August is not the end of the sowing season. UK gardeners can still sow fast salads and several crops for
autumn, winter and next spring, including rocket, radish, turnips, spring cabbage, pak choi and other oriental leaves. Timing varies by region, so colder areas should generally sow earlier and under more protection.
By August, the garden can feel as though it has moved from sowing to harvesting. In reality, one of the most useful jobs you can do now is start the next round of crops. Warm soil can help seeds
germinate quickly, while the shortening days suit many leafy crops that are happier away from the intense light of early summer.
Good things to sow in August
Spring cabbage
Sow now for plants to establish before winter and crop next spring. Start in modules or pots if you want better control over watering and pests.
Pak choi
A strong late-summer choice because cooler conditions reduce the risk of bolting. Protect young plants from slugs and caterpillars.
Mizuna and mibuna
Fast-growing oriental leaves for salads and stir-fries. Succession sow small amounts rather than one huge batch.
Spinach
Late-summer sowings can provide autumn leaves and, with suitable varieties and protection, longer cropping.
Winter lettuce and corn salad
Useful for extending the salad season. Choose varieties sold for autumn or winter growing.
Rocket
Quick, reliable and ideal for filling gaps. Keep sowings moist until established.
Radish
One of the fastest crops to turn an empty patch into food. Sow little and often.
Turnips
Young roots and leaves can both be harvested; late sowings often appreciate cooler weather.
Chinese cabbage
Sow promptly and keep moisture consistent; young plants can be vulnerable to pests.
Overwintering onions
A southern-UK option in August; follow the variety’s seed-packet timing for your region.
Direct sow or start in pots?
Quick crops such as radish and rocket are usually easiest sown where they will grow. Crops that benefit from a protected start - especially spring cabbage and other young brassicas - can be started in small pots or modules before planting out. This is where Wool Pots have a clear practical role: you can raise the young plant, then plant the whole pot into the ground rather than pulling the rootball from a rigid container.
For very fast crops, do not force the product into the story. A gardener who can direct sow should direct sow. Wool Pots add most value where a crop benefits from a separate propagation stage or where reducing root handling at planting-out is useful.
August sowing in hot, dry weather
In a hot spell, the bigger challenge is
often moisture rather than temperature. Water the seed drill or compost before
sowing, keep the surface consistently moist during germination and avoid
letting newly germinated seedlings repeatedly dry out. Early morning is the
most efficient time to water. If you are using Wool Pots, water from the top
initially, then use the bottom-watering method described in the Wool Pots FAQ
so the wool can wick moisture upward.
A regional note
The UK is not one sowing zone. RHS August guidance specifically notes that several fast salads, spring cabbage, pak choi and overwintering onions can continue in the south of England. Gardeners in northern England, Scotland and exposed sites should use the seed packet, local frost patterns and available protection to decide whether to sow earlier, choose faster varieties or grow under cover.
The useful question in August is not “is the season over?” It is “what can I start now that will earn its space through autumn and winter?” A few well-chosen sowings now can keep the garden
productive long after the tomatoes and courgettes have finished.
