What to Plant in August in Australia: Your Complete Gardening Guide

Key Takeaways

• August planting depends on your climate zone - subtropical and tropical gardeners can plant warm-season crops, while temperate and cold-zone gardeners should stick to frost-hardy varieties.
• It's the last month to plant bare-rooted roses and deciduous fruit trees while they're still dormant.
• Cool-climate gardeners can get a head start on spring by raising tomato, capsicum and eggplant seeds indoors or in a greenhouse.
• Frost-hardy vegetables like peas, spinach, lettuce, broccoli and onions can go in now across most southern regions.
• Preparing beds with organic matter in August sets your soil up for the main spring planting rush in September.

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Vegetables to Plant in August

Subtropical and tropical zones (Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin and coastal QLD/NT): the dry season and mild temperatures make August a brilliant planting month. Sow or plant beans, sweet corn, tomatoes, capsicum, cucumber, zucchini, pumpkin, lettuce, radish and rocket. Tropical gardeners should aim to get crops established now, before the heat and humidity of the build-up arrive.

Temperate zones (Sydney, coastal NSW, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide): stick with frost-tolerant crops for direct planting - peas, broad beans, spinach, silverbeet, lettuce, carrots, beetroot, onions, spring onions, radish and Asian greens all handle the late-winter chill. Seed potatoes can also go in towards the end of the month in frost-free areas.

Cold and mountain zones (Canberra, Tasmania, inland highlands): frosts are still a regular visitor, so keep to the hardiest crops outdoors - broad beans, peas, spinach, kale, onions and garlic. The real August job in cold climates is starting your warm-season crops under cover (more on that below).

Whichever zone you're in, veggies perform best in well-prepared soil. Dig through a rich organic blend like Searles 5 IN 1 Organic Fertiliser a few weeks before planting to boost soil structure and feed your crops naturally. For pots and raised planters, a purpose-blended mix such as Searles Herb and Vegetable Specialty Mix takes the guesswork out of container growing.

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Herbs to Plant in August

Cool-season herbs love August. Parsley, coriander, chives, mint, thyme, oregano and rocket can be planted across most of the country, and coriander in particular performs far better now than in the heat of summer, when it bolts to seed almost immediately. In subtropical and tropical gardens, you can also start basil - but southern gardeners should wait until the frosts are done before planting this heat-lover.

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Flowers to Plant in August

For colour through spring and into summer, August is sowing time. In temperate and cooler zones, plant seedlings of pansies, violas, primulas, snapdragons, dianthus and cinerarias, and sow seeds of alyssum, cosmos and cornflower. In subtropical and tropical gardens, you can go earlier into warm-season favourites like petunias, marigolds, salvias and sunflowers.

August is also your last call for bare-rooted roses. While they're still dormant, bare-rooted roses (and deciduous fruit trees - see below) establish quickly and cost less than potted specimens. Plant them into soil enriched with organic matter, or use a specialty blend like Searles Fruit, Citrus and Rose Specialty Mix for plantings in pots and garden beds.

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Fruit Trees to Plant in August

Late winter is prime time for planting deciduous fruit trees - apples, pears, plums, peaches, nectarines and apricots - while they're dormant and sold bare-rooted at garden centres. Get them in the ground this month so the roots can settle before spring growth begins. In warmer frost-free climates, citrus can also be planted now, giving trees a full growing season to establish before their first winter.

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Get a Head Start on Spring With Seeds

One of the smartest August jobs, especially in cooler climates, is raising warm-season crops from seed under cover. Tomatoes, capsicums, eggplants and chillies all need a long growing season, so starting them now in trays on a sunny windowsill, in a greenhouse or a sheltered spot means sturdy seedlings ready to transplant as soon as the frosts finish. Use a fine, free-draining blend like Searles Seed Raising Specialty Mix, which is designed for high germination rates and healthy growth right through to transplanting.

Once seedlings are up and growing - whether in trays or freshly planted in the garden - a gentle liquid feed with Searles SeaMax Organic Fertiliser Liquid helps stimulate strong root development and reduces transplant shock.

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August Garden Care Reminders

Planting is only half the job in August. Keep an eye on the forecast and protect tender new plantings from late frosts with frost cloth or by planting after your area's average last frost date. Water new plantings in well, but don't overdo it while the weather stays cool, and hold off on heavy feeding of established plants until new spring growth appears. It's also the ideal month to finish winter pruning of roses and deciduous fruit trees before bud burst.

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Conclusion

August rewards gardeners who get in early. Whether it's frost-hardy veggies in the south, warm-season crops in the north, bare-rooted roses and fruit trees while they're still dormant, or trays of seedlings building strength for spring, the plantings you make this month set up your entire growing season. Match your choices to your climate zone, prepare your soil well, and your garden will be weeks ahead when the warm weather arrives.

No matter where you are in Australia, you can find the Searles range at your local garden centre. Find your closest stockist through our Where to Buy page and get planting this August.

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FAQs:

What vegetables can I plant in August in Australia?

In warm subtropical and tropical zones, plant beans, sweet corn, tomatoes, capsicum and cucumber. In temperate and cold zones, stick to frost-hardy crops like peas, broad beans, spinach, lettuce, carrots, beetroot and onions.

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Is August too early to plant tomatoes?

In frost-free subtropical and tropical areas, no - tomatoes can go in now. In temperate and cold climates, start tomato seeds indoors or in a greenhouse in August, then transplant seedlings outside once the risk of frost has passed.

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Can I still plant bare-rooted roses and fruit trees in August?

Yes - August is generally the last month to plant bare-rooted roses and deciduous fruit trees while they're still dormant. Get them in before spring bud burst for the best establishment.

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How do I protect August plantings from frost?

Plant tender varieties after your area's average last frost date, cover new plantings with frost cloth on cold nights, and position frost-sensitive plants in sheltered spots or against warm walls.

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What seeds should I start indoors in August?

Tomatoes, capsicums, eggplants and chillies are the priority - they need a long season, so starting them in trays of seed raising mix now gives you strong seedlings ready to plant out after the last frost.

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