What to Plant on the Allotment in August – Why It's Definitely Not Too Late!

If you're standing on your allotment in August looking at a few empty patches and thinking, "Well, that's it until next year," think again. One of the biggest surprises for new allotment holders is just how much you can still sow and plant during late summer.

In fact, August is one of my favourite months on the allotment. While tomatoes are ripening in the greenhouse, beans are climbing happily up their supports and courgettes seem determined to produce more than we can ever eat, there is something wonderfully hopeful about sowing seeds for the months ahead.

The frantic rush of spring has eased, the soil is beautifully warm, and many seeds germinate incredibly quickly at this time of year. It's almost as if nature is giving us one more chance before autumn arrives.

Leafy Salads Love August

If, like me, you enjoy picking a handful of fresh salad leaves for lunch, August is the perfect time to sow them.

Rocket, mixed salad leaves, spinach and lamb's lettuce all grow quickly while the soil is still warm. They'll provide fresh harvests well into autumn and, with a little protection from frost, some can even keep producing through winter.

I always try to sow a small row every couple of weeks rather than everything at once. It means there is always something fresh coming along.

Spring Cabbage Starts Now

It feels strange planting something called spring cabbage in August, but this is exactly when it needs to be done.

By sowing now, the young plants have plenty of time to establish before winter arrives, giving you delicious tender cabbages next spring when little else is ready to harvest.

There's something rather comforting about planning next year's meals while still picking this year's tomatoes.

Give Winter Greens a Head Start

Kale is one of the easiest vegetables you can grow.

It isn't fussy, it copes well with cold weather and often tastes even sweeter after a touch of frost. If you haven't already sown some, there is still time in early August.

Swiss chard is another wonderful crop that just keeps giving. Bright stems add colour to the allotment, while the leaves can be picked over many months.

Radishes – The Speedy Vegetable

If you enjoy quick results, radishes are hard to beat.

Many varieties are ready in as little as four weeks, making them ideal for filling those small gaps where early potatoes, onions or garlic have already been harvested.

The cooler nights of late summer also help stop them becoming too woody or overly spicy.

Beetroot and Turnips

August is often overlooked for root vegetables, but smaller varieties of beetroot and turnips still have plenty of time to mature before the weather turns cold.

Young beetroot are especially sweet, and I love roasting them alongside carrots and onions from the allotment.

Spring Onions

If you enjoy fresh spring onions, don't forget these.

Sow them now and they'll quietly grow through autumn, often surviving winter to give you an early harvest long before many other vegetables are ready.

Herbs for the Kitchen

Parsley is well worth sowing in August.

Unlike some herbs, it enjoys the slightly cooler weather and will often keep producing well into winter if grown in a sheltered spot or greenhouse.

Coriander and chervil also appreciate the cooler temperatures after the heat of midsummer.

Don't Forget the Flowers

The allotment isn't just about vegetables.

August is a lovely time to sow hardy annual flowers such as cornflowers, calendula and larkspur for earlier blooms next year.

Not only do they brighten the plot, but they also attract bees and other beneficial insects that help pollinate your crops.

Preparing for Autumn

As beds begin to empty, it's tempting to simply leave them until spring, but this is actually one of the best opportunities to improve your soil.

Spread homemade compost, well-rotted manure or leaf mould over empty beds and let the worms do the hard work over winter. Your soil will thank you next season.

If you don't have enough compost yet, sowing a green manure can also protect the soil and improve its structure.

Why August Is Such a Good Time to Sow

Many gardeners think spring is the only planting season, but August offers several advantages.

The soil is warm from months of sunshine, encouraging fast germination. There is often more natural moisture in the air as evenings become cooler, and weeds begin slowing down, meaning young seedlings have less competition.

Best of all, there is far less pressure. Spring can feel like a race against the clock, whereas August allows you to enjoy gardening at a gentler pace.

It's Not the End—It's the Beginning

Every August I remind myself that the allotment isn't winding down—it's changing direction.

There are still seeds to sow, harvests to enjoy and plans to make. Before long, tiny green shoots will appear where empty soil stood just days before, quietly promising fresh vegetables for autumn, winter and even next spring.

So if you've been wondering whether it's too late to plant anything, the answer is a cheerful no.

Grab a packet of seeds, make the most of the warm Dorset soil, and enjoy one of the most rewarding months of the gardening year. Your future self will be very glad you did.