My Planting Calendar

What to plant in August in District of Columbia

In District of Columbia (DC), August is the heart of the growing season - about 18 weeks after the last frost (April 10) and 10 weeks before the first (October 25). The state averages 198 frost-free days a year (last frost April 10, first frost October 25; USDA zones 7a, 7b, 8a).

36 crops have a sowing or planting window this month, including broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, fennel (bulb), zucchini / summer squash - and 10 of those windows close during August.

Dates here come from District of Columbia frost dates (last frost Apr 10, first frost Oct 25). For one crop in detail, see when to plant broccoli, cabbage or cauliflower in District of Columbia.

Peak growing seasonSow or plant: 36Start indoors: 0Harvesting: 14

District of Columbia: planting activity through the year

8
36
64
84
54
10
18
36
18
1
2
0
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Frost riskFrost-free: Apr 10 – Oct 25
Bars count the vegetables, herbs and fruit with a sowing or planting window in each month, from the state’s average frost dates. 36 have one in August; the busiest month is April (84).

Last chance in August

Broccoli (start transplants for fall, by Aug 2) · Cabbage (start transplants for fall, by Aug 2) · Cauliflower (start transplants for fall, by Aug 2) · Cucumber (sow for a fall crop, by Aug 9) · Fennel (Bulb) (sow for a fall crop, by Aug 9) · Zucchini / Summer Squash (sow for a fall crop, by Aug 9) · Bush Bean (sow for a fall crop, by Aug 16) · Carrot (sow for a fall crop, by Aug 16) · Kale (sow for a fall crop, by Aug 16) · Radicchio (sow for a fall crop, by Aug 16)

For fall and winter harvests (33)

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

CropWhat to doWindowThis month
BroccoliStart transplants for fallJul 16 – Aug 2Last chance - ends Aug 2
CabbageStart transplants for fallJul 16 – Aug 2Last chance - ends Aug 2
CauliflowerStart transplants for fallJul 16 – Aug 2Last chance - ends Aug 2
CucumberSow for a fall cropJul 23 – Aug 9Last chance - ends Aug 9
Fennel (Bulb)Sow for a fall cropJul 23 – Aug 9Last chance - ends Aug 9
Zucchini / Summer SquashSow for a fall cropJul 23 – Aug 9Last chance - ends Aug 9
Bush BeanSow for a fall cropJul 30 – Aug 16Last chance - ends Aug 16
CarrotSow for a fall cropJul 30 – Aug 16Last chance - ends Aug 16
KaleSow for a fall cropJul 30 – Aug 16Last chance - ends Aug 16
RadicchioSow for a fall cropJul 30 – Aug 16Last chance - ends Aug 16
Collard GreensSow for a fall cropAug 6 – Aug 23Aug 6 – Aug 23
Endive & EscaroleSow for a fall cropAug 6 – Aug 23Aug 6 – Aug 23
Napa CabbageSow for a fall cropAug 6 – Aug 23Aug 6 – Aug 23
ParsleySow for a fall cropAug 6 – Aug 23Aug 6 – Aug 23
PeaSow for a fall cropAug 6 – Aug 23Aug 6 – Aug 23
Swiss ChardSow for a fall cropAug 6 – Aug 23Aug 6 – Aug 23
BeetSow for a fall cropAug 13 – Aug 30Aug 13 – Aug 30
Cilantro / CorianderSow for a fall cropAug 13 – Aug 30Aug 13 – Aug 30
Bok Choy / Pak ChoiSow for a fall cropAug 20 – Sep 6Opens Aug 20
BorageSow for a fall cropAug 20 – Sep 6Opens Aug 20
DillSow for a fall cropAug 20 – Sep 6Opens Aug 20
Fava Bean (Broad Bean)Sow for a fall cropAug 20 – Sep 6Opens Aug 20
Green Onion / ScallionSow for a fall cropAug 20 – Sep 6Opens Aug 20
KohlrabiSow for a fall cropAug 20 – Sep 6Opens Aug 20
LettuceSow for a fall cropAug 20 – Sep 6Opens Aug 20
Mache (Corn Salad)Sow for a fall cropAug 20 – Sep 6Opens Aug 20
MizunaSow for a fall cropAug 20 – Sep 6Opens Aug 20
Rapini (Broccoli Raab)Sow for a fall cropAug 20 – Sep 6Opens Aug 20
ChervilSow for a fall cropAug 27 – Sep 13Opens Aug 27
Mustard GreensSow for a fall cropAug 27 – Sep 13Opens Aug 27
SpinachSow for a fall cropAug 27 – Sep 13Opens Aug 27
TatsoiSow for a fall cropAug 27 – Sep 13Opens Aug 27
TurnipSow for a fall cropAug 27 – Sep 13Opens Aug 27

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.

Chili Pepper · Jul 3 – Aug 2Watermelon · Jul 3 – Aug 2Leek · Jul 5 – Aug 24Winter Squash · Jul 6 – Aug 5Parsnip · Jul 12 – Aug 11Salsify · Jul 15 – Aug 24Pumpkin · Jul 16 – Aug 15Rosemary · Jul 16 – Aug 15Celery · Jul 19 – Aug 28Celeriac · Jul 19 – Aug 8Luffa (Loofah Gourd) · Jul 23 – Sep 21Peanut · Jul 26 – Sep 14Sweet Potato · Jul 30 – Aug 29Chayote · Aug 22 – Sep 21

Planting dates for popular crops in District of Columbia

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

When to plant broccoli in District of Columbia →When to plant cabbage in District of Columbia →When to plant cauliflower in District of Columbia →When to plant cucumber in District of Columbia →When to plant zucchini in District of Columbia →When to plant bush bean in District of Columbia →When to plant carrot in District of Columbia →When to plant kale in District of Columbia →District of Columbia frost dates by zone →

Peak growing season: August garden jobs in District of Columbia

  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 25). Fall crops start now: broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber. 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: chili pepper, watermelon, leek, winter squash should be coming in. Picking regularly keeps beans, squash and cucumbers producing.

USDA zone chart for District of Columbia

District of Columbia spans USDA zones 7a, 7b, 8a. Colder zones, usually higher or further inland, have a later last spring frost and an earlier first fall frost than the state average.

ZoneLast frostFirst frostSeason
Zone 7Apr 5Oct 25200 days
Zone 8Mar 20Nov 5230 days

Questions gardeners ask

What vegetables can I plant in District of Columbia in August?

36 crops have a window in August: broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, fennel (bulb), zucchini / summer squash, bush bean, carrot, kale, radicchio and more. The tables above give the exact dates for each.

Is it too late to plant garlic in District of Columbia in August?

Not too late - it's actually a little early. In District of Columbia the next garlic window opens around November 5: plant in fall, after first frost.

Is it too late to plant tomatoes in District of Columbia in August?

For this year, yes - the tomato windows in District of Columbia have closed. The next step is to start seeds indoors from about February 13.

When is the first frost in District of Columbia?

The statewide average first fall frost is around October 25 and the last spring frost around April 10. Your town can be a week or two either side - look yours up by ZIP code.

What can I harvest in District of Columbia in August?

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

← July in District of ColumbiaSeptember in District of Columbia →Full-year District of Columbia planting calendar →District of Columbia frost dates →

What to plant in August in other states

DelawareMarylandNew JerseyPennsylvaniaVirginiaWest VirginiaAlabamaAlaskaAll states →

Dates are computed from District of Columbia’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.