Timing:

For vegetable crops, water is most critical during the first few weeks of development, and immediately after transplanting. Once your seedlings are established you can water more moderately, but once they start flowering you will need to increase watering until harvest time.

Water your vegetable garden early in the morning before the sun gets too hot. This stops the water from evaporating into the air before the plants can absorb it. If you can’t water early, watering in the late afternoon is also fine, but try to water at ground level so as not to wet the foliage. This is important for vegetables like tomatoes which are prone to fungal diseases, and leaving the leaves wet overnight makes them more susceptible to diseases.

Water deeply and less frequently

It is always better to water plants thoroughly but less often, rather than light sprinklings every day. For vegetable gardens, water slowly so the water sinks down 15-20cm, this encourages the roots to grow deeper, making the plants stronger.

Check soil moisture regularly

Check soil moisture regularly to avoid over watering. If necessary dig down about 10-15cm into the soil and if it is dry you can water again. If it is still moist, good garden soil will stick together if a handful is squeezed into a ball.

Checking moisture levels regularly is especially important if you are using mulch, as mulched beds will hold moisture in the soil for longer periods of time.

Potted vegetables

If you are growing vegetables in containers, check them every day, as plants growing in pots will need more frequent watering. During hot and dry summers, and in times of drought, placing drip trays underneath your pots to collect excess water will benefit container grown vegetables.

Efficient Irrigation

Instead of a regular sprinkler, use a soaker hose or drip line. Drip or trickle irrigation is ideal in the vegetable garden, reducing water usage by about 50%. A soaker hose allows water to seep out all along its length at a slow rate, making it probably the least expensive and easiest to way to water a vegetable garden. Soaker hoses run at low pressure, for only 10 to 15 minutes per irrigation. 

Other DIY options include making your own drip line using old hose pipes or plastic tubing, pinning them down  on the ground around vegetables, and inserting tiny holes in them for the water to drip out.

Collect rain water

Installing a rain water tank will pay you back for many years to come, and especially during times of drought and water restrictions.

If a rain water tank is not an option, invest in a couple of plastic dustbins or any other containers or barrels and place them where they can collect runoff from your roof, you will be surprised at how much a single rainstorm can collect.

Incorporate organic matter into your soil

Compost is like a sponge and mixing it into your garden beds helps the soil hold onto water for much longer. If your soil is sandy, hard or compacted, thoroughly dig over the beds to about a shovel blade depth, incorporating as much organic material like compost as you can afford into the soil before planting. If your soil is in a good condition and you are practicing no-till gardening methods, simply add a generous layer of compost to the top of the soil before planting your vegetables.

Vegetables growing in containers require a good potting soil which holds moisturer well but which also drains well. Adding water retaining granules or vermiculite to the soil helps to retain water for much longer and is well worth the cost.

Use Mulch:

Growing vegetables in dry climates is all about saving every drop of water and keeping the sun from drying out your soil. Mulching minimizes evaporation of water from the soil surface, reducing the need to water by around 50%.

Do not use wood or bark chips in a vegetable veggie patch that requires annual soil preparation. The chips will interfere with future seedbed preparation. You can use dry grass clippings and leaves or straw. Do not apply the mulch too thick, a 5cm layer is sufficient.

The looser the material the more you need to watch out for slugs and snails that can hide in the mulch.

Planting Strategies

If you anticipate a dry season plant fewer crops, selecting vegetables that your family loves and the varieties that grow best in your garden.

Intercropping and planting densely in blocks rather than in traditional long rows is a strategy that organic gardens employ in their gardens as this creates shade for plant roots and reduces water evaporation.

Group vegetables with similar watering needs together

Different vegetables have different water requirements for the best production. If you plant your garden without taking the water needs of individual plants into consideration, you could end up overwatering some plants, and under watering others. Instead, focus on giving plants the perfect amount of moisture by grouping vegetables in your drought tolerant garden according to their watering requirements.

Weeds

Weed regularly as weeds compete with vegetables for water and nutrients. They can also harbour pests and diseases.

Wind

Wind will dry out soil quickly, so on windy site provide windbreaks around your vegetable patch to reduce evaporation.

Drought Tolerant Vegetables

In South Africa many new varieties and cultivars of vegetable crops are now available to gardeners which are specifically bred for their drought resistance and their ability to thrive in hot, arid climates. Some crops are naturally more tolerant of these conditions, so choosing your selection carefully will greatly increase your chances for success during very hot and dry seasons.

