My Planting Calendar

What to plant in August in New Mexico

In New Mexico (NM), August is the heart of the growing season - about 17 weeks after the last frost (April 20) and 9 weeks before the first (October 20). The state averages 183 frost-free days a year (last frost April 20, first frost October 20; USDA zones 4b, 5b, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 9a).

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

Peak growing seasonSow or plant: 35Start indoors: 0Harvesting: 24

New Mexico covers a very wide range of climates, so dates near you can be two weeks or more either side of these. Enter your ZIP code in the planting calendar for dates tuned to your town.

New Mexico: planting activity through the year

1
24
70
86
58
10
18
35
18
2
2
0
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Frost riskFrost-free: Apr 20 – 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 New Mexico'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 15 – Aug 4Sweet Corn · Jun 26 – Aug 5Bell Pepper · Jul 3 – Aug 2Southern Pea (Cowpea) · Jul 3 – Aug 2Brussels Sprouts · Jul 5 – Aug 4Sunflower · Jul 6 – Aug 5Lima Bean · Jul 8 – Aug 7Edamame (Soybean) · Jul 11 – Aug 5Tomatillo · Jul 11 – Aug 5Chili Pepper · Jul 13 – Aug 12Cantaloupe / Muskmelon · Jul 13 – Aug 2Watermelon · Jul 13 – Aug 12Eggplant · Jul 15 – Aug 4Leek · Jul 15 – Sep 3Winter Squash · Jul 16 – Aug 15Parsnip · Jul 22 – Aug 21Salsify · Jul 25 – Sep 3Pumpkin · Jul 26 – Aug 25Rosemary · Jul 26 – Aug 25Celery · Jul 29 – Sep 7Celeriac · Jul 29 – Aug 18Luffa (Loofah Gourd) · Aug 2 – Oct 1Peanut · Aug 5 – Sep 24Sweet Potato · Aug 9 – Sep 8

Planting dates for popular crops in New Mexico

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

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

Peak growing season: August garden jobs in New Mexico

  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, bell pepper, southern pea (cowpea) should be coming in. Picking regularly keeps beans, squash and cucumbers producing.

USDA zone chart for New Mexico

New Mexico spans USDA zones 4b, 5b, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 9a. 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 4May 10Sep 25135 days
Zone 5Apr 30Oct 5160 days
Zone 6Apr 15Oct 15185 days
Zone 7Apr 5Oct 25200 days
Zone 8Mar 20Nov 5230 days
Zone 9Feb 20Nov 30280 days

Questions gardeners ask

What vegetables can I plant in New Mexico 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 New Mexico in August?

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

Is it too late to plant tomatoes in New Mexico in August?

For this year, yes - the tomato windows in New Mexico have closed. The next step is to start seeds indoors from about February 23.

When is the first frost in New Mexico?

The statewide average first fall frost is around October 20 and the last spring frost around April 20. New Mexico covers a wide range of climates, so local dates can differ by two weeks or more - look yours up by ZIP code.

What can I harvest in New Mexico in August?

From plantings made on time: potato, sweet corn, bell pepper, southern pea (cowpea), brussels sprouts, sunflower, lima bean, edamame (soybean), tomatillo, chili pepper.

← July in New MexicoSeptember in New Mexico →Full-year New Mexico planting calendar →New Mexico frost dates →

What to plant in August in other states

ArizonaAlabamaAlaskaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareAll states →

Dates are computed from New Mexico’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.