AUGUST PLANTING GUIDE

The most important garden chore during this often sweltering month is watering, even for drought-tolerant plants. Make sure that plants are getting enough water by regularly checking soil moisture with your finger or a moisture meter. Planting during this month’s hot, dry weather is possible as long as you water delicate transplants and seeds well.

Most vegetables planted this month will mature in fall.

Flowers from seed or starter plants

Ageratum

Alyssum

Bedding begonia

Coreopsis

Cosmos

Dianthus

Impatiens

Foxglove

Gazania

Geranium

Lisianthus

Marigold

Morning glory

Nasturtium

Petunia (multiflora)

Portulaca

Salvia

Santa Barbara daisy

Sea lavender

Sunflower

Verbena

Vinca

Trees / Shrubs / Vines

Angel’s trumpet

Bower vine

Gardenia

Hibiscus

Mandevilla

Rose

Scarlet trumpet vine

Tree mallow

Vegetables and herbs

Basil

Snap bean (best by mid-month)

Beet

Cabbage

Carrot

Celery

Collard

Corn

Endive

Fennel

Kale

Lettuce (later in the month)

Mint

Mustard

New Zealand spinach

Onion

Parsley

Pea

Potato

Radish

Rosemary

Summer savory

Swiss chard

Thyme

Tomato (cold-tolerant or short-growth-cycle)

Turnip

* Researched by JULIE BAWDEN DAVIS / For The Times