Cos Lettuce Lettuce

Lettuce is a cool season crop and does not enjoy the high temperatures of summer. Most lettuce varieties will bolt (flower) at the first sign of heat. However many varieties are more resilient to bolting if they can be watered regularly, and are shaded from the fierce midday and afternoon sun.

Heat and bolt resistant summer varieties, and all year round lettuce varieties and blends are becoming more freely available online in South Africa.

'Butter'

Butter lettuce is a great year round lettuce variety to grow as it can take the winter cold and also has high heat and bolting resistance. Leaves can be harvested as required, and later in the season the heads can be allowed to form.

'Arania'

Arania is a French heirloom with bright green leaves, and is a cut-and-come-again lettuce with a crisp and nutty flavour. It will grow better in your garden over the warmer months, as it copes well with heat stress and is bolt resistant.

'Bronze Arrow'

This heirloom variety is also known as 'Bronze Beauty' and named for its lovely oak leaf shaped leaves which are a light to dark green with red-brown tinges on the edges. It is both cold hardy and heat tolerant, and because it is slow bolting it does well during the warmer months. This loose leaf variety is full of flavour and has a firm yet silky mouth-feel. To extend your harvest time, pick a few leaves as required from each plant, cutting from the outer leaves inwards.

'Cos'

Cos lettuce is loved for its extremely crispy, deep green, slightly crinkled leaves. The plant forms an upright loose head of lettuce, and individual leaves can be harvested as required, or the whole head can be harvested once mature. It is known to have a high heat and bolt resistance.

'Jericho'

Jericho is an open-pollinated cos-type lettuce variety developed in Israel. It is suitable for commercial production of baby leaf lettuce, as it produces very dense, bright green heads that are crisp and sweet, and tends to keep its sweet flavour even on hot days. Jericho has high resistance to heat, bolting and tip-burn.

'Iceberg'

Iceberg set the standard for a crisp-head lettuce, and although its flavour is mild, this lettuce makes up for this with its crisp and crunchy texture. Its high bolt and heat resistance, together with its ability to keep once picked has earned it a place as a favourite among home gardeners and farmers.

'Great Lakes'

Great Lakes could be described as the first modern “Iceberg” lettuce. It remains a farming standard for commercial growers as it is a consistent producer of good-sized, round heads that are easy to pick. Great lakes lettuce is heat and cold tolerant, with a strong resistance to bolting and tip-burn. The leaves are crisp and tender with wonderful flavour, perfect for sandwiches and salads.

'Michelle'

One of the best varieties to grow in spring as Michelle has high heat and bolt resistance and can handle the heat better than most. This is a Batavian-type variety that is generally green and speckled with red in summer, but as soon as there is a bit of cold, a beautiful deep wine-red colour becomes more apparent.

'Nevada'

Nevada is a Batavian-type lettuce that grows well in all climates. It has high heat, bolt and tip-burn resistance, and is also resistant to bottom rot, downy mildew, and lettuce mosaic virus. This tall, bright green, open-head lettuce sports thick leaves that are deliciously crunchy and buttery.

EggPlantR NooraSiddiqBrinjals/Eggplants

Eggplant is a warm-season crop that originated in India and Southeast Asia over 1,500 years ago. It thrives in high humidity and requires high temperatures for germination and good overall growth.

This high-yield vegetable is perfect for your garden during periods of heat and drought as it does not require as much water as other garden vegetables once it is established, and too much water can even cause root-rot. Give it 15cm of water once or twice a week; and it can grow nicely with even less than this. Severe lack of water causes smaller fruits and lower harvest totals.

Use drip irrigation or soaker hoses to avoid wetting the leaves in humid weather. Space your plants adequately and prune away the lower leaves to improve air circulation, which helps prevents fungal problems during humid periods.

'Black Beauty'

Black Beauty originated in India and Southeast Asia, and the specific "Black Beauty" cultivar was bred in 1902 and popularized as an American open-pollinated heirloom garden staple. In South Africa this variety remains a classic heritage standard, producing large, glossy dark purple, bell-shaped or oval fruits. The firm but tender flesh is creamy-white with a mild taste.

