What to Plant in August — Zone 4

August is the closing stretch of zone 4's season — the average first frost (Oct 1) is only weeks past month's end, so this is fall-sowing and garlic-planting territory.

Fall planting — Counted back from the first fall frost.

🫛 Peas Jul 23 – Aug 6 55–70 days to maturity
🥬 Lettuce Aug 6 – Sep 3 45–60 days to maturity
🍃 Spinach Aug 6 – Aug 20 40–50 days to maturity
🌿 Arugula Aug 20 – Sep 3 30–40 days to maturity
🌈 Swiss Chard Jul 23 – Aug 6 50–60 days to maturity
🥬 Kohlrabi Jul 23 – Aug 6 45–60 days to maturity
🫒 Beets Jul 23 – Aug 6 50–65 days to maturity
🌶️ Radishes Aug 20 – Sep 3 22–30 days to maturity
🥔 Turnips Jul 23 – Aug 6 40–55 days to maturity
🧅 Scallions Aug 6 – Aug 20 60–70 days to maturity
🧄 Garlic Aug 20 – Sep 17 plant cloves; harvest next summer
🥬 Bok Choy Aug 6 – Aug 20 45–55 days to maturity
🌿 Mustard Greens Aug 6 – Aug 20 35–45 days to maturity
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Jul 23 – Aug 6 50–60 days to maturity
🌿 Cilantro Aug 6 – Aug 20 45–55 days to maturity
🌾 Dill Aug 6 – Aug 20 40–55 days to maturity

Windows use zone 4's typical frost dates (May 5 / Oct 1). For your own city's dates, run the frost lookup — the planting calendar then localizes everything automatically.

Frequently asked questions

What can I plant outside in August in zone 4?

16 crops can go in the ground: peas, lettuce, spinach, arugula, swiss chard, kohlrabi, beets, radishes, and 8 more. Exact windows are in the tables above — early and late in the month can differ by a full frost date.

Is August the right time for tomatoes in zone 4?

The spring window has passed; tomatoes set out this late won't beat the Oct 1 average first frost to ripeness. Plan for next spring's seed-starting instead.