What to Plant in August

Houston, TX · Zone 9a

Last frost: Feb 10 Frost-free days: 303

Late summer is prime time for starting your fall garden. Sow cool-season crops indoors or direct sow fast-maturing varieties. The heat will ease soon.

August at a Glance

Indoor Transplant Direct Sow
1 5 10 15 20 25
Basil
Chives
Dill
Lavender
Mint
Oregano
Parsley
Rosemary
Sage
Thyme
Artichoke
Beans (Bush)
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Carrot
Cauliflower
Celery
Garlic
Kale
Leek
Okra
Onion
Potato
Squash
Strawberry
Sunflower
Swiss Chard
Zucchini

Start Indoors 20

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

Plant now

Chives
Chives
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft 60–90 days
Lavender
Lavender
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 90–120 days
Mint
Mint
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft 60–90 days
Oregano
Oregano
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 60–90 days
Rosemary
Rosemary
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 80–120 days
Sage
Sage
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 75–90 days
Thyme
Thyme
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft 70–90 days
Artichoke
Artichoke
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 85–100 days
Leek
Leek
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft 90–150 days
Onion
Onion
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft 100–120 days
Strawberry
Strawberry
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft 60–90 days
Sunflower
Sunflower
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 70–100 days
Brussels Sprouts
Brussels Sprouts
Jun 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 80–110 days
Parsley
Parsley
Jun 24 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft 70–90 days
Celery
Celery
Jul 17 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft 80–120 days
Kale
Kale
Jul 17 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 50–65 days
Swiss Chard
Swiss Chard
Aug 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft 50–60 days

Later this month

Broccoli
Broccoli
Aug 17 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 60–100 days
Cabbage
Cabbage
Aug 17 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 70–100 days
Cauliflower
Cauliflower
Aug 17 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 55–100 days

Transplant 16

Move these seedlings from indoors to your garden beds.

Chives
Chives
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft 60–90 days
Lavender
Lavender
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 90–120 days
Mint
Mint
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft 60–90 days
Oregano
Oregano
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 60–90 days
Rosemary
Rosemary
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 80–120 days
Sage
Sage
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 75–90 days
Thyme
Thyme
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft 70–90 days
Artichoke
Artichoke
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 85–100 days
Leek
Leek
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft 90–150 days
Onion
Onion
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft 100–120 days
Strawberry
Strawberry
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft 60–90 days
Sunflower
Sunflower
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 70–100 days
Squash
Squash
Feb 15 – Aug 23
1 per sq ft 45–65 days
Zucchini
Zucchini
Feb 15 – Aug 23
1 per sq ft 45–60 days
Okra
Okra
Mar 17 – Aug 8
1 per sq ft 50–65 days
Basil
Basil
May 1 – Aug 31
4 per sq ft 25–35 days

Direct Sow 5

Plant these seeds directly into the soil outdoors.

Plant now

Garlic
Garlic
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft 180–240 days
Beans (Bush)
Beans (Bush)
Feb 15 – Aug 16
9 per sq ft 50–60 days

Later this month

Dill
Dill
Aug 24 – Oct 8
4 per sq ft 40–60 days
Carrot
Carrot
Aug 24 – Dec 31
16 per sq ft 70–80 days
Potato
Potato
Aug 24 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 70–150 days

August Gardening Tips

  • Start Broccoli, Cabbage, Kale indoors now to give them a head start before transplanting outside.
  • Squash, Zucchini, Strawberry can be transplanted outside this month. Harden off seedlings over 5–7 days before planting out.
  • Direct sow Beans (Bush), Carrot, Potato 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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