'Long Purple'

Long Purple is an old open pollinated Italian heirloom variety that traces its deeper ancestral roots to Asia, where wild eggplants originated. The slender, smooth and glossy fruit is a beautiful dark purple, and the flesh is creamy white with small, edible seeds. It is best used before they are 20-25cm long.

'Ping Tung'

Ping Tung is an outstanding variety that is named after its home town in Taiwan where it thrives in intense heat and humidity. The skin of the long fruit starts out a light purple and darkens with maturity, and the tender flesh has a superbly sweet flavour.

'Thai Long'

Thai Long is an heirloom eggplant from Thailand, where it thrives in the heat and humidity, and is grown as a perennial vegetable. This is a very prolific cropping variety that produces light-green fruits that grow up to 25cm long. The flesh is white with a pleasant, mild flavour.

Chillies Peppers

Chilli peppers are tropical plants ideally suited to hot, humid and moist tropical and subtropical conditions, however, they are very adaptable and if they can be watered regularly they will do well even in semi-arid regions.

Sweet Bell Peppers are probably the most well know of the peppers but they are not drought tolerant. In fact they are highly sensitive to water stress, needing consistently moist soil and regular watering to produce healthy fruit.

Several Chilli Pepper varieties can handle short dry spells, recovering well if you miss a watering. However during times of drought all pepper varieties will only do well if watered regularly. Established plants need water when the top 2.5cm of the soil dries out, and they should not be allowed to wilt. Give plants a deep soak less often instead of a light splash every day. Mulching around the plants also helps retain moisture in the soil.

Peppers do not set fruit well or reach their best yield under severe drought stress. Extended dry periods cause blossom drop, reduce fruit set, and stunt growth. Irregular watering also leads to tough skin or uneven growth.

What peppers are the most drought-tolerant?

The most drought-hardy chilli pepper varieties are wild and semi-wild types, specifically Chiltepin, Pequin, Cayenne, Poblano and African Bird's Eye. Mild drought stress can actually increase their capsaicin production, making them even hotter.

‘Chiltepin’

Chiltepin is the wild ancestor of most cultivated peppers and it survives harsh arid conditions with minimal moisture by developing deep root systems.

‘Pequin’

Pequin produces small, fiery peppers on woody, tough plants that tolerate intense heat and dry spells much better than standard bell or large-fruited cultivars.

‘African Bird's Eye/Peri-Peri’

African Bird's Eye is a shrubby, semi-wild perennial species native to lower-moisture, tropical and subtropical regions, and handles irregular watering well.

‘Cayenne’

 Cayenne is a standard cultivated hot pepper known for its robust, deep roots and strong performance in hot, dry summer climates.

'Poblano'  

Poblano is a larger fruited Mexican chilli that demonstrates better than average resilience to temporary dry soil conditions.

TomatoR MattDuaneGriffinTomatoes

Tomatoes have long roots that can pull moisture from deep within the soil, so once they are established they tend to be hardier to drought than many other vegetables. However, during hot and dry summers they will still need an occasional deep watering. Many varieties are recommended as being heat resistant and others will take both heat and high humidity.

‘Cherokee Purple’

Cherokee Purple is a big tomato with the big flavour typical of black tomatoes. It is among the top heat-tolerant heirlooms for hot climates, but is subject to fungal infections in warm, humid and wet conditions.

‘Floradade’

Floradade was developed by the University of Florida, USA, and is specifically adapted to thrive and set fruit in hot, humid weather where other varieties fail. However it still requires regular, consistent watering to prevent stress and produce a good crop. It produces firm, smooth, medium-to-large red tomatoes with crack-resistant skin that continues to set fruit even in high temperatures.

‘Pineapple’

Pineapple is a large, meaty, very sweet and flavoursome beefsteak-type tomato, flashing a beautifully marbled flesh. It tolerates heat and drought better than many heirloom varieties, but produces larger, better-quality fruit if established bushes are watered weekly. Although pineapple tolerates humid summer conditions better than other delicate heirlooms, high humidity will require careful management to prevent fungal diseases.

‘Yellow Pear’

Yellow Pear is an heirloom tomato known for its distinct teardrop shape, bright yellow colour, and sweet, mild flavour. It is heat resistant and prefers moderate humidity around 65% to 85%, but is susceptible to fungal diseases if the air stays too wet.

