Zone 5A — August
What to Plant in August in Zone 5A
August in Zone 5A:
0 crops to start indoors,
0 to plant or direct sow outside, and
196 entering harvest window.
Last frost averages May 7. Reference city: Des Moines, IA.
0 Start Indoors
0 Plant Outside
196 Harvest
Start Indoors in August
Nothing to start seeds indoors in August for Zone 5A.
Next window: January — 1 variety, including Green Onion.
Plant Outside in August
Nothing to plant or sow outside in August for Zone 5A.
Next window: October — 12 varieties, including Asian Tempest Garlic, Chengdu Garlic, Chesnok Red Garlic.
Harvest in August
| Plant | Type | Planted / Sown | Harvest Window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Danish Ballhead Cabbage | brassica | Apr 23 | Aug 1 – Aug 11 |
| Giant Musselburgh Leeks | allium | Apr 23 | Aug 6 |
| Abe Lincoln Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 9 – Aug 19 |
| Ace 55 Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 9 – Aug 14 |
| Adirondack Blue Potato | root vegetable | May 14 | Aug 9 |
| African Flake Daisy Flowers | flower | May 7 | Aug 5 – Aug 15 |
| Aji Amarillo Peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 19 – Sep 18 |
| Aji Dulce Peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 19 – Sep 8 |
| All Sweet Watermelon | melon | May 21 | Aug 19 – Aug 24 |
| Amarillo Oro Melon | melon | May 21 | Aug 19 |
| American Purple Top Rutabaga | root vegetable | May 14 | Aug 7 – Aug 22 |
| Amish Paste Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 3 – Aug 14 |
| Anaheim Peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 6 – Aug 14 |
| Ancho Grande Hot Peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 14 |
| Anise | herb | May 14 | Aug 22 – Sep 11 |
| Aunt Ruby's German Green Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 9 |
| Baby Blue Hubbard Winter Squash | squash | May 14 | Aug 17 |
| Banana Melon | melon | May 21 | Aug 19 |
| Banana Peppers | pepper | May 28 | Aug 8 |
| Beauregard Sweet Potato | root vegetable | May 14 | Aug 12 – Aug 27 |
| Beefsteak Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 9 – Aug 14 |
| Bhut Jolokia Ghost Pepper | pepper | May 21 | Aug 19 – Sep 18 |
| Big Bertha Peppers | pepper | May 28 | Aug 6 – Aug 9 |
| Big Boy Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 7 |
| Big Rainbow Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 14 – Aug 24 |
| Birds Eye Hot Peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 29 – Sep 8 |
| Bitter melons | vegetable | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 19 |
| Black Beauty Eggplant | vegetable | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 19 |
| Black Diamond Watermelon | melon | May 21 | Aug 19 |
| Black From Tula Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 14 |
| Black Krim Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 9 |
| Blondkopfchen Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 9 |
| Bloody Butcher Corn | vegetable | May 21 | Aug 29 – Sep 8 |
| Bonny Best Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 9 |
| Bradley Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 9 |
| Brandywine Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 9 – Aug 19 |
| Brilliant Celeriac | root vegetable | May 7 | Aug 25 – Sep 4 |
| Broad Windsor Fava Bean | legume | May 14 | Aug 2 |
| Brussels Sprouts | brassica | May 21 | Aug 14 – Sep 8 |
| Burgess Buttercup Winter Squash | squash | May 14 | Aug 17 |
| Cal Sweet Watermelon | melon | May 21 | Aug 14 – Aug 19 |
| California Wonder Peppers | pepper | May 28 | Aug 8 – Aug 11 |
| Calypso Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 9 |
| Caribe Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 14 |
| Carolina Cross Watermelon | melon | May 21 | Aug 29 |
