August is dedicated to keeping up with summer maintenance on plants (for fast-growing tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, and peppers) and controlling pests (such as caterpillars and spider mites), while the focus shifts increasingly each week towards succession sowings.
Since the main gardening tasks remain the same as last month, this edition focuses primarily on what you can sow in August to prepare for an abundant autumn and winter garden!
Upcoming workshops at MOES Tuinen
Do you want to get the most out of your summer harvest and prepare your autumn and winter garden at the same time? Join one of our two workshops with a 40% discount using code MOESTUINEN40 at checkout.
- English-language autumn workshop: August 8
- Dutch-language autumn workshop: August 29
🌱What to sow in August?
Three quick tips for success:
- Soil moisture management: The midsummer sun dries out the soil quickly. Keep a close eye on your seed trays. For beds sown directly, a light shade cloth or constant moisture is essential for even germination.
- Protect cabbage crops: Sow cabbage crops indoors or under insect netting to protect young plants from caterpillars.
- The double-seeding strategy: We recommend splitting your sowings into two phases: one early this month for winter harvests based on available space (e.g. replacing pole beans with autumn/winter cabbage crops, or fast-growing beets, kohlrabi, and leafy greens), and a second major sowing round in September to overwinter and to plant between summer crops when they finish in late October.
What to sow this month:
- Beetroot, carrot & spring onion → Sow as soon as possible early August for harvest in late autumn and early winter. Continue sowing in stages for a constant supply of fresh root vegetables and onions.
- Fennel → August is the perfect time to sow this flavorful vegetable. Fennel germinates and grows slowly, but is ideal for an early winter harvest (we also sow again in September).
- Kohlrabi → Wonderful for an autumn harvest. Sow under protection; we sow again in September.
- Larger autumn and winter cabbage varieties (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale) → Do you have space available soon? Sow under protection in early August for a harvest later this year, or wait until September for overwintering.
- Autumn leafy greens (lettuce, endive, pak choi, tatsoi, arugula, spinach) → If you already have space, sow these now or in the second half of August for an autumn harvest as soon as the heat subsides. In September, we sow larger quantities to plant alongside summer vegetables for overwintering.
- Herbs (dill & parsley) → Sow end of August for an autumn harvest. Ensure sufficient moisture and prevent drying out for good germination.
🪴What to plant in August?
When early summer crops finish (such as pole beans), plant your seedlings from early August—such as young brassicas, kohlrabi, or leafy greens—in the cleared spots to keep your beds productive into winter.
🛠️Activities
The most important tasks remain the same as last month, so stick to your routine:
- Pruning & deep watering: Continue to guide the tomatoes and cucumbers and remove the lower leaves so that the top 4–6 leaf layers maintain for good air circulation. Give weekly deep water at the roots. Towards the end of August, we reduce watering of summer crops such as tomatoes to improve flavor and accelerate ripening.
- Controlling pests:
- Caterpillars & cabbage white butterflies: Check beets, chard, celery, herbs, flowers, and cabbage crops weekly. Remove caterpillars by hand, use Bt weekly (especially under the leaves), and remove affected leaves to break the cycle.
- Spider mites: Check eggplants in the greenhouse for yellow spots or fine webs. Rinse the underside of the leaves with water, remove affected lower leaves, and increase the humidity.
- Mildew: Ensure airy plants by removing older lower leaves. Also remove affected leaves if they are no longer productive. Pay attention to young leaves (especially on cucumbers) and avoid high humidity or spraying with water. Lava meal can help reduce mildew on new leaves. Mildew on older pumpkin or zucchini leaves is usually not a problem, as long as the new growth remains healthy.