My Planting Calendar

What to plant in August in Virginia

In Virginia (VA), August is the heart of the growing season - about 17 weeks after the last frost (April 15) and 9 weeks before the first (October 20). The state averages 188 frost-free days a year (last frost April 15, first frost October 20; USDA zones 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a).

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 Virginia frost dates (last frost Apr 15, first frost Oct 20). For one crop in detail, see when to plant cucumber, zucchini or bush bean in Virginia.

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

Virginia 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.

Virginia: planting activity through the year

5
29
65
90
58
10
18
35
19
2
2
0
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Frost riskFrost-free: Apr 15 – 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 (90).

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 Virginia'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.

Lima Bean · Jul 3 – Aug 2Chili Pepper · Jul 8 – Aug 7Watermelon · Jul 8 – Aug 7Leek · Jul 10 – Aug 29Winter Squash · Jul 11 – Aug 10Parsnip · Jul 17 – Aug 16Salsify · Jul 20 – Aug 29Pumpkin · Jul 21 – Aug 20Rosemary · Jul 21 – Aug 20Celery · Jul 24 – Sep 2Celeriac · Jul 24 – Aug 13Luffa (Loofah Gourd) · Jul 28 – Sep 26Peanut · Jul 31 – Sep 19Sweet Potato · Aug 4 – Sep 3Chayote · Aug 27 – Sep 26

Planting dates for popular crops in Virginia

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

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

Peak growing season: August garden jobs in Virginia

  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: lima bean, chili pepper, watermelon, leek should be coming in. Picking regularly keeps beans, squash and cucumbers producing.

USDA zone chart for Virginia

Virginia spans USDA zones 5b, 6a, 6b, 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 5Apr 30Oct 5160 days
Zone 6Apr 15Oct 15185 days
Zone 7Apr 5Oct 25200 days
Zone 8Mar 20Nov 5230 days

Questions gardeners ask

What vegetables can I plant in Virginia 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 Virginia in August?

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

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

For this year, yes - the tomato windows in Virginia have closed. The next step is to start seeds indoors from about February 18.

When is the first frost in Virginia?

The statewide average first fall frost is around October 20 and the last spring frost around April 15. Virginia 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 Virginia in August?

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

← July in VirginiaSeptember in Virginia →Full-year Virginia planting calendar →Virginia frost dates →

What to plant in August in other states

DelawareDistrict of ColumbiaMarylandNew JerseyPennsylvaniaWest VirginiaAlabamaAlaskaAll states →

Dates are computed from Virginia’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.