Thesummer cropsare hopefully overwhelming us with their productivity and the crops wesowed last monthare coming along beautifully.
And, there are still plenty of options for planting in August.
It’s popular in salads, but can also be added to a wide range of cooked dishes.
Stocksy / Simon
Basil is easy to grow in many climates and can be cultivated indoors.
Beets
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Beetsare fast-growing root vegetables that grow almost anywhere.
Surprisingly, both the bright red root and the leaves are edible.
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Brussels Sprouts (Transplants)
Brussels sproutsrequire along growing season but can grow successfully in many regions.
Once maligned, this nutritious vegetable has undergone a sort ofculinary renaissance.
Enjoy sprouts roasted, tossed with bacon, sauteed, or mixed into a crunchy salad.
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Cabbages tend to grow well inhome gardensand are the basis for coleslaw and other summer salads.
Carrots
If you think you know all about carrots, think again.
Those long, orangey-yellow veggies in the grocery store are just the tip of the iceberg.
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It can be used in place of the more expensive bok choy, or grated and used in coleslaw.
It does well in cooler weather, so many want to plant it later in the season.
Cilantro, an herb with a unique flavor, is ideal in Asian stir-fries and Mexican dishes.
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Collard Greens
Collard greens are non-head-forming cabbage that can be steamed, sauteed, or braised.
They’re often associated with southern cooking.
It grows quickly and can be harvested at any time (its leaves are used for flavoring).
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Once it starts to flower, however, the harvest is over.
There are many different kale varieties, including flat and curly options.
This is fortunate, as it can take most of a growing season to mature.
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Lettuce
There are five main types of lettuce and dozens of varieties.
Some take just a few weeks to mature while others can take the whole summer.
Be sure to schedule your planting times so that the lettuces are ready to be harvested throughout the season.
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It can grow almost anywhere and often does well even in the heat of summer.
Before cooking, be sure your mustard greens are grit-free by rinsing several times.
Most southern cooks sautee theirmustard greenswith fatback or ham before boiling them until tender.
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Peas
There are shelling peas, snow peas, snap peas, and soup peas.
All are delicious (especially fresh) and all are relatively easy to grow.
Spinach can do well in fall, provided there is no frost.
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Summer Squash
Summer squash can be grown from seed and thrives in the full, hot sun.
Swiss Chard
If you’ve never grown swiss chard, you’re in for a treat.
you could also grow chard in the fall in many locations.
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Turnips
Like beets, both the root and the leaves ofturnipsare edible.
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Getty Images / Laurence Mouton
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