What To Plant In August In North Texas

Hot enough for ya? I like to call August the “make or break” month for new gardeners. This is when first-timers either run for the hills (and the A/C) or fully embrace the sweat and stick it out.

If you’re sticking it out right now, a big congrats. You just earned yourself a fast-pass to garden nirvana in the fall. As any longtime North Texan will tell you, fall is the best time of year to be a gardener here, no matter what you grow.

Despite the brutal heat, however, August is actually a pretty busy gardening month. This is when we need to start our fall gardens and, if you’re a flower grower, our spring gardens.

Here is a round-up of what to start by seed indoors, outdoors, and by transplant.

Vegetables to Plant Outdoors By Direct-Seed

First Half of August

Winter Squash
Black-Eyed Peas
Southern Peas
Okra
Pumpkin

All Month

Corn
Cucumbers
Snap pole beans
Zucchini
Pinto beans
Bush beans
Chinese Cabbage
Swiss Chard

Vegetables to Start by Seed Indoors

All Month

Broccoli
Brussel sprouts
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Mustard greens
Spinach
Swiss Chard

Tip: Don’t delay planting cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, or brussel sprouts. Earlier in the month is better. All have a long growing period and need plenty of time to mature.

Flowers to Plant by Seed Outdoors

All Month

Zinnias
Sunflowers
Marigolds
Nasturtiums
Tithonia (Mexican Sunflower)
Wildflowers (for bloom next spring)

Flowers to Start by Seed Indoors

All Month

Foxglove
Snapdragons
Dianthus
Ammi
Strawflower
Sea Holly (Eryngium)
Calendula
Lisianthus
Bells of Ireland

Note: The flowers to start by seed indoors this month (listed above) are called hardy annuals. These are annual flowers planted in the fall and overwintered for bloom the following spring. This is the best way to grow cut flowers that prefer cooler climates because they will bloom much sooner than any flowers planted in early spring. To learn more about growing hardy annuals, grab the book Cool Flowers by flower farmer Lisa Mason Ziegler.

Hardy annual seedlings started in August will be transplanted into the garden in October.

To learn how to start seeds indoors like a pro (from a pro) check out our Indoor Seed-Starting e-course.

What To Buy At The Nursery

Marigolds
Cosmos
Asters
Mums
Ornamental Peppers
Zinnias

(Start looking for fall veggie transplants next month.)

Supplies We Can’t Do Without in August

It’s all about keeping your gardens happy and keeping those weeds at bay this time of year. Here is what we use in our own gardens:

Need More Guidance?

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Callie Works-Leary

Founder of The Dallas Garden School, Callie is an expert garden educator with 17 years of personal and professional gardening experience. She specializes in growing food, small-space gardening, managing community gardens, and plant propagation. She has an MBA from Southern Methodist University, a bachelor's degree from Skidmore College, and served as a horticulture intern for the Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. Callie is a member of the Native Plant Society of Texas, The Herb Society of America, the National Garden Bureau, and is a Certified Texas Master Gardener.

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