Seeds to Sow in August

August begins with a full moon that highlights the harvests we planted in spring. The full moon on the first day (known as the corn moon) in the northern hemisphere, giving the opportunity to reap and regenerate the gardens we tend.

August in Napa County usually features heat waves boasting temperatures well above the upper-80s and this year is no exception. Watch your summer crops closely by watering them in cool early morning hours so they can take the midday heat.

During these conditions, the outdoor seed library annexes are closed because we know that ideal conditions are vital for preserving the longevity of seed viability: think cool, dark, and dry. We created a couple of quick videos to give you the downloads on seed storage. Each one describes what guidelines and methods we use to store seeds when they are not in the annexes.

But I digress–back to which seeds to sow in August. As you bring in squash and the first tomatoes, plan for late summer and fall harvests by planting cool weather annual crops like brassicas, carrots, lettuces, parsley, cilantro, and fennel. Flowers like lavender, pansies, snapdragons, and poppies can be sown at this time, too. Because of our long growing season in Napa County (Zone 9b), you can transplant tomato cuttings, and direct sow another round of corn, peppers, and cucumbers, if you’re up to the challenge. See the full spectrum of possibilities for your fall and winter garden listed below.

Veggies 🍆🌽🍉
Bean
Beet * ^
Broccoli
Brussels sprout *
Cabbage *
Carrot
Cauliflower
Chard
Celery
Collard
Corn
Endive
Kale *
Leek
Lettuce *
Onion
Parsnip
Pea
Pepper *^
Radish
Spinach *
Tomato *^
Turnip

Herbs 🌱🪴🍃
Coriander
Fennel
Mint
Oregano
Parsley
Sweet marjoram
Watercress

Flowers 🌼🪻🌻
Borage
Lavender
Pansy
Poppy
Snapdragon
Sunflower
Viola
Zinnia