‘Caro Rich’

Caro Rich was given this name as it contains roughly 10 times more beta-carotene than standard tomatoes. This lovely golden-orange beefsteak tomato has a sweet, well-balanced flavour. It is considered to be heat resistant, and fairly drought-resistant, performing well under dry or stressed soil conditions without easily cracking or developing blossom-end rot.

‘Amish Paste’

Amish Paste tomatoes are teardrop shaped and deep red with an amazing flavour. Once established, they are drought tolerant, and will take high heat.

Cucumber Cucumbers

Growing cucumbers in hot and dry summers can be a challenge, but by choosing the right varieties and adopting water-saving practices, you can achieve a productive harvest even in arid regions. Some cucumber varieties are specifically bred for heat and drought tolerance, while others thrive because of their natural adaptability to low water conditions.

‘Marketmore’

Marketmore is a classic, reliable heirloom variety known for its resilience, and one of the best cucumbers for dry climates. It produces fruits that stay uniformly dark green under heat stress, and the plant is resistant to common cucumber diseases, making Marketmore one of the best and widely adaptable slicing varieties available.

‘Lemon’

Lemon is surprisingly heat tolerant, and the thick skin of the fruit helps reduce moisture loss. Although round and yellowish in colour, this cucumber was named for its colour rather than its taste which is rather mild, sweet and cool.

‘Straight Eight’

Straight Eight’ is a classic slicing cucumber that produces straight, deep green fruits that are relatively large compared to other cucumbers. It is known for its ability to produce quality fruit even during heat waves, and the plant is also resistant to cucumber mosaic virus.

‘African Horned Cucumber’

This cucumber, also known as “Kiwano” or “Blowfish Fruit”, grows naturally in semi-arid and dry regions like the Kalahari, using its high moisture-storing jelly pulp as a water source. The spiky skin varies in colour from dark green to orange-yellow and isn’t edible. Inside, the flesh is a jelly-like green and full of edible seeds. The flavour is a wonderful cross between cucumber, zucchini and kiwi fruit. Be sure to remove the sharp points of the outside horns before working with them.

Once established, its deep roots make it drought-resistant, and in the garden or small farm it can survive with deep, infrequent watering, or entirely on rainfall. Being a desert plant it prefers hot, dry air rather than high humidity.

‘Armenian Yard Long’

Also known as ‘Cucumber Melon’, the Armenian yard long cucumber looks like a cucumber and tastes like a cucumber but is actually a type of melon that is best eaten in the green (cucumber) stage. The Armenian Yard Long has a soft sage colour compared to the Dark Green Armenian.

As these ‘cucumbers’ are technically a type of melon, like melons they are heat tolerant, excel in arid climates, and are heavy producers. Their long, ribbed fruits remain tender and sweet even in extreme heat, and the plants are highly efficient at conserving water.

Sliced with the skin on it produces beautiful scalloped cucumber slices that taste sweet and mild, and thanks to the lower water content of this cucumber it is good for braaiing or grilling and sautéing, and also pickling.

‘Painted Serpent’

This green and white striped ‘cucumber’ grows and curls into snake-like shapes. The fruit is mild and delicious and does not need to be peeled, but it’s best to scrub the fuzz from the skin before eating. As Painted Serpent is technically a type of melon, like melons it is heat tolerant, excels in arid climates, is a heavy producer, and well worth the space in your garden.

Swiss Chard

Once its deep root system is well-established Swiss chard is moderately drought-tolerant, surviving dry spells much better than true spinach because its deep roots reach moisture lower in the soil. Young plants need consistent, regular watering to grow strong and to avoid premature bolting (flowering).

During very hot and dry spells, established plants will need deep watering fairly regularly. Severe lack of water stunts leaf growth and makes the greens taste bitter or harsh. Although Swiss chard is heat tolerant, providing midday and afternoon shade during intense heat waves will reduce stress on the plants.

Okra Okra

Okra is considered quite drought hardy and heat-tolerant, featuring a deep taproot system that helps it find moisture deep in the soil. However, severe or prolonged dry spells will reduce pod yields and cause the pods to become tough and woody quickly.

Jerusalem Artichokes

Jerusalem artichokes are moderately to very drought-hardy once they are established. They tolerate dry spells well, though extreme or long-term lack of water will lower your overall tuber yield. Young plants need regular water until established. Older plants handle dry weather easily because of their strong, deep roots. Dry soil reduces the size of the edible tubers, so regular deep watering during late summer helps maximize your harvest.

