It goes without saying that we’ve so far enjoyed a Mediterranean summer, and by all accounts there is still some warm weather to come. So, there’s probably no better time to get out in the garden and sow the seeds for an autumn and winter harvest when things aren’t too hot.
With advice taken from experts, here are some of the easiest and most rewarding vegetables and plants to sow in August.
Spinach
A vegetable with similar growing requirements to lettuce, spinach is a cold-hardy vegetable and a tender leaf crop that can actually be sown well into winter.
If you want the best for your crop, prepare the soil with aged manure a week before planting and select an area with full sun and well-drained dirt.
Sow the seeds around 1cm deep and cover lightly with soil, placing around 12 per foot.
Remember to keep them well-watered during dry periods, and winter cultivators will want protection from October onwards.
Nutritional information
Spinach is highly versatile in its offering and is higher in iron and calcium than most other greens and is also one of the best sources for vitamins A, B, and C.
Chinese cabbage
Sometimes known as Chinese leaves, Chinese cabbage is fast growing, and you can help yourself to a harvest in as little as six weeks and the green heads are perfect in stir fries or as part of a salad mix.
Great for growth in late summer, sow the seeds in fertile soil around half an inch deep and in rows approximately 38cm apart.
If you happen to have acidic soil, it’s worth treating it with lime so that it does not succumb to clubroot disease.
Water them in hot weather and prevent the vegetables from “bolting”.
Nutritional information
The vegetable is incredibly low in saturated fat and is a good source of fibre, as well as protein and vitamins A, C and K.
Radishes
Easy to grow in gardens of all sizes, sow your seeds in fertile and moisture-retentive soil. It’s worth bearing in mind that you can also sow the mooli variety in winter.
Sow little and often in depths of 1cm, try and aim for one seed every 3cm or so.
By sowing the seeds thinly, there should be little need for thinning, but keep the soil moist to ensure rapid growth.
Ensure to grow them steady and harvest them young so that they remain succulent.
Nutritional information
Wonderful for those looking to better manage their weight, radishes are packed with fibre and hold good amounts of copper, vitamin B6 and magnesium 
Coriander
Coriander is one of the world’s most used herbs and can be enjoyed in a variety of dishes to help provide maximum flavour.
Sow seeds with a 10cm gap among plants and cover lightly. Germination usually takes around 7-20 days, so sow every three to four weeks for a constant supply.
Remember to keep the soil damp but avoid overwatering, as dry soil can cause coriander plants to bolt.
Pick leaves when young and freeze them if necessary.
Nutritional information
A good source of both thiamine and zinc, coriander is also great for fibre, vitamins A, C, E, and K as well as vitamin B6.
Getting the right equipment
Of course, every good gardener needs the right tools for the job, and at Damart, we have a great range of gardening equipment that can help you get the job done.
From weed mates right through to plant misters, take a look at our great garden selection, here.