If you think you’ve missed your chance to grow vegetables this year, think again.
While spring often gets all the attention, late summer is an excellent time to sow a surprising number of crops. The warm soil encourages quick germination, cooler nights reduce stress on young plants, and many vegetables actually produce better harvests as temperatures begin to ease.
Whether you’ve just cleared an early crop of potatoes or simply have a few empty spaces in the vegetable patch, there’s still plenty of time to grow fresh produce before autumn arrives.
Here are ten vegetables you can still sow now for a rewarding autumn harvest.
1. Spinach
Spinach is one of the best late-season crops.
Unlike spring sowings, autumn spinach is less likely to bolt during cooler weather, giving you a longer picking season.
Sow seeds little and often every couple of weeks for continuous harvests.
Best growing conditions: Moist, fertile soil in full sun or light shade.
2. Radishes
Few vegetables are as fast-growing as radishes.
Many varieties are ready to harvest in as little as four weeks, making them perfect for filling gaps in the vegetable patch.
Keep the soil consistently moist to produce crisp, mild roots rather than woody or overly spicy ones.
3. Lettuce
Late summer is often one of the easiest times to grow lettuce.
The cooler conditions reduce the risk of bolting, allowing leaves to remain tender and sweet.
Choose cut-and-come-again varieties so you can harvest leaves over several weeks instead of pulling up the whole plant.
4. Spring Onions
Spring onions germinate quickly in warm soil and are ideal for sowing after earlier crops have been harvested.
They require very little space, making them perfect for small gardens and raised beds.
Harvest while the stems are young and crisp for the best flavour.
5. Pak Choi
Pak choi often performs better in late summer than in spring.
Shortening days reduce the likelihood of bolting, allowing the plants to produce large, tender leaves and crisp stems.
Protect young seedlings from slugs while they establish.
6. Rocket (Arugula)
Rocket grows rapidly and provides repeated harvests if picked regularly.
The cooler weather also produces a milder flavour than summer-grown crops.
Sow every two to three weeks for a steady supply of peppery leaves well into autumn.
7. Turnips
Modern turnip varieties mature surprisingly quickly.
Smaller roots harvested young are sweet, tender and ideal for roasting or adding to soups and stews.
Both the roots and leafy tops are edible, giving you two crops from one sowing.
8. Beetroot
There’s still time for many beetroot varieties to produce useful crops before colder weather arrives.
Harvest smaller roots for the sweetest flavour, or pick the young leaves to use in salads.
Keep the soil evenly moist to prevent woody or split roots.
9. Chard
Swiss chard is one of the hardest-working vegetables you can grow.
Its colourful stems brighten the vegetable patch while the leaves can be picked continuously over many weeks.
In milder parts of the UK, plants often continue producing well into winter.
10. Coriander
Coriander is notorious for bolting during hot weather.
Late-summer sowings usually produce far better leafy growth thanks to cooler temperatures and shorter days.
Harvest little and often to encourage fresh leaves.
Tips for Successful Late-Summer Sowing
Warm soil helps seeds germinate quickly, but a few simple steps will improve your success even further.
For the best results:
- Water the soil before sowing if it’s dry.
- Sow during the cooler part of the day.
- Keep seedbeds consistently moist until seedlings appear.
- Use fleece if an early cold spell is forecast.
- Harvest crops regularly to encourage continued growth.
- Clear finished crops promptly to make space for new sowings.
A little planning can keep your vegetable garden productive for several more months.
Vegetables to Avoid Sowing Now
Some crops simply need a much longer growing season and are unlikely to reach maturity if sown now.
It’s generally best to wait until next spring before sowing:
- Sweetcorn
- Courgettes
- Pumpkins
- Outdoor cucumbers
- French beans (late in the season)
- Climbing beans
Instead, use the remaining growing season to focus on faster-maturing crops that are well suited to cooler conditions.
Final Thoughts
The vegetable-growing season is far from over.
Late summer offers the perfect opportunity to fill empty beds with quick-growing crops that thrive in warm soil and cooler air. Spinach, lettuce, beetroot, pak choi and chard can all provide delicious harvests well into autumn, helping you make the most of every inch of your garden.
So don’t pack away your seed packets just yet. With a little effort now, you’ll still be harvesting fresh, home-grown vegetables long after many gardeners think the growing season has come to an end.
About Your Guide
