What can I plant in August in the UK?

Spring bulbs such as daffodils, crocus and alliums; fast salad crops like rocket, mizuna and winter lettuce; and overwintering vegetables including onion sets, garlic, kale and purple sprouting broccoli. The soil is still warm, so roots establish quickly.

What should I plant in September in the UK?

September is tulip month, along with hyacinths, hardy annuals like ammi and sweet peas, autumn garlic and broad beans. Winter salad leaves do best sown under a cloche or in a cold frame from mid-month.

What bulbs should I plant now?

From August to early October plant daffodils, crocus, alliums, muscari and hyacinths. Leave tulips until late September through November — they need cooler soil to avoid rot. Plant every bulb at roughly three times its own depth.

When should I plant tulip bulbs in the UK?

Late September to the end of November, and November is fine. Cold soil kills off the fungal spores that cause tulip fire, so late planting is an advantage, not a compromise. Plant 15cm deep in free-draining soil or a gritty container mix.

What vegetables can I plant now for a winter crop?

Kale, leeks, winter cabbage, purple sprouting broccoli, chard and perpetual spinach all stand through a UK winter. Add overwintering onion sets, autumn garlic and Aquadulce broad beans for an early summer harvest next year.

How often should late-summer sowings be watered?

Young roots sit in the top few centimetres of soil and can dry out inside a single hot day. A small amount of water every day beats a heavy soak twice a week — which is exactly what a dripline on a tap timer delivers.

Can I water new seedlings during a hosepipe ban?

Restrictions generally target hoses and sprinklers. Low-volume drip irrigation that feeds roots directly is widely permitted because almost nothing is lost to evaporation or run-off. Always check your water company's current notice.

How do I read the flowering charts on this page?

Each plant carries a twelve-month strip. A sage bar marks the months it flowers; a green bar marks the months it crops. Plant now, and the shaded months are what you get back.

What To Plant Now UK — August & September Planting Calendar

This month

Top 50 plants for August

Warm soil, cooling nights. The best fortnight of the year for spring bulbs and winter greens.

Daffodil and allium bulbs on dark soil beside a terracotta pot

Flowers & Bulbs

Plant while the soil holds its summer warmth. Roots establish before dormancy.

Daffodil bulbs
Plant deep now for the earliest spring lift.
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Flowers · March–April
Crocus
Naturalise in grass while the soil is still warm.
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Flowers · February–March
Snowdrops (in the green)
Shady, damp corners under deciduous shrubs.
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Flowers · January–February
Allium
Full sun, sharp drainage. Leave space to breathe.
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Flowers · May–June
Madonna lily
One of the few lilies that wants an August planting.
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Flowers · June–July
Wallflowers
Plug plants now for a scented April border.
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Flowers · April–May
Sweet William
Sow now, flower next early summer.
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Flowers · June–July
Foxglove
Biennial. Sow into trays, plant out in autumn.
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Flowers · June–July
Honesty
Seed heads next year are worth the wait.
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Flowers · April–May
Calendula
A late sowing gives flowers into November.
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Flowers · June–November
Cornflower
Autumn-sown plants are sturdier and flower earlier.
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Flowers · June–August
Larkspur
Direct sow into raked, weed-free soil.
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Flowers · June–August
Nigella
Self-sows happily once established.
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Flowers · June–August
Poppy (Shirley)
Scatter thinly. Do not cover the seed.
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Flowers · June–July
Cyclamen hederifolium
Dry shade specialist. Plant tubers shallow.
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Flowers · September–November
Hardy geranium
Split and replant clumps while soil is warm.
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Flowers · May–September
Winter pansy
Containers and window boxes, colour to March.
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Flowers · October–March

Freshly cut rocket, mizuna, parsley and thyme in a wooden tray

Salads & Herbs

Fast, forgiving crops. Sow little and often for leaves into winter.

Lamb's lettuce
Hardy through frost. Sow every fortnight.
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Harvest · October–March
Winter lettuce
Choose 'Arctic King' or 'Winter Density'.
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Harvest · November–March
Rocket
Fast. Ready in four weeks from sowing.
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Harvest · September–November
Mizuna
Cut-and-come-again well into December.
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Harvest · October–December
Mustard greens
Peppery leaves, shrugs off cold nights.
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Harvest · October–January
Pak choi
Bolts less now than in high summer.
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Harvest · October–December
Spinach
Sow thickly for baby leaf pickings.
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Harvest · October–March
Swiss chard
Stands all winter in a sheltered bed.
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Harvest · October–April
Radish
Three weeks from seed to plate.
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Harvest · September–October
Spring onion
Overwinters for an early spring crop.
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Harvest · March–May
Coriander
Cooler weeks mean far less bolting.
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Harvest · September–November
Parsley
Slow to germinate. Keep the surface damp.
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Harvest · October–April
Chervil
Prefers part shade and steady moisture.
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Harvest · October–March
Dill
Direct sow. It dislikes being moved.
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Harvest · September–October
Chives
Divide clumps and replant now.
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Harvest · April–September
Rosemary
Take semi-ripe cuttings this month.
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Harvest · all year
Thyme
Cuttings root quickly in gritty compost.
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Harvest · all year

Kale, leeks and garlic cloves in a British kitchen garden bed

Overwintering Vegetables

The long game. Get these in now and next spring feeds itself.