| Carolina Reaper peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 19 – Sep 18 |
| Casper Eggplant | vegetable | May 21 | Aug 4 |
| Cherokee Purple Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 7 – Aug 14 |
| Cherry Bomb peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 9 |
| Chinese 5-Color Peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 14 |
| Chocolate Habanero Hot Peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 14 – Sep 3 |
| Chocolate Stripes Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 9 |
| Christmas Lima Bean | legume | May 14 | Aug 6 – Aug 12 |
| Clasping Coneflower | flower | May 14 | Aug 7 – Aug 22 |
| Classic Cumin | herb | May 14 | Aug 22 – Sep 11 |
| Classic Tomatillos | vegetable | May 14 | Aug 2 – Aug 7 |
| Congo Watermelon | melon | May 21 | Aug 19 – Aug 24 |
| Corno di Toro Pepper | pepper | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 9 |
| Crego Mix Aster Flowers | flower | May 14 | Aug 2 – Aug 12 |
| Crimson Sweet Watermelon | melon | May 21 | Aug 9 – Aug 19 |
| Datil peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 19 – Sep 8 |
| Delica Kabocha Squash | squash | May 21 | Aug 24 – Sep 8 |
| Delicata Squash | squash | May 21 | Aug 9 – Aug 29 |
| Delicious Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 9 |
| Devils Tongue Yellow Hot Peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 19 – Sep 8 |
| Egg Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 9 |
| Emerald Giant Sweet Peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 14 |
| Evening Sun Sunflowers | flower | May 14 | Aug 2 – Aug 12 |
| Firecracker Hot Peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 9 – Sep 18 |
| Florida Giant Watermelon | melon | May 21 | Aug 14 |
| Florida Market Eggplant | vegetable | May 21 | Aug 9 – Aug 19 |
| French Fingerling Potato | root vegetable | May 14 | Aug 15 |
| Fresno Peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 9 |
| Georgia Rattlesnake Watermelon | melon | May 21 | Aug 19 – Aug 24 |
| German Johnson Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 14 |
| Gochugaru Korean Peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 4 |
| Golden Bantam Sweet Corn | vegetable | May 21 | Aug 9 – Aug 14 |
| Golden Celery | vegetable | May 14 | Aug 7 – Aug 17 |
| Golden Hubbard Winter Squash | squash | May 14 | Aug 22 |
| Golden Sunray Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 9 |
| Green Flesh Honeydew Melon | melon | May 21 | Aug 14 – Aug 29 |
| Green Marrow Summer Squash | squash | May 14 | Aug 7 |
| Green Striped Cushaw Crookneck Winter Squash | squash | May 14 | Aug 27 |
| Green Zebra Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 7 |
| Habanero Pepper | pepper | May 28 | Aug 26 – Sep 25 |
| Hale's Best Jumbo Cantaloupe | melon | May 21 | Aug 9 – Aug 19 |
| Heart of Gold Cantaloupe Melon | melon | May 21 | Aug 14 – Aug 29 |
| Heirloom Red Kuri Squash | squash | May 14 | Aug 12 – Aug 22 |
| Hillbilly Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 14 |
| Holiday Marbles Hot Peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 19 – Sep 8 |
| Homestead Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 9 – Aug 14 |
| Honey Rock Cantaloupe Melon | melon | May 21 | Aug 14 – Aug 29 |
| Imperial Star Artichoke | vegetable | May 7 | Aug 5 – Aug 15 |
| Indigo Rose Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 19 |
| Jack Be Little Pumpkin | squash | May 14 | Aug 17 |
| Jack O'Lantern Pumpkin | squash | May 21 | Aug 19 – Sep 8 |
| Jacob's Cattle beans | legume | May 14 | Aug 5 – Aug 12 |
| Jaune Flamme Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 9 |
| Jimmy Nardello Peppers | pepper | May 28 | Aug 16 – Aug 26 |
| Jubilee Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 9 |
