Best Drought-Tolerant Vegetable Plants
Depending on where in the world you live, having drought-tolerant vegetable plants could be crucial to you. Sure, you probably always have the option of heading to the supermarket for food, but isn’t it so much more fun growing it yourself?
Luckily, there are a number of drought-tolerant vegetable plants that you can grow at home. Of course, you won’t be able to grow all of your favourites, because we know that different plants have different needs.
Some plants will need completely different climates to thrive. When it comes to drought-friendly vegetable plants, you should look for plants that have deep root systems rather than shallow ones. This is usually a great sign that the plant will do well in droughts or dry climates.
If you want to stay true to your local climate and want to go with drought-friendly plants, there are plenty of options to consider. Here, we’ll talk about some of our favourites. This is not a full list, so feel free to do some research of your own, too!
Don’t feel like reading the whole article? The best drought-tolerant vegetable plants include asparagus, rhubarb, corn, chilli peppers, and squash. These will all thrive in drier climates, especially when they get older. Some of these plants may need a lot of water when they are young, but this is only to establish their roots – so bear with it.
Drought Tolerant Vegetable Plants
Please note that a number of these “vegetable” plants are not actually vegetables! We’re using that term loosely here, since these plants are used in the same way that vegetables typically are.
Asparagus
Asparagus are perennial plants that thrive in full sun. They have incredible drought-tolerance, and can be used in a variety of dishes.
The bad news is that this tasty plant can take up to three years from planting to harvesting. For this reason, it’s often referred to as a luxury crop. While young asparagus need a lot of water, as they mature, they can survive long periods without any water.
If you choose to grow asparagus, make sure that you know what it entails. It’s not a quick crop, and you will need a level of dedication to see it through. Despite this, the trouble is absolutely worth it, and you can even make money from this drought-friendly vegetable plant!
Rhubarb
This popular vegetable is another perennial that has a high drought tolerance. They prefer sun or partial shade, and will supply you with a delightful ingredient that’s perfect for all kinds of desserts.
Like most plants, when rhubarb is young, it will require constant watering in order to develop its roots. After that, however, they require minimal effort, and you can harvest them every year.
Of course, if you grow forced rhubarb, however, they will require more watering. If you take your time and go natural, then you won’t have to worry about this.
Corn
Classed as an annual, this full-sun loving vegetable is another fantastic plant for dry climates. It doesn’t have a drought-tolerance threshold as high as asparagus or rhubarb, but the long root system helps it get through tough times. The leaves of corn plants will also roll up to prevent any unnecessary water loss on hot days, so it knows how to take care of itself.
When the tassels on the end of the corn ears and a creamy liquid starts pooling out, you know this delicious vegetable is ready to harvest.
One of the best parts about growing corn is knowing how much fun you can have with it. Not only the food, but the rows of crops themselves!
Squash
The term “squash” includes many, many, many different fruit plants. From butternut and spaghetti squash to zucchini (a summer squash). While it may be true that all squash will do well in drought or dry conditions, the majority of them will.
These plants tend to have a medium drought-tolerance, and are annuals. They thrive in full sun conditions, and really have a lot to offer when you know what you’re doing.
Squash are technically fruit, but they are used like vegetables. They are popular for roasting, but also making soups, so you will never get bored with your harvest.
Chilli Peppers (the Ultimate Drought-Tolerant Vegetable)
This annual, white, technically a fruit, is a full-sun loving drought-tolerant vegetable plant loved by many. Chili peppers can be grown easily indoors or outdoors, and will thrive in the right conditions. You can even control (to an extent) how hot you want your chillies to be!
The drier the conditions are, the hotter the resulting fruit will be – do with that what you will.
Lucky for us, there are seemingly countless varieties to choose from. They come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, with varying flavours and uses. You just need to pick the one that suits you best, and run with it.
Final Thoughts on Drought-Tolerant Vegetable Plants
There are plenty of vegetables to explore and grow if you live in a dry or drought-prone area. You could always use a greenhouse to grow everything you want, but there’s a beauty in growing plants that are simply suited to the area.
It might be a lot of work, but the work always pays off in the end.
For those of you who want to keep going down the rabbit hole of gardening, why not check out some of our recent blog posts? We’ve covered which plants are great for small places, which vegetables have the greatest yield, and more.
Want to look deeper into homesteading? We talk about the worst goat breeds for milk, which are best for meat, and plenty more. There are even recipes you explore, so there will be something for everyone.