Overwintering onion sets
Plant late August for a June harvest.
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Harvest · June–July
Japanese onions
Bred to stand through UK winters.
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Harvest · June–July
Autumn garlic
Needs a cold spell to split into cloves.
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Harvest · June–July
Shallots
Free-draining soil, plant tips just proud.
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Harvest · June–July
Broad beans (Aquadulce)
Late August to November sowings.
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Harvest · May–June
Winter peas
Net them early against pigeons.
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Harvest · May–June
Purple sprouting broccoli
Plant out firm. Stake tall plants.
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Harvest · February–April
Winter cabbage
Space generously and collar the stems.
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Harvest · November–February
Kale
Sweetens noticeably after the first frost.
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Harvest · November–March
Cauliflower (winter)
Fold leaves over curds to protect them.
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Harvest · February–April
Leeks
Plant out now for a February harvest.
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Harvest · November–March
Turnip
Quick roots from an early August sowing.
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Harvest · October–November
Swede
Last chance in the south. Keep it watered.
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Harvest · October–December
Winter radish
Mooli and daikon types size up fast.
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Harvest · October–December
Beetroot
Sow now for tender baby roots in October.
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Harvest · October–November
Perpetual spinach
Cropping right through to spring.
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Harvest · October–April

Next month

Top 40 plants for September

Tulips go in, garlic goes in, and everything under glass keeps cropping until March.

Tulip bulbs, seed packets and a wicker trug on damp autumn soil

Flowers & Bulbs

Tulip month. Cooler soil means far less risk of bulb rot.

Tulips
Wait for cooler soil. Late September onwards.
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Flowers · April–May
Hyacinth
Pot up indoors now for Christmas scent.
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Flowers · December–March
Iris reticulata
Gravel-topped pots by the back door.
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Flowers · February–March
Muscari
Plant in drifts, never in straight lines.
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Flowers · March–April
Anemone blanda
Soak the corms overnight before planting.
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Flowers · March–April
Fritillaria
Lay bulbs on their side to shed water.
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Flowers · April–May
Camassia
Loves heavier soil that stays damp.
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Flowers · May–June
Ranunculus
Start claws in trays under cover.
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Flowers · April–June
Ammi majus
Autumn-sown plants grow twice the size.
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Flowers · June–August
Orlaya grandiflora
Elegant white lace for cutting beds.
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Flowers · June–August
Sweet peas
Sow into deep root trainers this month.
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Flowers · June–August
Bare-root roses (order now)
Beds prepared now, planted November.
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Flowers · June–September
Peonies
September and October are the window.
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Flowers · May–June
Hardy perennials
Warm soil, cool air. Ideal establishment.
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Flowers · May–September

Winter salad leaves and herbs ready for cutting

Salads & Herbs

Move undercover. A cloche buys you three extra months of picking.

Winter purslane
Thrives in cold, low light.
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Harvest · November–March
Land cress
Watercress flavour without the stream.
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Harvest · October–March
Corn salad
The most reliable winter leaf there is.
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Harvest · November–March
Mibuna
Sow under cover for December cutting.
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Harvest · November–February
Pea shoots
Windowsill trays, ten days to picking.
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Harvest · October–December
Rocket (under cover)
Cloche it and keep cutting to March.
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Harvest · November–March
Spinach 'Medania'
Bred to stand cold and wet.
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Harvest · November–April
Sorrel
Perennial. Plant once, pick for years.
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Harvest · March–October
Winter hardy spring onion
'White Lisbon Winter Hardy'.
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Harvest · March–May
Mint (root cuttings)
Pot up and bring under glass.
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Harvest · April–September
Bay cuttings
Slow, but free plants by spring.
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Harvest · all year
Sage
Take cuttings before the cold sets in.
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Harvest · all year

Garlic cloves and leeks planted in rich dark soil

Overwintering Vegetables

Garlic, beans and green manure. Put the beds to work over winter.

