Drought-tolerant vegetables

Whether you live in a dry climate or are looking for ways to reduce your water use, these drought-tolerant vegetables are a great addition to your garden. We all know that vegetables need water to grow, but what happens when you water your garden can get complicated. You may live in a dry climate where drought is common. Or you can use well water and be careful to use a sprinkler or irrigation system regularly. Whatever your reason, choosing drought-tolerant vegetables is a great strategy when planting a water-sensitive garden.

Is soil type a factor in drought conditions?

A soil's ability to retain moisture depends on what the soil is made of. Some basic soil components are sand, clay, silt and silt. Your soil may contain a mixture of these types or be highly concentrated in one type. The particle size of clay, sand, silt, and silt indicates how much moisture the soil retains. For example, clay has a smaller particle size, which gives it a larger surface area to hold water. Sand, on the other hand, is a larger particle with less surface area to hold moisture. Silt and clay fall somewhere between medium-sized particles. Sandy soils are prone to drought unless amended with compost and other organic matter.

What about the climate?

In terms of climate, if you live in an area that does not receive much rainfall and experiences high evaporation due to high temperatures, you may live in a drought-prone area. In the United States, many states west of Texas experience drought at least 30% of the year. There are also areas in the Southeast, north of Florida and south of Virginia that experience some seasonal drought. If you find you live in an area that experiences periods of drought or has soil conditions that are prone to drought, plant these ten drought-tolerant vegetables.

1. Sweet potatoes

This nutrient-rich superfood is notable for its versatility and drought tolerance. Some varieties are specifically grown as drought-resistant vegetables in the sub-Saharan climate of Africa.

2. Eggplant

The trick to growing a drought-tolerant vegetable like eggplant is to choose a variety, like Ping Tung eggplant, that produces long and lean vegetables that require less water to grow. Other drought tolerant varieties are Listada de Candia and Rosa Bianca.

3. Pepper

Peppers, especially hot peppers, need a long hot growing season. Hot peppers are drought tolerant and can survive in dry conditions. It is worth noting that the lack of moisture will result in a small yield, but conservative irrigation such as drip irrigation will benefit these plants.

4. Swiss chard

Swiss chard is not only drought tolerant but also heat tolerant. However, if the chard plant gets too dry, it can develop a strong flavor, so it can be planted during short periods of drought as one of the drought-tolerant vegetables.

5. Pole beans

Beans are generally drought tolerant. Pole beans make excellent drought-resistant vegetables, especially varieties like the rattlesnake pole bean that do well in sandy soils.

6. Tomatoes

I bet you never thought you'd see tomatoes on a list of drought tolerant vegetables. Believe it or not, there are some tomato varieties that can tolerate periods of drought. Small-fruited tomatoes generally do best in dry conditions. Varieties like Roma and Early Girl are particularly drought tolerant.

7. Chickpeas (garbanzo beans)

Chickpeas are regularly grown in semi-arid regions around the world, so it's no surprise to find them on the list of drought-tolerant vegetables. Scientists are exploring ways to make them more drought tolerant, which could benefit parts of the world that experience severe drought.