We all know that vegetables need water to grow, but what happens when watering your garden gets complicated. You might live in a dry climate where droughts are common. Or maybe you use well water and need to be careful about using a sprinkler or irrigation system on a regular basis. Whatever your reason, choosing drought-resistant vegetables is a great strategy when planting a water-conscious garden.

Does soil-type factor into drought conditions?

A soil’s ability to retain moisture depends on what the soil is made of. Some basic soil components are sand, clay, loam, and silt. Your soil may contain a combination of these types or be more concentrated in one type. The particle size of clay, sand, loam, and silt dictates how well soil retains moisture. For instance, clay has a smaller particle size which gives it a larger surface area to retain water. On the other hand, sand is a larger particle with less surface area to hold onto moisture. Silt and loam fall somewhere in between with mid-sized particles. Sandy soil is more prone to drought if not amended with compost and other organic matter.

What about climate?

In terms of climate, if you live in an area that doesn’t receive a lot of rainfall and experiences a lot of evaporation due to higher temperatures, you may live in a drought-prone region. In the U.S., many of the states west of Texas experience at least 30% of the year in some level of drought. There are also areas in the southeast, north of Florida, and south of Virginia that experience some seasonal drought. If you find yourself living in an area that experiences periods of drought or have soil conditions that are prone to drought, consider planting these ten drought-resistant vegetables.

1.  Sweet potato

This nutrient-dense superfood is noteworthy for its versatility and drought tolerance. Certain varieties have been bred specifically to be drought-resistant vegetables in the Sub Saharan climate of Africa.

2. Eggplant

The trick with growing drought-resistant vegetables like eggplant is to choose a variety like the Ping Tung eggplant, which yields longer and skinnier sized vegetables that require less water to yield. Other varieties that are drought tolerant are the Listada de Gandia and the Rosa Bianca.

3. Peppers

Peppers, especially hot peppers, need a long warm growing season. Hot peppers are also drought tolerant and can survive in dry conditions. It’s worth noting that a consistent lack of moisture will result in a smaller yield, but using conservative watering methods like drip irrigation can benefit these plants.

4. Swiss chard

Not only drought-tolerant, Swiss chard is also heat-tolerant. If the chard plant becomes too dry, however, it can produce a harsher flavor so it may be one of the drought-resistant vegetables to plant in areas with shorter periods of drought.

5. Pole beans

Beans in general tend to be more tolerant of drought. Pole beans make great drought-resistant vegetables, especially varieties like the Rattlesnake Pole Bean which does well in sandy soil.

6. Tomatoes

I bet you didn’t think you’d see tomatoes on a list of drought-resistant vegetables. Believe it or not, there are some varieties of tomatoes that can tolerate periods of drought. Smaller fruited tomatoes generally do better in drier conditions. Varieties like Roma and Early Girl are especially drought-tolerant.

7. Chickpeas (garbanzo beans)

Chickpeas are regularly grown in semi-arid regions across the globe so it’s no surprise to find them on our list of drought-resistant vegetables. Scientists are investigating ways of making them even more drought-tolerant which could prove beneficial to areas of the world experiencing extreme drought.

8. Mustard greens

The trick with growing drought-tolerant mustard greens is to avoid frequent short bursts of watering that train roots to become shallow. With less frequent and more thorough watering, roots will grow deeper and when established be able to sustain dry periods.

9. Zucchini

The Dark Star variety of zucchini was bred specifically for drought resistance and yield. Its roots grow deep into the ground and seek out the water table to offset any deficiency from a lack of watering or precipitation.

10. Arugula

Arugula is one of the great drought-resistant vegetables since it’s pretty easy to grow and can tolerate periods of dryness. With extended periods of drought, arugula leaves will be a bit smaller and take on an even more peppery taste.

It’s important to note that even drought-resistant vegetables need a good watering when establishing roots. So don’t skimp on your seeds and seedlings! There are many reasons to plant drought-resistant vegetables even if you live in a temperate climate with good soil and regular rainfall. Planting drought-resistant vegetables helps you use less water in your garden and conserve your overall water usage. Something we should all be striving toward as stewards of this planet.

Do you have a water-conscious gardening plan? What drought-resistant vegetables have you planted in the past and which ones will you try in the future? Let me know in the comments!