| Jubilee Watermelon | melon | May 21 | Aug 19 – Aug 24 |
| King of the Garden Pole Lima Bean | legume | May 14 | Aug 10 – Aug 17 |
| Lemon Habanero Hot Peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 14 – Sep 3 |
| Lemon Mint Herb | herb | May 7 | Aug 5 |
| Long Island Cheese Winter Squash | squash | May 14 | Aug 30 |
| Long Purple Italian Eggplant | vegetable | May 21 | Aug 4 |
| Luffa gourds | vegetable | May 21 | Aug 29 – Sep 18 |
| Marion Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 9 |
| Money Maker Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 14 |
| Moon & Stars Red-Flesh Watermelon | melon | May 21 | Aug 19 – Aug 29 |
| Moon & Stars Yellow-Flesh Watermelon | melon | May 21 | Aug 19 – Aug 29 |
| Mortgage Lifter Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 9 – Aug 14 |
| Mountain Magic Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 1 – Aug 4 |
| Mr. Stripey Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 9 |
| Napoletano Basil | herb | May 21 | Aug 4 |
| NuMex Twilight Hot Peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 19 – Sep 18 |
| Orange Flesh Honeydew Melon | melon | May 21 | Aug 14 – Aug 29 |
| Orange Habanero Hot Peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 14 – Sep 3 |
| Orange Horizon Sweet Peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 9 |
| Orange Oxheart Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 14 |
| Orion Florence Fennel | vegetable | May 14 | Aug 2 – Aug 12 |
| Pandora Striped Eggplant | vegetable | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 9 |
| Paris Yellow Pumpkin | squash | May 14 | Aug 22 |
| Parsnip | root vegetable | May 14 | Aug 22 – Sep 21 |
| Pasilla de Oaxaca Hot Peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 14 |
| Pimento Sweet Peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 14 – Aug 19 |
| Pineapple Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 14 |
| Pink Banana Jumbo Winter Squash | squash | May 14 | Aug 22 – Sep 1 |
| Pink Delicious Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 9 – Aug 13 |
| Pink Oxheart Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 9 – Aug 19 |
| Pixie Delight Lupine Flowers | flower | May 7 | Aug 5 – Aug 25 |
| Planters Jumbo Cantaloupe Melon | melon | May 21 | Aug 14 |
| Ponderosa Red Beefsteak Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 9 – Aug 19 |
| Potato onion clusters | allium | May 7 | Aug 5 – Sep 4 |
| Pretty Purple Hot Peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 19 – Sep 18 |
| Purple Tiger Hot Peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 19 – Aug 29 |
| Queensland Blue Winter Squash | squash | May 14 | Aug 22 – Sep 11 |
| Rainbow Corn | vegetable | May 14 | Aug 27 – Sep 6 |
| Red Burgundy Onions | allium | May 7 | Aug 25 – Sep 4 |
| Red Caribbean Habanero Hot Peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 14 – Sep 3 |
| Red Cayenne Hot Peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 14 |
| Red Cherry Hot Peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 9 |
| Red Mushroom Hot Peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 14 |
| Red Pontiac Potato | root vegetable | May 14 | Aug 12 – Sep 1 |
| Red Rubin Basil | herb | May 21 | Aug 1 |
| Red Scotch Bonnet Pepper | pepper | May 21 | Aug 24 – Sep 18 |
| Rio Grande Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 9 |
| Roma VF Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 9 |
| Romanesco | brassica | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 29 |
| Round Mauve Eggplant | vegetable | May 21 | Aug 9 – Aug 19 |
| San Marzano Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 7 – Aug 17 |
| Santa Fe Grande Hot Peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 9 |
