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Drought Resistant Vegetables

  • Apr 30
  • 2 min read
Drought Resistant Vegetables: Sage
Culinary Mediterranean herbs like Sage are good low-water choices

Q: I want to grow veggies this year but I’m concerned about the drought. Are there such things as low water veggies?


A: During a drought, focus on growing deep-rooted and heat-tolerant vegetables like melons, potatoes, kohlrabi, sunchokes and Mediterranean herbs. Choose drought-resistant varieties and maximize water efficiency by using drip irrigation, thick mulch to reduce evaporation, and improving soil with compost.


Jaloro Jalapeño
Jaloro Jalapeño

Low Water Vegetables

  • Root Crops: Sunchokes, turnips, beets and various radish types.

  • Legumes: pole beans, cowpeas (black-eyed peas), and lima beans are highly resilient.

  • Fruit/Squash: Okra, Armenian cucumbers, melons (watermelon, cantaloupe), and squash (especially Butternut and 'Dark Star' zucchini), small fruited peppers (like jalapeno, serrano, shishito and cayenne), eggplant.

  • Leafy Greens: Swiss chard, collards, kale.

  • Herbs: Rosemary, oregano, lavender, thyme, borage, marjoram, comfrey and sage.



Water-Saving Tips for Drought

  • Apply a thick layer of organic mulch like straw or dried grass clippings to keep roots cool and retain soil moisture. 

  • Use drip irrigation to deliver water directly to the roots, avoiding evaporation losses from sprinklers.

  • Water Deeply and Early: Water early in the morning to reduce evaporation. Deep watering encourages roots to grow deeper, making them more drought-resistant.

  • Improve Soil: Amend soil with compost to increase its water-holding capacity.

  • Reduce Plant Density: Space plants farther apart to reduce competition for limited soil moisture.


Vegetables to Avoid or Water Heavily 

  • Leafy Greens (Lettuce, Spinach): Need constant moisture.

  • Cole Crops (Broccoli, Cauliflower): Sensitive to dry soil.

  • Corn: Very high water needs, especially during pollination.

  • Celery: Extremely high water requirements.


Finally, whether planting veggies, a tree, shrub, perennial or vine, keep in mind that hand watering is not restricted to specific days.  So new plants can be watered as needed on any day as long as your hose has a shutoff at the end or you are using a watering can or similar.

Read our Q & As with Keith Funk answering common Colorado gardening questions here. See his website: gardenwiseguy.com and hear him on the Garden Wise Radio Show

 
 
 

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