It’s the middle of August, the perfect time to think about sowing new seeds in the soil of the kitchen garden to harvest pulpy vegetables in a few months. Since the monsoon has reached every part of the country and blessed the soil with moisture and fertility, it is ideal now to sow seeds of veggies and witness your balcony or home garden bloom in glory.
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From planting creepers to leafy greens, August brings new hope for gardeners and plant parents to indulge in their farms and balconies, add fertilisers to the soil, sow new seeds, and wake every morning in the hope that a new plant has started to blossom. Here are some vegetables you can plant this month.
Brinjal
Eggplants are consumed throughout the year. Their love affair with Indian cuisine goes back a long time. From baingan bharta to baingan cutlets, the ingredients can be used to cook a variety of delicacies, not to mention the nutritional value that the vegetable boasts of. When you sow the seeds of brinjal, make sure the soil is aerated, and each seed is sown ¼ inches deep in the soil with 5-inches apart from the other. Keep the planter in sunlight and wait to harvest eggplants from your garden.
Tomatoes
August is the perfect time to plant cherry red tomatoes and expect a juicy harvest in just a few months. Whether you are making curry or chaat, this fruit (often counted among vegetables) is as versatile as salt or oil in your pantry. After getting the pH of the soil right, plant the seeds at least ¼ inches deep in the soil and keep it moisturised. You will witness seedlines in the next two weeks.
Lettuce
If you are making a hearty salad, sandwich, or a sub, lettuce is a crucial ingredient that adds a green hue to the recipe. It also adds fresh earthy notes and a crunch to the recipes. To sow lettuce seeds, prepare the soil by making it soft and well-drained. Plant the seeds not too deep (2mm-3mm is sufficient), keep the planter in sunlight for at least six hours in a day, and avoid overwatering. Once the leaves are 4-6 inches long, you can enjoy the harvest from your garden.
Okra
If you are a fan of bhindi, you cannot scroll down without learning how to sow its seeds in August. Bharwan bhindi, kurkuri bhindi, dahi bhindi, or plain bhindi, is one vegetable that you can eat as is or pair with dal, roti, paratha, and rice to elevate the dining experience. To sow its seeds, keep the soil aerated and plant one seed ¼ inches into the soil and at least 7-8 inches apart from the other. If the planter receives 7-8 hours of sunlight in a day, the first produce will be ready in the next 50-60 days.
Beans
Beans are a delicious and nutritious addition to your mixed vegetable recipes. However, they can also be tossed and roasted with garlic to be served as a side dish. Beans can only grow in nutrient-rich soil that has a good drainage system. Since these grow on a creeper, plant the seeds at least 9-12 inches away from each other so that roots have space to expand. If the plant receives 6-7 hours of sunlight in a day and you provide optimum support to the creeper, the harvest will be ready in 45-50 days.
Radish
As the world is progressing to welcome autumn, it is best to grow some root vegetables like radish. You can either pickle them, add them to salad, or prepare mooli ka paratha. Not only are these good for your bowel system but also the circulation of blood. Sow the seeds of the root vegetable at least ½ inches deep into the soil and an inch apart at least. You can continue to grow this veggie until the winter season, and the harvest is usually ready in a month if the soil is nutritious.
Coriander
If you are like prominent Chef Ranveer Brar whose every dish has to feature dhaniya for garnishing, don’t forget to sow its seeds in August. They add fresh flavour, and green hue, and make the best ingredient for making spicy green chutney. Split the coriander seeds, sow them in the well-drained soil (at least 0.5cm into it), keep the planter in sunlight for 4-6 hours a day, and wait for a week or 10 days for the plant to appear from the depths of the soil. Once the plants are 4-6 inches tall, you can harvest them.