Asparagus

Asparagus is quite drought-hardy. Once its deep root system grows into the ground, it can survive long dry times with very little water. The root crowns and tubers hold moisture to help the plant stay alive when it does not rain. Give new plants regular water during their first one to two years so they can grow strong roots. Water mature plants only when there is a long, hot dry spell.

Bush BeansGreen Beans

Green beans are not drought-hardy because of their shallow root systems which sit almost entirely in the top 15-30cm of soil and this top layer dries out first during a heatwave. Their broad, lush leaves also lose large amounts of water through transpiration. During long hot and dry spells, the leaves lose moisture even faster than the shallow roots can pull it from the ground.

For the observant gardener, a subtle change in plant colour indicates a need for irrigation. When moisture levels are adequate the bean plant is a bright, dark grass green. As plants experience water stress, leaves take on a slight greyish cast. Water is needed at this point to prevent blossom drop.

Dry conditions combined with high heat will cause bean plants to immediately drop their flowers. Without sufficient water, the pollen also dries out, meaning pods will not form, and if some pods do manage to grow they become stringy, woody and hollow rather than plump and succulent.

Hardy Bean Varieties:

While green beans generally have shallow roots and prefer regular watering to maintain succulent pods, specific cultivars manage dry spells far better than others:

‘Contender’ Bush Bean

Contender is the most drought-hardy choice among the standard green bush beans. It is highly rated by local seed suppliers as being moderately drought tolerant. It also handles heat waves exceptionally well without instantly dropping its blossoms. Because it matures incredibly fast (around 50 days), if you sow early, it often beats out prolonged mid-summer dry spells.

‘Malelane’ Bush Bean

Malelane is bred to withstand our harsh African growing conditions better than imported varieties, and offers strong vigour and high rust resistance. However, it still prefers regular moisture and moderate warmth rather than extreme drought or intense heat.

‘Favourite Pinto’ Bush Bean

Favourite Pinto is hardy and produces reliable high yields and a classic flavour profile. It is a dual-purpose variety that performs well in both green and dry stages. Favourite Pinto grows as a compact bush and is known for its strong tolerance to heat and moderate drought. These qualities make it well-suited to South African summer conditions.

Favourite Pinto Beans mature in around 60 days for green use and need up to 90 days for dry harvesting. The seeds are tan with characteristic dark brown speckles and are valued for their creamy, earthy flavour once cooked. Pods should be left to dry fully on the plant before shelling for storage.

'Rattlesnake' Climber Beans

Green beans generally require lots of water, but the rattlesnake heirloom bean has been grown for generations by the Cherokee people, and it is now part of the Cherokee Nation Seed Bank. It is both heat and drought tolerant and also does well in hot humid areas. For the best results, try to give the plants the occasional deep watering during the hottest summer months.

Rattlesnake beans are an heirloom variety of green bean, of the pole bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) which grows long vines that can easily reach over 3m tall.  The great tasting green pods are 15-20cm long and coloured with purple streaks. When you cook them they turn completely green.

If you pick the beans frequently the plant will produce the whole season long. Rattlesnake beans have a fine flavour and are string-less when picked young. The beans can be shelled when the pods are a bit more mature, and at the end of the season they can be harvested to dry. The light buff seeds are splashed with dark brown, resembling a rattlesnake’s coloration. Rattlesnake beans are also resistant to Bean Common Mosaic Virus R1.

‘Witsa’ Climber Beans

High-yielding, blight resistant and tolerant of low water conditions, this proudly South African variety was developed by the Horticultural Research Institute in the 1950’s, and years later it was almost lost when the only farmer producing Witsa passed away. Seed producers nationwide pulled together to save this bean and it now stands proudly as a South African staple.

‘Blue Peter’ Climber Beans

Blue Peter is a much loved heirloom runner bean which is considered a hardy, easy to-grow pole/runner bean variety for South African summer climates as it handles poor soil, and hot, dry conditions. The beans are a dark purple and when cooked turn a lovely deep green. Blue Peter is a good producer of beans over the season, and the more you pick the more it will produce.

