My Planting Calendar

What to plant in August in Delaware

In Delaware (DE), August is the heart of the growing season - about 18 weeks after the last frost (April 14) and 10 weeks before the first (October 22). The state averages 191 frost-free days a year (last frost April 14, first frost October 22; USDA zones 7a, 7b).

35 crops have a sowing or planting window this month, including cucumber, fennel (bulb), zucchini / summer squash, bush bean, carrot, kale - and 7 of those windows close during August.

Dates here come from Delaware frost dates (last frost Apr 14, first frost Oct 22). For one crop in detail, see when to plant cucumber, zucchini or bush bean in Delaware.

Peak growing seasonSow or plant: 35Start indoors: 0Harvesting: 15

Delaware: planting activity through the year

5
29
68
89
58
10
18
35
19
1
2
0
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Frost riskFrost-free: Apr 14 – Oct 22
Bars count the vegetables, herbs and fruit with a sowing or planting window in each month, from the state’s average frost dates. 35 have one in August; the busiest month is April (89).

Last chance in August

Cucumber (sow for a fall crop, by Aug 6) · Fennel (Bulb) (sow for a fall crop, by Aug 6) · Zucchini / Summer Squash (sow for a fall crop, by Aug 6) · Bush Bean (sow for a fall crop, by Aug 13) · Carrot (sow for a fall crop, by Aug 13) · Kale (sow for a fall crop, by Aug 13) · Radicchio (sow for a fall crop, by Aug 13)

For fall and winter harvests (32)

Sowings counted back from Delaware's first fall frost, so the crop matures before the cold - or, for garlic and similar, planted after it.

CropWhat to doWindowThis month
CucumberSow for a fall cropJul 20 – Aug 6Last chance - ends Aug 6
Fennel (Bulb)Sow for a fall cropJul 20 – Aug 6Last chance - ends Aug 6
Zucchini / Summer SquashSow for a fall cropJul 20 – Aug 6Last chance - ends Aug 6
Bush BeanSow for a fall cropJul 27 – Aug 13Last chance - ends Aug 13
CarrotSow for a fall cropJul 27 – Aug 13Last chance - ends Aug 13
KaleSow for a fall cropJul 27 – Aug 13Last chance - ends Aug 13
RadicchioSow for a fall cropJul 27 – Aug 13Last chance - ends Aug 13
Collard GreensSow for a fall cropAug 3 – Aug 20Aug 3 – Aug 20
Endive & EscaroleSow for a fall cropAug 3 – Aug 20Aug 3 – Aug 20
Napa CabbageSow for a fall cropAug 3 – Aug 20Aug 3 – Aug 20
ParsleySow for a fall cropAug 3 – Aug 20Aug 3 – Aug 20
PeaSow for a fall cropAug 3 – Aug 20Aug 3 – Aug 20
Swiss ChardSow for a fall cropAug 3 – Aug 20Aug 3 – Aug 20
BeetSow for a fall cropAug 10 – Aug 27Aug 10 – Aug 27
Cilantro / CorianderSow for a fall cropAug 10 – Aug 27Aug 10 – Aug 27
Bok Choy / Pak ChoiSow for a fall cropAug 17 – Sep 3Opens Aug 17
BorageSow for a fall cropAug 17 – Sep 3Opens Aug 17
DillSow for a fall cropAug 17 – Sep 3Opens Aug 17
Fava Bean (Broad Bean)Sow for a fall cropAug 17 – Sep 3Opens Aug 17
Green Onion / ScallionSow for a fall cropAug 17 – Sep 3Opens Aug 17
KohlrabiSow for a fall cropAug 17 – Sep 3Opens Aug 17
LettuceSow for a fall cropAug 17 – Sep 3Opens Aug 17
Mache (Corn Salad)Sow for a fall cropAug 17 – Sep 3Opens Aug 17
MizunaSow for a fall cropAug 17 – Sep 3Opens Aug 17
Rapini (Broccoli Raab)Sow for a fall cropAug 17 – Sep 3Opens Aug 17
ChervilSow for a fall cropAug 24 – Sep 10Opens Aug 24
Mustard GreensSow for a fall cropAug 24 – Sep 10Opens Aug 24
SpinachSow for a fall cropAug 24 – Sep 10Opens Aug 24
TatsoiSow for a fall cropAug 24 – Sep 10Opens Aug 24
TurnipSow for a fall cropAug 24 – Sep 10Opens Aug 24
ArugulaSow for a fall cropAug 31 – Sep 17Opens Aug 31
WatercressSow for a fall cropAug 31 – Sep 17Opens Aug 31

