The August Sowing List—5 Fast-Growing Crops I’m Sowing Right Now

​If your plot is currently giving you a slight case of high-summer fatigue, you aren't alone. Between heatwave survival, deep-watering routines, and the wait for maincrop heavy-hitters to tip the scales, it’s easy to feel like the sowing season is over.

​Here is the secret: it isn't.

​In fact, August is one of my favorite strategic windows on the calendar. As space clears from pulled brassicas, spent crops, or harvested beds, I treat empty soil as an absolute waste of potential. Soil temperatures are high, germination happens almost overnight, and with a bit of consistent watering, these crops will keep the kitchen scales ticking over right into autumn.

​If you want to keep your harvest momentum going, here are the 5 fast-growing crops I am sowing on the plot and in the garden right now in early August.

​1. Rocket (Arugula)

• ​Days to Harvest: 21–28 days (as baby leaf)
• ​Why I’m Sowing It Now: Rocket is a notorious bolt-risk in the blistering heat of June and July. By early August, as daylight hours begin to shorten slightly, rocket comes into its own without instantly panicking into flower.
• ​My Strategy: I sow shallow drills in a patch of partial shade (or under the canopy of taller crops). Keep the soil damp, and we’ll be picking peppery baby leaves before the month is out.

​2. Beetroot (For Quick Autumn Golf-Ball Roots & Greens)

• ​Days to Harvest: 35–40 days (for tender baby roots & leaves)
• ​Why I’m Sowing It Now: After the success of my early summer beetroot pulls, I'm getting another batch in the ground immediately. Sown in early August, they take advantage of the warm ground for rapid germination and produce sweet, tender "golf-ball" sized roots and rich salad leaves before growth slows in autumn.
• ​My Strategy: Multi-sow 3–4 seeds per module, then plant out the clusters into gaps left by harvested crops. Harvest the outer leaves for salads while waiting for the small roots to swell.

​3. Winter Lettuce ('Winter Density' or 'Arctic King')

• ​Days to Harvest: 30–40 days (cut-and-come-again)
• ​Why I’m Sowing It Now: Getting hardy butterhead or romaine varieties in the ground now gives them time to build a strong root system before light levels drop off in October.
• ​My Strategy: I sow small, succession batches. We get to harvest young leaves throughout September and October, and the hardier plants will happily sit under a simple cloche into the cooler months.

​4. Pak Choi

• ​Days to Harvest: 30–35 days (baby leaf) to 45 days (full head)
• ​Why I’m Sowing It Now: Mid-summer heat makes pak choi bolt almost instantly, but an August sowing is the sweet spot. The cooling autumn air keeps the stems crisp, sweet, and succulent.
• ​My Strategy: I keep these well-watered to encourage rapid, uninterrupted growth. They are brilliant for filling quick turn-around gaps and making fast stir-fries when the autumn harvest rush arrives.

​5. Mizuna & Mustard Greens

• ​Days to Harvest: 21–30 days
• ​Why I’m Sowing It Now: Asian leaf greens absolutely love the tail-end of summer. They germinate in a flash and add vibrant color, serrated texture, and a fiery kick to autumn salad bowls.
• ​My Strategy: I treat them as cut-and-come-again crops. Snip the outer leaves when they reach 5–8cm long, leaving the central crown intact to regenerate fresh growth.

So, don’t hang up the dibber or stash the seed trays away just yet. The mid-summer lull might feel like a quiet transition, but getting these five fast-growing crops into the ground now ensures your beds stay productive and your kitchen scales keep ticking over well into the autumn. Fill those newly cleared gaps, keep the watering cans moving, and let’s make the most of the second half of the growing season!