August in the vegetable garden in Portugal

What to do in August in the vegetable garden in Portugal. Which seeds to plant and which plants to plant out.

As part of our efforts to keep up with our veg boxes, we need an excellent gardening plan for what seeds to plant and when. So I am finally documenting and sharing our data (in spreadsheets) in a more legible form. Join our mailing list to stay updated.

Seeds to plant in August in Portugal

Brassicas – Brussel sprouts, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Collard Greens (Tronchuda) and any cabbages you like

These greens can be seeded in your nursery or in the ground.  If you plant in seed trays, they must be successionally seeded. I aim to seed every two weeks between July for a continued harvest.

Lettuces

We grow a variety of lettuces and start seeding them in July. As with brassicas, I would want to plant out a new row of lettuce every two weeks for a continued supply. Check out my blog on planting a salad garden.

Kales – Curly, Tuscan & Red Russian

Although this is a brassica, I list it separately as I do not successionally plant this one. Generally, you can keep harvesting leaves from them for salads for a whole season. I like to plant these in autumn and in spring.

Onions – A winter variety

The best way to plant these is in a seed bed or tray. You can plant out the amount you want for the season in one bed, but just transplant some of them every two weeks for a continued harvest of fresh onions. Eating fresh onions is always nicer than growing them all at once, and they egventually go bad in our pantry.

Leeks & beetroot

These must also be successionally planted from seed trays to the garden. You can plant beetroots directly out, but I am usually more successful planting them in a seed tray first.

Vegetables to plant out in August in Portugal

Brassicas – Brussel sprouts, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Collard Greens (Tronchuda) and any cabbages you like

They can be planted out from August. I aim to plant out a row of each every two weeks or as often as you need them. They can be planted from August until March. Instead of planting 10 types of brassicas every two weeks, I plant a different one every two weeks for variety and easier work.

Lettuces

We grow a variety of lettuces and start seeding them in July. As with brassicas, I would want to plant out a new row of lettuce every two weeks for a continued supply. Check out my blog on planting a salad garden.

Kales – Curly, Tuscan & Red Russian

Although this is a brassica, I list it separately as I do not successionally plant this one. Generally, you can keep harvesting leaves from them for salads for a whole season. I like to plant these in autumn and in spring.

Beetroot

These can be transplanted into the garden from August, I would plant them out monthly for a continued harvest.

Carrots***

***I put carrots as that’s what is recommended by the seed company but not something we actually do in August as we never have much luck with carrots with our current set up.

Garden work to do in August

Pest and disease control

Usually, my summer vegetables are starting to get things like rust, aphids, spider mites, and powdery mildew by August. So I mix some organic neem oil with liquid soap and water and spray all the affected plants. After a few days, I then remove the affected leaves and spray again. Click to see video

Fertilising

I put a handful of worm castings on most plants and some liquid worm extracts each month. I plan to publish my fertilising schedule one day as it is too complex for this post.

Composting

I need lots of compost ready for my winter garden that is coming up

Preparing winter beds

Over the next four months, we will be planting things every month, from brassicas and salad beds to garlic onions, peas and broad beans. And it pays to be ahead and get beds weeded, composted, and irrigation ready. You don’t plant at the right time if you are not ahead.

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