What to Plant in August

San Diego, CA · Zone 10a

Last frost: Jan 20 Frost-free days: 334

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
Chives
Dill
Lavender
Mint
Oregano
Parsley
Rosemary
Sage
Thyme
Artichoke
Beans (Bush)
Beet
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Carrot
Cauliflower
Celery
Garlic
Kale
Leek
Lettuce
Onion
Potato
Squash
Strawberry
Sunflower
Swiss Chard
Turnip
Zucchini

Start Indoors 21

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
Parsley
Parsley
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft 70–90 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
Broccoli
Broccoli
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 60–100 days
Brussels Sprouts
Brussels Sprouts
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 80–110 days
Cabbage
Cabbage
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 70–100 days
Cauliflower
Cauliflower
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 55–100 days
Celery
Celery
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft 80–120 days
Kale
Kale
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 50–65 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
Swiss Chard
Swiss Chard
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft 50–60 days

Later this month

Lettuce
Lettuce
Aug 17 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft 45–60 days

Transplant 22

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
Parsley
Parsley
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft 70–90 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
Broccoli
Broccoli
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 60–100 days
Brussels Sprouts
Brussels Sprouts
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 80–110 days
Cabbage
Cabbage
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 70–100 days
Cauliflower
Cauliflower
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 55–100 days
Celery
Celery
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft 80–120 days
Kale
Kale
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 50–65 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
Swiss Chard
Swiss Chard
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft 50–60 days
Squash
Squash
Mar 1 – Aug 23
1 per sq ft 45–65 days
Zucchini
Zucchini
Mar 1 – Aug 23
1 per sq ft 45–60 days

Direct Sow 7

Plant these seeds directly into the soil outdoors.

Beet
Beet
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft 50–70 days
Carrot
Carrot
Jan 1 – Dec 31
16 per sq ft 70–80 days
Garlic
Garlic
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft 180–240 days
Potato
Potato
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft 70–150 days
Turnip
Turnip
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft 30–60 days
Beans (Bush)
Beans (Bush)
Mar 1 – Aug 16
9 per sq ft 50–60 days
Dill
Dill
Mar 24 – Sep 23
4 per sq ft 40–60 days

August Gardening Tips

  • Start Lettuce, Broccoli, Cabbage indoors now to give them a head start before transplanting outside.
  • Squash, Zucchini, Broccoli 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.

Nearby Cities

Ready to plan your garden?

Add these crops to your garden plan and get personalized planting reminders for Zone 10a.

Start Planning Free