What to plant in August in South Africa
15 vegetables, fruits and herbs to sow or plant in August in South Africa, for the climate around Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.
Climate: A Southern Hemisphere highveld climate with hot, wet summers from November to March, a dry winter, and frosts from May to August with the coldest nights near 0 °C.
Vegetables
Spinach Spinacia oleracea
Cool autumn and spring weather suits it, and it bolts less in the mild highveld shoulder seasons.
Harvest: 40–50 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Lettuce Lactuca sativa
Quick and tolerant of light frost, it can be sown in almost every mild month of the year.
Harvest: 45–60 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Swiss chard Beta vulgaris
It tolerates frost and heat alike and keeps producing leaves through the cold and the summer rains.
Harvest: 50–60 daysEasyIn pots
Potato Solanum tuberosum
Planted after the winter frosts, it grows well in the cool spring and then matures before the hottest weather.
Harvest: 90–120 daysModerate
Onion Allium cepa
Its autumn-to-winter growth fits the highveld day length and it stores well in dry months.
Harvest: 100–140 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Carrot Daucus carota
Loose, well-drained garden soil and cool autumn or spring weather produce sweet, straight roots.
Harvest: 70–90 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Radish Raphanus sativus
It is the fastest crop to harvest and grows well in the mild shoulder seasons between frosts.
Harvest: 25–35 daysEasyIn pots
Fruits
Strawberry Fragaria × ananassa
Its cold winter chilling and bright sun give sweet berries, and it grows easily in beds or containers.
Harvest: 60–90 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Peach Prunus persica
Its winter chill hours are met on the highveld, and the hot summers ripen the fruit well.
Harvest: 3–4 yearsModerateCare guide →
Apple Malus domestica
Its cold winters satisfy its chilling needs, and the cool highveld summers suit fruit development.
Harvest: 3–5 yearsModerateCare guide →
Grape Vitis vinifera
Dormant winter planting and hot, dry late summers produce sweet grapes on a sunny wall or pergola.
Harvest: 2–3 yearsEasyCare guide →
Herbs
Spearmint Mentha spicata
It is hardy through the frosts and thrives in moist soil and partial shade.
Harvest: 60–70 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis
Its drought tolerance and sunny, well-drained conditions suit the dry winters and hot summers.
Harvest: 70–90 daysEasyIn pots
Parsley Petroselinum crispum
It tolerates light frost and keeps producing leaves through the cool and mild seasons.
Harvest: 70–90 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Chives Allium schoenoprasum
Hardy and perennial, it survives highveld frosts and regrows after each cut.
Harvest: 60–80 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →