August isn’t too late to start growing your own vegetables – some crops are only just coming into their own.
Growing your own vegetables is a satisfying way to make the most of your garden, save money, and even add an unexpected pop of colour to your outdoor space.
From leafy greens to root vegetables, we asked gardening experts which crops are still worth sowing now for a bountiful harvest later in the season.
1. Spinach
Packed with vitamins A, C and K, spinach is a nutrient-rich crop that’s well worth sowing in late summer.
'When sown in late August, you will have a harvest of young leaves around October. It will then enter dormancy in winter, before providing another crop of leaves in spring,' says Richard Barker, a horticultural expert and commercial director of LBS Horticulture.
2. Spring onions
If you're short on space or time, spring onions (also known as scallions, salad onions or green onions) are quick to grow and full of flavour. They’re a brilliant crop for containers, windowsills or small beds.
Abbie Betts, gardening buyer at Cherry Lane Garden Centres, advises: 'Sow thinly in rows and keep the soil moist. Avoid overcrowding by thinning seedlings early. Begin sowing from now until mid-September, these little onions are ready to pull in as little as 8–10 weeks. Harvest when stems are about pencil thickness for the best crunch and flavour.'
3. Rocket
A healthy plant that can give your salad a nice punchy kick, rocket is another great crop to sow.
'If sown in late August, salad rocket has a better chance of surviving winter frosts. Wild rocket can also be sown in August, and you will have a harvest of young leaves before winter,' says Richard. 'Rocket should be sown directly into fertile soil. During autumn, covering the plants with horticultural fleece can stop the cold from affecting the plants.'
4. Turnips
Turnips can usually be sown into the ground until mid-August, but if you're leaving it a little late, Richard recommends sowing module-grown turnip seedlings.
'It is best to sow turnips directly and then thin them out, and sow seeds sparingly as they can have a high germination rate. Keep your turnips well watered, especially during dry weather, as if plants dry out, this can result in smaller, woody crops,' he says.
5. Kohlrabi
For something a little different, why not try growing kohlrabi in your garden this year?
'Sowing kohlrabi in August can provide you with a late harvest in October,' says Richard, who recommends the purple variety. 'It is usually ready to harvest two to three months after sowing, or when the stems are between the size of a golf ball and a tennis ball. You can sometimes continue harvesting until December, or until the leaves begin to turn yellow.'
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