My Planting Calendar

What to plant in August in Kentucky

In Kentucky (KY), August is the heart of the growing season - about 17 weeks after the last frost (April 18) and 9 weeks before the first (October 20). The state averages 185 frost-free days a year (last frost April 18, first frost October 20; USDA zones 6a, 6b, 7a).

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 Kentucky frost dates (last frost Apr 18, first frost Oct 20). For one crop in detail, see when to plant cucumber, zucchini or bush bean in Kentucky.

Peak growing seasonSow or plant: 35Start indoors: 0Harvesting: 22

Kentucky: planting activity through the year

5
29
65
86
58
10
18
35
19
2
2
0
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Frost riskFrost-free: Apr 18 – Oct 20
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 (86).

Last chance in August

Cucumber (sow for a fall crop, by Aug 4) · Fennel (Bulb) (sow for a fall crop, by Aug 4) · Zucchini / Summer Squash (sow for a fall crop, by Aug 4) · Bush Bean (sow for a fall crop, by Aug 11) · Carrot (sow for a fall crop, by Aug 11) · Kale (sow for a fall crop, by Aug 11) · Radicchio (sow for a fall crop, by Aug 11)

For fall and winter harvests (32)

Sowings counted back from Kentucky'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 18 – Aug 4Last chance - ends Aug 4
Fennel (Bulb)Sow for a fall cropJul 18 – Aug 4Last chance - ends Aug 4
Zucchini / Summer SquashSow for a fall cropJul 18 – Aug 4Last chance - ends Aug 4
Bush BeanSow for a fall cropJul 25 – Aug 11Last chance - ends Aug 11
CarrotSow for a fall cropJul 25 – Aug 11Last chance - ends Aug 11
KaleSow for a fall cropJul 25 – Aug 11Last chance - ends Aug 11
RadicchioSow for a fall cropJul 25 – Aug 11Last chance - ends Aug 11
Collard GreensSow for a fall cropAug 1 – Aug 18Aug 1 – Aug 18
Endive & EscaroleSow for a fall cropAug 1 – Aug 18Aug 1 – Aug 18
Napa CabbageSow for a fall cropAug 1 – Aug 18Aug 1 – Aug 18
ParsleySow for a fall cropAug 1 – Aug 18Aug 1 – Aug 18
PeaSow for a fall cropAug 1 – Aug 18Aug 1 – Aug 18
Swiss ChardSow for a fall cropAug 1 – Aug 18Aug 1 – Aug 18
BeetSow for a fall cropAug 8 – Aug 25Aug 8 – Aug 25
Cilantro / CorianderSow for a fall cropAug 8 – Aug 25Aug 8 – Aug 25
Bok Choy / Pak ChoiSow for a fall cropAug 15 – Sep 1Opens Aug 15
BorageSow for a fall cropAug 15 – Sep 1Opens Aug 15
DillSow for a fall cropAug 15 – Sep 1Opens Aug 15
Fava Bean (Broad Bean)Sow for a fall cropAug 15 – Sep 1Opens Aug 15
Green Onion / ScallionSow for a fall cropAug 15 – Sep 1Opens Aug 15
KohlrabiSow for a fall cropAug 15 – Sep 1Opens Aug 15
LettuceSow for a fall cropAug 15 – Sep 1Opens Aug 15
Mache (Corn Salad)Sow for a fall cropAug 15 – Sep 1Opens Aug 15
MizunaSow for a fall cropAug 15 – Sep 1Opens Aug 15
Rapini (Broccoli Raab)Sow for a fall cropAug 15 – Sep 1Opens Aug 15
ChervilSow for a fall cropAug 22 – Sep 8Opens Aug 22
Mustard GreensSow for a fall cropAug 22 – Sep 8Opens Aug 22
SpinachSow for a fall cropAug 22 – Sep 8Opens Aug 22
TatsoiSow for a fall cropAug 22 – Sep 8Opens Aug 22
TurnipSow for a fall cropAug 22 – Sep 8Opens Aug 22
ArugulaSow for a fall cropAug 29 – Sep 15Opens Aug 29
WatercressSow for a fall cropAug 29 – Sep 15Opens Aug 29

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.

Potato · Jun 13 – Aug 2Sweet Corn · Jun 24 – Aug 3Brussels Sprouts · Jul 3 – Aug 2Sunflower · Jul 4 – Aug 3Lima Bean · Jul 6 – Aug 5Edamame (Soybean) · Jul 9 – Aug 3Tomatillo · Jul 9 – Aug 3Chili Pepper · Jul 11 – Aug 10Watermelon · Jul 11 – Aug 10Eggplant · Jul 13 – Aug 2Leek · Jul 13 – Sep 1Winter Squash · Jul 14 – Aug 13Parsnip · Jul 20 – Aug 19Salsify · Jul 23 – Sep 1Pumpkin · Jul 24 – Aug 23Rosemary · Jul 24 – Aug 23Celery · Jul 27 – Sep 5Celeriac · Jul 27 – Aug 16Luffa (Loofah Gourd) · Jul 31 – Sep 29Peanut · Aug 3 – Sep 22Sweet Potato · Aug 7 – Sep 6Chayote · Aug 30 – Sep 29

Planting dates for popular crops in Kentucky

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

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

Peak growing season: August garden jobs in Kentucky

  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. 9 weeks until the average first frost (October 20). 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: potato, sweet corn, brussels sprouts, sunflower should be coming in. Picking regularly keeps beans, squash and cucumbers producing.

USDA zone chart for Kentucky

Kentucky spans USDA zones 6a, 6b, 7a. 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 6Apr 15Oct 15185 days
Zone 7Apr 5Oct 25200 days

Questions gardeners ask

What vegetables can I plant in Kentucky 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 Kentucky in August?

Not too late - it's actually a little early. In Kentucky the next garlic window opens around October 31: plant in fall, after first frost.

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

For this year, yes - the tomato windows in Kentucky have closed. The next step is to start seeds indoors from about February 21.

When is the first frost in Kentucky?

The statewide average first fall frost is around October 20 and the last spring frost around April 18. Your town can be a week or two either side - look yours up by ZIP code.

What can I harvest in Kentucky in August?

From plantings made on time: potato, sweet corn, brussels sprouts, sunflower, lima bean, edamame (soybean), tomatillo, chili pepper, watermelon, eggplant.

← July in KentuckySeptember in Kentucky →Full-year Kentucky planting calendar →Kentucky frost dates →

What to plant in August in other states

GeorgiaNorth CarolinaSouth CarolinaTennesseeAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasAll states →

Dates are computed from Kentucky’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.