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
24 entering harvest window.
Last frost averages April 30. Reference city: Des Moines, IA.
0 Start Indoors
0 Plant Outside
24 Harvest
Start Indoors in August
No crops to start indoors in August for Zone 5A.
Plant Outside in August
No crops to plant outside in August for Zone 5A.
Harvest in August
| Plant | Type | Planted / Sown | Harvest Window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brilliant Celeriac | celeriac | Apr 30 | Aug 18 – Aug 28 |
| Leek | vegetable | Apr 30 | Aug 8 – Sep 7 |
| Tall Utah 52-70 Celery | vegetable | Apr 30 | Aug 8 – Sep 7 |
| Alexandria Alpine Strawberry | strawberry | May 7 | Aug 15 – Sep 4 |
| Beauregard Sweet Potato | root | May 7 | Aug 5 – Aug 20 |
| Beefsteak Tomatoes | tomato | May 14 | Aug 2 – Aug 7 |
| Bhut Jolokia Ghost Pepper | pepper | May 14 | Aug 12 – Sep 11 |
| Brandywine Tomatoes | tomato | May 14 | Aug 2 – Aug 12 |
| Brussels Sprouts | vegetable | May 14 | Aug 7 – Sep 1 |
| Butternut Squash | vegetable | May 14 | Aug 22 – Sep 11 |
| California Wonder Peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 1 – Aug 4 |
| Cantaloupe | vegetable | May 14 | Aug 2 – Aug 12 |
| Caribbean Red Scotch Bonnet Pepper | pepper | May 14 | Aug 17 – Sep 11 |
| Cayenne Peppers | pepper | May 14 | Aug 7 – Aug 17 |
| Habanero Pepper | pepper | May 21 | Aug 19 – Sep 18 |
| Heirloom Red Kuri Squash | winter squash | May 7 | Aug 5 – Aug 15 |
| Honeydew Melon | vegetable | May 14 | Aug 22 – Sep 6 |
| Jimmy Nardello Peppers | pepper | May 21 | Aug 9 – Aug 19 |
| Lemon Verbena | lemon verbena | May 7 | Aug 5 – Sep 4 |
| Mortgage Lifter Tomatoes | tomato | May 14 | Aug 2 – Aug 7 |
| Parsnip | root | May 7 | Aug 15 – Sep 14 |
| Red Pontiac Potato | root | May 7 | Aug 5 – Aug 25 |
| Rosemary | herb | May 14 | Aug 2 – Aug 22 |
| Sunshine Kabocha Squash | winter squash | May 7 | Aug 10 – Aug 15 |
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