Crops that are relatively drought tolerant are best for containers or gardens where water is not easily accessible. Water-wise crops are a good choice for balconies, rooftops, and patios. All crops need water to grow—especially when first planted and until they are well-established. The best course is to keep the soil just moist—not too wet…
Drought
Save Water, Add Aged Compost to the Garden
Help your garden retain moisture for the hot summer ahead by adding plenty of aged compost to your planting beds. Aged compost—rich in organic materials—has a high water-holding capacity. You can add compost to your garden beds in two ways: the easiest is to simply “sheet compost”, that is lay a 2-inch thick layer or…
Watering Vegetables in Hot and Dry Weather
Vegetables need water to grow quickly, tender, and tasty. Keep the soil evenly moist throughout the growing season—that means not to wet and not too dry. If the soil dries out, vegetables can become bitter tasting and woody. If the soil is too wet, vegetable roots can become starved for oxygen and plants can die….
Drought Tolerant Vegetables
If you live where water is scarce, choose vegetables that do not demand a lot of water. Here are drought tolerant vegetable varieties that are very good performers. One note, even plants that do not require a lot of water, do require water to germinate and begin growing. Once these plants are well established, they…
Dry Vegetable Gardening
Dry gardening–called dry farming on a grander scale–is a strategy for gardening where rainfall and irrigation water are in short supply. By definition dry farming is non-irrigated agriculture in a climate where there is 20 inches of rain or less a year. Vegetables require water to germinate, grow, and fruit. Plant cells are made mostly…