7 easy vegetables to plant in August that thrive as summer fades

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If temperatures are still soaring where you liveTry sowing seeds in the eveningKeep the soil consistently moistConsider giving young seedlings some temporary afternoon shade until they’re established.If you think August marks the end of the vegetable growing season, think again. In fact, this month is one of the best times of year to fill empty beds and containers with fast-growing crops that thrive as summer begins to fade.After the intense heat and sunlight of July, August marks the beginning of the slow descent into fall and the return of gentler growing conditions.Many vegetables actually prefer the milder conditions that late summer brings. While the soil is still warm enough for seeds to germinate quickly, cooler nights and shorter days help leafy greens stay tender, root vegetables develop sweeter flavors, and many crops grow with fewer problems than they do in the height of summer.There’s another reason not to pack away your gardening gloves just yet. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average growing season across the contiguous U.S. has increased by more than two weeks since the beginning of the 20th century, with the biggest changes occurring over the last 30 years. That gives many gardeners a larger window to sow cool-season vegetables — although it also means late-summer heat can linger for longer.Whether you’re replacing crops you’ve already harvested or simply want to make the most of every inch of growing space, here are seven vegetables well worth planting now.1. Spinach