You Must Sow These Seeds in August

Think you can't sow in late summer? Think again!
In fact, by sowing follow-on crops, you can maximise your growing space to give you two crops for the space of one. Sound good? Then watch this week's episode as Ben reveals the many crops you can plant. Don't worry, it's not too late to start growing!

🥬 Curious to see how to grow salad leaves in winter? See this video:

🥬 Want to see more about growing leafy greens? Look here:

If you love growing your own food, why not take a look at our online Garden Planner which is available from several major websites and seed suppliers:
and many more...

[honestlee]

Last time I planted carrots in containers, I used cardboard cutouts to cover the seeds and trap in the moisture. I kept some small rocks on top so that they didn't blow away when they dried out. To water the plants, I just watered on top and let it soak through. This method worked great. You just need to keep checking them every day and take off the cardboard as soon as they start sprouting.

[aserioussalamander]

This brother made me start my own veggie garden. I have: 5 different chilis, 2 chards, 2 lettuce, thyme, onion and chives.

[tektoms]

A tip for sowing carrot seeds (or any seeds that need to be sown sparsely).. I mix them into a bit of sand or soil in a bowl.. so that I know that a pinch of the mixture, will only have a few seeds.. The more soil/sand in the mix, the less seeds per pinch, and vice versa. Hope that makes sense :)

[jennfaulks]

So glad to see you didn’t clean your finger nails before you showed the garden planner! So many ‘gardening channels’ seem to have perfectly clean fingernails, I don’t have a big garden but I’m constantly doing odd bits and keeping a manicure would be impossible!🤣

[Helenwyatt]

Thank you so much! This has cheered me up I was feeling I’ve missed out on the whole growing season because I was seriously injured and unable to do gardening. I’m going to sow things and see how they do!

[carolynnanctildesign]

As a new gardener, I really appreciate the information you share that might be basic for some, like seed characteristics, seedling thinning, etc.

[suzannewinz]

We has extreme heat in Spring, so my lettuce and spinach and Bok Choy bolted, a second planting is coming up now with fingers crossed we don't get another heatwave. Glad to see an experienced gardener recommend this, as I was just guessing.

[jamesgodlewski]

You have a great enthusiasm and natural delivery!

[lisawintler-cox]

I really like this channel. It's got real info and I enjoy the tone of the episodes. Please consider doing an episode about adaptive gardening (for those of us not as able as others).

[feralcat]

If you have problems with radishes bolting early, try Rat Tail radishes. You actually want them to bolt so you can harvest the long seed pods that do look (way too much!) like 6" long green rat tails. They are delicious in salads and stir fries!

[AdirondackRuby]

I'm always so anxious about thinning seedlings, because my brain is always like "But what if that one you pull could have been the best/biggest!?" ...I had no idea if could attract pests! Will definitely continue with my tedious, spaced sowing.

[sofiem]

Thanks! I’m on my first year with my own garden, and was kinda sad because summer’s gone by so fast! I now also know why some of my germinations have failed, so thank you very much for a helpful video!

[moniquem]

I always find myself smiling when I watch your videos Ben. Even when it’s one like this about the current season there, so it’s the opposite season here, I still watch to get a dose of your joyfulness 😊
Spring has arrived early here so I’m getting inspired. I ended up asking Mum to pick up seed potatoes for me and she did great! A floury, a waxy, and an all rounder! I’ve just ordered more grow bags because I don’t want to waste any of them! I’m also thinking about what to plant in pots that I can take with me when I move, and am tossing up maybe planting a few things in the ground here and just taking the chance that I might need to leave them behind. I’ll go through my seeds this afternoon and make some decisions. I won’t go overboard as it’s not pleasant to be outside here, that’s why I’m moving, but it would be great if I have a few things already on the go when I move. Just not so many that I need to do multiple trips to move them 😂

[elizabethwatt]

LOVE your videos Ben, always do. You are my favourite gardener, But when you said “…Early November, first frost..”. I nearly swore at my iPad screen! In northern Alberta, Canada, we get that first frost in late August, like clock-work. The last frost this year was last day in May, very late even for us. Such a short Summer here, this year indeed. Beautiful garden, my Friend! Keep up the fantastic work, and thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. God Bless You, Ben.

[fearnoone]

8:50 Ah! Adorable ❤️ I just love how these (not excl.) pups are always smiling. Well...grinning @ least. 🤗

[wendyburston]

Things I will find useful: netting over the carrots is supported by the edge of the box keeping the net off the carrots.✓ hoops for putting covers over✓ you reminded me to start some more carrots and salads✓ and finally start everything now even if you have no room and plant them as you harvest your other crops✓ thank you

[richswain]

Good morning Ben, thanks for this upload. I took your advice and re planted my courgettes following the mouse incident! Im now about to start harvesting, so thank you. Leafy greens here i come!!!!

[timward]

What a great start to my day …as a newbie to raised beds I have lots to learn with reasonable success so far. You have inspired me to have a go at a second set of crops for this year. Great to be taught by someone who leads by example… Bugs are my greatest threat so any tips along the way are always useful. Thank you 👨‍🌾

[slomo]

I just LOVE your channel Ben, I've learned so much! I recently went to my garden nursery for produce, and noted all the cold weather seedlings. Now I need to go back and pick up a few, in hopes to grow something before my first frost. I have horrible luck with lettuces, they are so bitter and bolt before I can get out to pick for dinner. Guess I'll try for a late summer crop and see how they do. Thanks Ben!!! When shopping for beets I seek the smaller ones, they taste better.

[BoylenInk]

Cooked beet greens are really nice. I actually grow beets for their greens and the roots are an afterthought to me. So small roots and more greens is my preference.