per sq ft 50–65 days
Broccoli
Broccoli
Aug 1–23
1 per sq ft 60–100 days
Cabbage
Cabbage
Aug 1–16
1 per sq ft 70–100 days
Cauliflower
Cauliflower
Aug 1–31
1 per sq ft 55–100 days

Direct Sow 5

Plant these seeds directly into the soil outdoors.

Garlic
Garlic
Jan 1 – Aug 31
9 per sq ft 180–240 days
Beet
Beet
Mar 1 – Sep 23
9 per sq ft 50–70 days
Turnip
Turnip
Mar 1 – Oct 8
9 per sq ft 30–60 days
Carrot
Carrot
Mar 9 – Aug 23
16 per sq ft 70–80 days
Dill
Dill
May 1 – Aug 8
4 per sq ft 40–60 days

August Gardening Tips

  • Start Swiss Chard indoors now to give them a head start before transplanting outside.
  • Broccoli, Cabbage, Kale can be transplanted outside this month. Harden off seedlings over 5–7 days before planting out.
  • Direct sow Carrot, Garlic, Beet straight into the garden — no transplanting needed.
  • Count backwards from your first frost date to determine the last safe date for starting fall crops.

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