| Silver Queen Sweet Corn | vegetable | May 7 | Aug 5 – Aug 7 |
| Spaghetti Squash | squash | May 21 | Aug 17 – Aug 29 |
| Spanish Sweet White Onions | allium | May 7 | Aug 25 – Sep 4 |
| Sugar Baby Watermelon | melon | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 9 |
| Sugar Pie Pumpkin | squash | May 21 | Aug 19 – Sep 8 |
| Sun Gold Sunflowers | flower | May 14 | Aug 2 – Aug 17 |
| Sunbright Yellow Sweet Peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 9 |
| Sunray Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 9 |
| Sunshine Kabocha Squash | squash | May 14 | Aug 17 – Aug 22 |
| Tabasco Hot Peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 9 – Aug 19 |
| Table Queen Acorn Squash | squash | May 21 | Aug 9 – Aug 29 |
| Tall Utah 52-70 Celery | vegetable | May 21 | Aug 29 – Sep 28 |
| Tendercrisp Celery | vegetable | May 14 | Aug 12 – Aug 27 |
| Tendersweet Orange Watermelon | melon | May 21 | Aug 19 – Aug 24 |
| Thai Hot Peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 14 |
| Tiger Eye Bean | legume | May 14 | Aug 2 – Aug 12 |
| Tom Watson Watermelon | melon | May 21 | Aug 14 |
| Trinidad Moruga Scorpion peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 9 – Sep 18 |
| Turkish Orange Eggplant | vegetable | May 21 | Aug 14 – Aug 19 |
| VR Moscow Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 9 – Aug 19 |
| Waltham 29 Broccoli | brassica | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 19 |
| Waltham Butternut Squash | squash | May 21 | Aug 29 – Sep 18 |
| Wee Be Little Pumpkin | squash | May 14 | Aug 7 |
| White Cushaw Crookneck Winter Squash | squash | May 14 | Aug 22 |
| White Marrow Summer Squash | squash | May 14 | Aug 7 |
| Yellow Beefsteak Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 14 |
| Yellow Jalapeno (Caloro) Hot Peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 14 |
| Yellow Mushroom Hot Peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 4 – Aug 14 |
| Yellow Oxheart Tomatoes | tomato | May 21 | Aug 8 |
| Yellow Scotch Bonnet Hot Peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 19 – Sep 18 |
| Beauty Pink Radishes (fall planting) | root vegetable | Jul 25 | Aug 20 |
| Beauty Purple Radishes (fall planting) | root vegetable | Jul 25 | Aug 24 |
| Black Oil Sunflower Microgreens (fall planting) | microgreen | Jul 25 | Aug 6 |
| Champion Radishes (fall planting) | root vegetable | Jul 25 | Aug 24 |
| Cherry Belle Radish (fall planting) | root vegetable | Jul 25 | Aug 19 |
| Easter Egg Radishes (fall planting) | root vegetable | Jul 25 | Aug 26 |
| French Breakfast Radish (fall planting) | root vegetable | Jul 25 | Aug 15 |
| Hailstone Radishes (fall planting) | root vegetable | Jul 25 | Aug 24 |
| Mesclun Mix (fall planting) | lettuce | Jul 25 | Aug 24 |
| Purple Plum Radishes (fall planting) | root vegetable | Jul 25 | Aug 24 |
| Rambo Radish Microgreens (fall planting) | microgreen | Jul 25 | Aug 9 |
| Sparkler Radishes (fall planting) | root vegetable | Jul 25 | Aug 24 |
| Speckled Pea Shoot Microgreens (fall planting) | microgreen | Jul 25 | Aug 8 |
| White Icicle Radishes (fall planting) | root vegetable | Jul 25 | Aug 24 |
Key Tasks for August in Zone 5A
- 1 Apply 2–3 inches of mulch around heat-sensitive crops to retain moisture and keep root zones cooler. Water deeply and less frequently rather than shallow daily watering.
- 2 Check soil moisture before watering — stick a finger 2 inches into the soil. Water only when the soil is dry at that depth. Consistent moisture is more important than frequency.
Get a Personalized August Calendar
SoilStack builds your exact planting schedule from your ZIP code — day-by-day tasks, weather prompts, and harvest tracking included.
Start Your Free Garden Calendar