Keep sowing (succession)

Repeat sowings of crops already in the ground, for a steady harvest instead of a glut.

Harvesting in August

First harvests expected this month from crops sown or planted on time earlier in the season.

Lima Bean · Jul 2 – Aug 1Chili Pepper · Jul 7 – Aug 6Watermelon · Jul 7 – Aug 6Leek · Jul 9 – Aug 28Winter Squash · Jul 10 – Aug 9Parsnip · Jul 16 – Aug 15Salsify · Jul 19 – Aug 28Pumpkin · Jul 20 – Aug 19Rosemary · Jul 20 – Aug 19Celery · Jul 23 – Sep 1Celeriac · Jul 23 – Aug 12Luffa (Loofah Gourd) · Jul 27 – Sep 25Peanut · Jul 30 – Sep 18Sweet Potato · Aug 3 – Sep 2Chayote · Aug 26 – Sep 25

Planting dates for popular crops in Delaware

Every crop has its own full-year dates for Delaware: indoor start, transplant or direct sowing, and harvest.

When to plant cucumber in Delaware →When to plant zucchini in Delaware →When to plant bush bean in Delaware →When to plant carrot in Delaware →When to plant kale in Delaware →When to plant pea in Delaware →When to plant swiss chard in Delaware →When to plant beet in Delaware →Delaware frost dates by zone →

Peak growing season: August garden jobs in Delaware

  1. Water deeply two or three times a week rather than a little every day - about an inch a week, more in heat. See watering a vegetable garden.
  2. 10 weeks until the average first frost (October 22). Fall crops start now: cucumber, fennel (bulb), zucchini / summer squash, bush bean. See the fall and winter garden guide.
  3. Check the undersides of leaves twice a week - catching pests early is most of the battle (pest identification guide).
  4. Harvest often: lima bean, chili pepper, watermelon, leek should be coming in. Picking regularly keeps beans, squash and cucumbers producing.

Questions gardeners ask

What vegetables can I plant in Delaware in August?

35 crops have a window in August: cucumber, fennel (bulb), zucchini / summer squash, bush bean, carrot, kale, radicchio, collard greens, endive & escarole, napa cabbage and more. The tables above give the exact dates for each.

Is it too late to plant garlic in Delaware in August?

Not too late - it's actually a little early. In Delaware the next garlic window opens around November 2: plant in fall, after first frost.

Is it too late to plant tomatoes in Delaware in August?

For this year, yes - the tomato windows in Delaware have closed. The next step is to start seeds indoors from about February 17.

When is the first frost in Delaware?

The statewide average first fall frost is around October 22 and the last spring frost around April 14. Your town can be a week or two either side - look yours up by ZIP code.

What can I harvest in Delaware in August?

From plantings made on time: lima bean, chili pepper, watermelon, leek, winter squash, parsnip, salsify, pumpkin, rosemary, celery.

← July in DelawareSeptember in Delaware →Full-year Delaware planting calendar →Delaware frost dates →

What to plant in August in other states

District of ColumbiaMarylandNew JerseyPennsylvaniaVirginiaWest VirginiaAlabamaAlaskaAll states →

Dates are computed from Delaware’s statewide average frost dates (from NOAA/NCEI climate normals) and each crop’s timing in our crop database. Your garden may be a week or two either side - for dates tuned to your ZIP code, use the planting calendar.