What to Plant in August in Zone 10
Here is what you can sow in August if you garden in USDA zone 10. Dates use typical zone 10 frosts, so your own microclimate may shift them by a week or two.
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| Crop | Window | Sow between |
|---|---|---|
| Cucumber, slicingMarketmore 76 | fall | Aug 14 – Sep 14 |
| Cucumber, picklingExcelsior | fall | Aug 14 – Sep 14 |
| Squash, summerZucchini Dunja | fall | Aug 31 – Sep 19 |
| Bush BeanProvider | fall | Aug 31 – Oct 3 |
| Pole BeanKentucky Wonder | fall | Aug 31 – Sep 23 |
| PotatoKennebec | fall | Aug 27 – Sep 9 |
| CollardsGeorgia Southern | fall | Aug 31 – Oct 30 |
| CabbageTiara | fall | Aug 31 – Oct 15 |
| BroccoliBelstar | fall | Aug 31 – Oct 10 |
| CauliflowerSnow Crown | fall | Aug 31 – Oct 5 |
| Brussels SproutsLong Island Improved | fall | Aug 31 – Oct 16 |
| SalsifyMammoth Sandwich Island | fall | Aug 25 – Oct 6 |
| Cucumber | fall | Aug 14 – Sep 14 |
| Bean | fall | Aug 31 – Oct 3 |
Zone 10 in August
Zone 10 in August: fall planting opens with nothing yet on its last chance
A fresh start with no closing list yet
Fall planting opens in zone 10 this month with more than a dozen crops newly available and, notably, nothing yet marked as a last chance, since everything just started still has its whole window ahead of it. Cucumber, squash, bush and pole bean, and fall potato all open this month, but not on the same day, cucumber's window starts first, while squash, both bean types, and fall potato follow later, in the back half of the month. Check each crop's own window before sowing rather than assuming an early rush covers all four.
Brassica transplants started under cover back in July, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts among them, finally head outside this month, and each one needs genuine shade for its first 10 to 14 days in open ground, since direct August sun scorches young leaf tissue before roots take hold enough to keep pace with water loss.
Fall potato needs careful handling in the heat
Cut seed potato pieces well before planting, never right before, and rest them somewhere warm and shaded so the cut face seals over fully in the heat. A face that still looks pale and moist is not ready; wait until it turns dry and leathery, since a fresh cut planted directly into warm, humid August soil rots far more often than one given real time to seal. Plant pieces about 4 inches deep, deeper than a spring planting, to keep developing tubers away from soil that can still read over 90 degrees near the surface.
Salsify, a crop many gardeners overlook, also starts now and takes its time; expect little visible growth above ground for the first month while it builds a long taproot below, so mark the row clearly to avoid disturbing it while weeding nearby faster growing crops.
August in zone 10: common questions
What can I plant in August in zone 10?+
In August, USDA zone 10 gardeners can sow Cucumber, slicing, Cucumber, pickling, Squash, summer, Bush Bean, Pole Bean, Potato, and more. Dates use typical zone 10 frosts, so your own microclimate may shift them by a week or two.
What USDA hardiness zone am I in?+
Zone 10 is one band of the map, but planting time is set by your local frost dates, not the zone number. Enter your ZIP code in the free planner and it uses your actual frost dates, which can differ by weeks within a single zone.
Are these August planting dates exact?+
They are typical zone 10 windows. Two gardens in the same zone can be a week or two apart because of elevation and local climate, so treat these as a starting point and tune them to your ZIP code with the free planner.