August in Santa Cruz County is still hot - often as hot as July - but with a critical difference: days are noticeably shorter. This combination (heat plus shorter days) makes August the absolute last good chance to plant most fall and winter crops.

Summer harvests are still abundant, but smart gardeners are filling beds with brassicas and greens that will feed them through winter.

Why August Is Your Deadline

August temperatures are still high:

Sunny mountain areas (Boulder Creek ridges, Ben Lomond chaparral, Scotts Valley hills): Still 85-100°F many days
Under redwoods (Felton canyons, shaded areas): 75-85°F
Inland valleys (Scotts Valley, Soquel): 80-90°F
Coastal (Aptos, Capitola, Santa Cruz): 70-80°F
Watsonville/Pajaro Valley: 80-90°F

But day length is shrinking fast. Crops planted in August have enough time to establish before shorter fall days slow growth. Wait until September for many crops, and they won't size up properly.

Direct Seed These in August

Fall/Winter Greens

Lettuce (all varieties - germination easier than July!)
Arugula
Spinach
Mustard greens
Chard
Mizuna
Mâche (corn salad)
Asian greens (bok choy, tatsoi, pac choi)

Root Vegetables

Beets
Carrots (last call for full-size winter carrots)
Radishes
Turnips

Legumes

Peas (late August for fall/winter harvest)
Fava beans (late August in coastal areas, wait until September inland)

Herbs

Cilantro (excellent timing)
Dill
Parsley

Cover Crops

Fava beans (nitrogen fixing)
Clover
Vetch

Transplant These in August

Fall/Winter Brassicas (started in June/July):

Broccoli
Cauliflower
Cabbage
Kale
Collards
Brussels sprouts
Kohlrabi

Other Transplants:

Lettuce (if started indoors)
Onions (from sets for spring harvest)

Start Seeds Indoors in August

For later planting:

Lettuce (for September/October transplanting)
More brassicas (for continuous harvests)

What to Harvest in August

Still peak summer:

Tomatoes (absolute peak in most areas)
Peppers (hot and sweet)
Eggplant
Cucumbers
Summer squash and zucchini
Beans
Basil
Melons (late varieties)
Early winter squash
Stone fruits

August Garden Tasks

Transplant all fall brassicas (most important task!)
Direct seed greens, root vegetables, and peas
Continue harvesting summer crops heavily
Pull spent crops only - if it's producing, leave it
Add compost to beds before fall planting
Plant cover crops in empty beds
Water deeply - still hot and dry
Monitor for pests (caterpillars LOVE brassicas)
Save seeds from heirlooms
Mulch new plantings heavily

Microclimate-Specific Advice

Coastal (Aptos, Capitola, Santa Cruz beaches, Live Oak): 70-80°F, ideal for August planting. Your cooler temps and marine layer make this the easiest zone for establishing fall crops. Plant everything on this list. Summer crops are still producing well but may slow down sooner than inland.

San Lorenzo Valley & Scotts Valley - Sunny Ridges/Chaparral (Boulder Creek mountains, Ben Lomond sunny exposures, Scotts Valley hills): Still 85-100°F on hot days. Summer crops are thriving - tomatoes are peak. For fall plantings, provide afternoon shade for first 1-2 weeks or plant late in month when temps start moderating. Your warm microclimate means summer crops will continue producing into October. You can continue planting cool-season crops through September and even into October.

San Lorenzo Valley & Scotts Valley - Under Redwoods (Felton canyons, Ben Lomond shaded areas): 75-85°F, excellent for fall planting. Your shade is a huge advantage now. Brassicas and greens will establish beautifully. Just ensure you have enough light (4-6 hours minimum) for proper growth.

Inland Valleys (Soquel hills, inland Santa Cruz): 80-90°F. Good for fall planting, though early August may need shade for transplants. Late August is ideal. Summer crops still producing.

Watsonville/Pajaro Valley: 80-90°F, warm agricultural zone. Plant everything. Your extended season means summer crops will continue well into fall. August is perfect for fall plantings that will mature in your mild winter.

Common August Questions

Is it too late to plant tomatoes? Yes. Even fast-maturing varieties planted in August won't have time to ripen fruit before October/November weather slows them. Focus on fall crops.

Can I harvest summer crops AND plant fall crops? Absolutely! August is the peak overlap month. You're simultaneously:

Harvesting tomatoes, peppers, squash
Transplanting brassicas
Seeding greens and root vegetables
Maintaining summer crops while establishing fall crops

When will my August plantings be ready?

Quick greens and radishes: October (30-50 days)
Brassicas: November-January (60-90 days)
Carrots and beets: October-November (60-75 days)
Peas: December-February (70-90 days)

Should I pull tomatoes to make room? Only if they're diseased or truly done. In warm microclimates (sunny mountains, Watsonville), August tomatoes will produce through September and into October. If they're healthy and flowering, leave them!

Why are my lettuce seedlings bolting? August can still be hot. Choose bolt-resistant varieties for early August, or wait until late August when temps moderate. Pre-sprout seeds indoors before planting.

The August Overlap Strategy

August is THE overlap month:

Still summer:

Peak harvests
Hot temperatures
Regular watering needed
Summer crops producing

Becoming fall:

Shorter days
Planting cool-season crops
Preparing for rain (eventually)
Planning winter garden

Master this overlap and you'll never have a gap in harvests.

Succession Planting in August

Don't plant everything at once:

Stagger plantings 2-3 weeks apart:

Lettuce (plant every 2 weeks)
Arugula (plant every 2 weeks)
Radishes (plant every 2 weeks)
Beets and carrots (2-3 batches)

This gives you continuous harvests instead of a glut followed by nothing.

August Is Your Last Chance

For many crops, August is the deadline:

Must plant in August:

Broccoli and cauliflower (for proper heading)
Full-size carrots and beets (for winter harvest)
Peas (for winter/spring harvest)

Can wait until September:

Quick greens (lettuce, arugula, spinach)
Radishes
Kale and collards

But even crops that CAN wait until September will do better if planted in August.

Make August Count

August is the most important planting month of the year for fall and winter food. Skip it, and you'll have very few options through winter.

The work you do in August - transplanting brassicas, seeding greens, succession planting - determines what you eat November through March.

Don't let summer abundance make you complacent. Plant now!

What to Plant in Santa Cruz & the Bay Area in August