Garlic
The classic September job. Cloves point up.
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Harvest · June–July
Elephant garlic
Plant deeper, space wider.
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Harvest · July–August
Broad beans
A second sowing hedges against a hard winter.
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Harvest · May–June
Overwintering peas
'Meteor' and 'Douce Provence'.
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Harvest · May–June
Spring cabbage
Plant out plugs while soil is warm.
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Harvest · April–May
Winter lettuce (cold frame)
Ventilate on mild days.
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Harvest · November–March
Autumn onion sets
Firm them in against frost lift.
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Harvest · June–July
Green manure (field beans)
Feeds the bed while it rests.
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Harvest · March–April
Green manure (phacelia)
Fast cover, easy to dig in.
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Harvest · February–April
Rhubarb crowns
Split established clumps now.
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Harvest · April–June
Asparagus beds
Prepare and weed for spring crowns.
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Harvest · April–June
Strawberry runners
Root them now for a full crop next June.
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Harvest · June–July
Autumn raspberry canes
Plant into weed-free, rich soil.
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Harvest · August–October
Currants and gooseberries
Hardwood cuttings root outdoors.
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Harvest · June–August

The one everybody gets wrong

When to plant tulip bulbs in the UK

Late September to the end of November. November is not late — it is ideal. Cold soil suppresses the fungal spores behind tulip fire, so the gardeners who wait get the cleaner display. Plant 15cm deep, pointed end up, in free-draining soil or a gritty container mix, and space bulbs two widths apart.

Depth
Three times the height of the bulb — 15cm for most tulips.
Spacing
Two bulb widths. Crowded bulbs shrink year on year.
Soil
Free-draining. Add grit to clay or plant in pots.
Water
One good soak after planting, then leave them until spring.

Keep this one

UK planting calendar, month by month

What goes in the ground each month across a British growing year. Southern gardens run roughly a fortnight ahead of northern ones — shift the rows to suit your plot.

Month-by-month UK planting calendar for bulbs, vegetables and salads
Month	Bulbs & flowers	Vegetables	Salads & herbs
January	Lily bulbs, bare-root roses	Broad beans under cover, rhubarb crowns	Winter lettuce and pea shoots indoors
February	Snowdrops in the green, dahlias started indoors	Onion sets, shallots, first early potatoes chitting	Rocket and spinach under cloche
March	Summer bulbs — lilies, gladioli, ranunculus	Potatoes, parsnips, peas, carrots	Lettuce, radish, spring onion
April	Gladioli, begonias, sweet pea plants out	Beetroot, leeks, brassicas, chard	Salad leaves every fortnight, coriander, dill
May	Dahlia tubers out after frost, cannas	Runner beans, courgettes, sweetcorn, squash	Basil, lettuce, cucumber under glass
June	Autumn crocus, late gladioli for succession	French beans, kale, purple sprouting broccoli	Rocket in shade, chard, parsley
July	Colchicum, sternbergia, madonna lily	Winter brassicas out, turnip, beetroot	Fast salads, pak choi, spring onion
AugustPlant now	Daffodils, crocus, alliums, winter pansies	Onion sets, kale, leeks, winter cabbage	Winter lettuce, mizuna, lamb's lettuce, spinach
SeptemberPlant now	Tulips, muscari, hyacinths, sweet peas	Garlic, broad beans, overwintering peas	Corn salad, land cress, winter purslane
October	Last tulips, bare-root roses, peonies	Garlic, autumn onion sets, green manure	Cold-frame leaves, mustard, mibuna
November	Tulips (late is fine), fruit trees, hedging	Broad beans, rhubarb, bare-root soft fruit	Cut-and-come-again under cover
December	Amaryllis and paperwhites indoors	Plan, mulch and prepare beds	Windowsill microgreens and pea shoots

The part everyone skips

Water is the whole job in late summer

A seedling sown this month has days, not weeks, of margin. Miss two hot afternoons and the germination you waited on is gone. Hand watering is guesswork; a dripline on a tap computer is not. Send us rough measurements of your beds and we will engineer the layout, cut the pipe to length and post it ready to click together.

Shop the kits See how it works Read the install guide

Questions gardeners ask

More on bans, deposits and installation on our full FAQ page.

Top 50 plants for August

Flowers & Bulbs

All 17 to plant

Salads & Herbs

All 17 to plant

Overwintering Vegetables

All 16 to plant

Top 40 plants for September

Flowers & Bulbs

All 14 to plant

Salads & Herbs

All 12 to plant

Overwintering Vegetables

All 14 to plant

When to plant tulip bulbs in the UK

UK planting calendar, month by month

Water is the whole job in late summer

Questions gardeners ask

What can I plant in August in the UK?

What should I plant in September in the UK?

What bulbs should I plant now?

When should I plant tulip bulbs in the UK?

What vegetables can I plant now for a winter crop?

How often should late-summer sowings be watered?

Can I water new seedlings during a hosepipe ban?

How do I read the flowering charts on this page?