Sowing and Transplanting in August

Early Oct CSA box- Crops stored through winter and Sown and Grown May - August

Late July and August mark the beginning of the new growing season here at Transition Farm. We've cleaned the glasshouse, plugged in the heat mats and are sowing our first warm-season crops indoors while transplanting cool-season favourites into the field. Butter lettuces are tucked safely under frost protection, and the wattles around the farm are beginning to flower.

Many cool-season crops thrive in these conditions. Before you jump in and start sowing, however, take a moment to consider your soil.

Transition Farm is located close to the Pacific Ocean on a secondary dune system, giving us naturally sandy, free-draining soil. This is a real advantage during wet winters, as excess moisture drains away quickly. If your soil is still waterlogged or "soupy", seeds are far more likely to rot than germinate.

A simple test will tell you if your soil is ready to work. Gently fork over a small area 15–20cm deep and take a handful of soil. Squeeze it into a ball, then drop it from waist height. If it breaks apart and crumbles, the soil is ready to be lightly cultivated. If it remains as a solid ball, it's still too wet and working it will compact the soil, reducing air spaces and making it more difficult for roots to establish.

If your garden beds are still too wet, there are options! Many of the crops listed below can be sown into pots or trays, where the growing medium warms and dries more quickly. Raised beds are another excellent option, as they generally drain faster than in-ground gardens.

At this time of year we also rely heavily on overwintered and perennial crops (pictured above) to bridge the "food gap" between our overwintered brassicas and silverbeet finishing their season and our newly planted crops reaching harvest.

Quick-growing, cold-loving vegetables such as mustard greens, bok choy, rocket, radishes and hardy gem lettuces (protect from frost) are ideal for sowing now. Whether grown in the ground or in containers, many will be ready to harvest in as little as 30–45 days.

Although many of the varieties listed below can be direct sown, we generally prefer to raise seedlings and transplant them during late winter. Broccoli, for example, can germinate in soil temperatures as low as 5°C, but its optimum germination temperature is closer to 20°C. Warmer germination conditions produce faster, more even germination and stronger seedlings, giving plants the best possible start before they are transplanted into the garden.

Now that our days have passed 10 hours of daylight, these are the vegetables, herbs and flowers we are sowing and transplanting at Transition Farm.

Asian Greens

Grows quickly in the cool, producing crisp, tender leaves before spring warmth encourages bolting.

Vegetables

  • Beetroot (T)
  • Broad beans (D/T) - One of the most reliable late winter crops, producing heavy spring harvests
  • Leeks (T)
  • Onions (T) - Transplanting now allows plants to establish before rapid spring growth begins.
  • Peas (D) - Love cool weather and reward early sowing with sweet pods in spring.
  • Radish and Salad turnips (D) - One of the quickest crops to mature, often ready to harvest in only 4–6 weeks.
  • Silverbeet (T) - Establishes well now and provides continuous harvests well into the warmer months.
  • Spinach (T) - Produces lush, tender leaves while cool temperatures greatly reduce the chance of bolting.

Brassicas

Raising seedlings now gives strong plants ready to produce generous spring harvests.

  • Broccoli (T) 
  • Cabbage (T)
  • Cauliflower (T)
  • Kale (T) Frost improves both flavour and sweetness, making late winter one of the best times to establish plants.

Herbs & Leaf Crops

  • Coriander (T) Cool weather dramatically slows bolting, allowing plants to produce leafy harvests for much longer.
  • Cress (T)
  • Orach (T)

Cold-Tolerant Lettuces

(T indicates transplanting recommended, D indicates can be direct sown)

Green leafy plants growing in a greenhouse

Direct Sow or Transplant Under Cover

We use polycovers to warm our soil and protect more tender crops from frost.

  • Butter Lettuces (pictured above) thrive in cool weather but hate frost. Sow these now and transplant with protection

Start Indoors in August

  • Capsicums - A long-season crop that benefits from an early indoor start while outdoor temperatures remain low.
  • Chillies - Slow to establish in cool weather, so starting indoors gives plants a valuable head start.
  • Eggplant - Requires a long, warm growing season, making August the ideal time to begin under protection.
  • Tomatoes - Purchase seed now, but unless you have a heated or protected growing space, wait until September to sow for stronger, healthier seedlings.

Read our guide to raising strong tomato transplants.

FLOWERS

Many hardy annual flowers thrive in the cool conditions of late winter and reward you with an extended flowering season in spring and early summer. In addition, they provide pollen and nectar for beneficial insects, helping them establish ahead of the pests.

*We recommend sowing the starred varieties as early as possible in August to maximise their flowering season before the heat of summer arrives.

PLEASE NOTE - These recommendations are completely based on our 19 years of growing on this patch in Southern Victoria, Australia. If you garden in a different climate, please refer to our Australian Climate Region Guide for sowing recommendations suited to your location.

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