Sweet Potato Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are the staple food for almost half the world’s population for many reasons. They are highly nutritious and one of nature’s super foods. They are cheap to produce, easy to grow, and drought resistant. Smallholder farmers rely on sweet potatoes because they survive dry seasons better than many other staple crops. For sweet potato, drought stress accounts for 25% total annual yield loss compared to more than 50% yield loss or complete failure in staple crops such as maize. Established plants that have already formed tubers tolerate dry conditions well. However, although prolonged dry spells where no irrigation is given will not always kill the plant, lack of water lowers the overall weight and size of the tubers.

Purchase virus-free sweet potato runners/cuttings water them consistently during the first few weeks. Once established, reduce watering to encourage strong root development. Avoid overwatering as harvest time nears.

Hardy Sweet Potato Varieties:

Some sweet potato varieties are more drought tolerant than others.

‘Ndou’

Ndou is a popular sweet potato with a brown skin and white flesh. It is a South African-bred variety developed for food security, high yields, and strong resistance to common field issues. It is known for producing large roots and handling tough, dry conditions with strong resilience.

Well known for its delicious creamy flesh that cooks to a soft, fluffy texture with a mild flavour that is slightly sweet, makes Ndou well-suited to both sweet and savoury preparations. This high yielding variety does not get too pithy even at a large size, and the tubers are known to get to over 3 kg’s each!

Ndou is known for its excellent resistance to sweet potato virus disease (SPVD) and other common root pathogens, making it ideal for small-scale and resource-limited growers.

'Bophelo'

Bophelo is a proudly South African sweet potato variety with light copper skin and creamy yellow flesh. Bred locally by the Agricultural Research Council to endure local climatic stress while offering high nutritional value, it offers excellent yields, flavour, and disease resistance. Less sugary than orange-fleshed varieties, Bophelo is also ideal for savoury dishes and is a good choice for diabetic-friendly meals.

Bophelo is noted for its resistance to sweet potato virus disease (SPVD) and shows strong field tolerance to pests and environmental stresses. This makes it an excellent option for sustainable, low-input growing. Its name means “life” in Sesotho, and true to its name, Bophelo has become a lifeline for many growers thanks to its dependable performance and nutritious roots.

 ‘IPC Yellow’

IPC Yellow, also known locally as Dagga sweet potato, is valued for its drought tolerance and consistent yields. Although not as flashy as modern commercial types, IPC Yellow remains a favourite in many rural and home gardens for its reliability and earthy, mildly sweet taste. It produces medium to large roots with golden-yellow flesh and a light brown to tan skin.

This variety is regarded as hardy and tolerant to variable conditions. While formal resistance data is limited, IPC Yellow is known for its resilience in low-input systems and has shown good field tolerance to local pests and diseases.

Pumpkin Flat WhitePumpkins & Squashes

Pumpkins, Squash, and Baby Marrow/Zuccini belong to the gourd family of plants. They are believed to have originated in Central America over 7,500 years ago, and the oldest domesticated pumpkin seeds were found in the Oaxaca Highlands of Mexico.

Because of their origin, they can take the heat, and if watered correctly can withstand dry summers. Under drought conditions they will require occasional deep watering. Squash develops deep, strong taproot systems that hunt for water far below the dry surface soil. Their large green leaves also help by shading the soil underneath, which stops water from evaporating too fast.

After sowing seed, do not overwater the beds until they germinate, and thereafter give young plants regular water so their roots grow nice and strong. Established plants need deep watering once or twice a week, depending on soil conditions and temperatures.

During very hot afternoons the leaves may droop to save energy, then bounce right back when it cools down. Therefore don’t just assume a pumpkin or squash plant needs water if it wilts, as they don’t like to be overwatered either.

Watering at soil level and ensuring that the leaves are totally dry before nightfall will help prevent fungal attacks like powdery mildew and rust.

What are winter and summer squashes?

Squashes are categorized as summer or winter based on when they are harvested and their rind texture, not by their scientific species. In fact, a single species can contain both summer and winter varieties.

Winter squash like butternut and pumpkins have hard, tough skins that cannot be easily pierced when mature. They have a long growing season and are harvested in late summer and autumn. Winter squashes have less water than summer squash and a richer, nuttier taste. A drier flesh combined with their thick skin allows us to store them for many months for winter use.

Summer Squashes like Baby Marrows/Zuccini and Patty Pans have thin, soft skins you can pierce with a fingernail. Therefore they have a short shelf life and are eaten in summer. Patty pans are not very tolerant of drought and require regular watering to flower and fruit well. During very hot and dry seasons they need regular deep watering. Mulching the soil will help to conserve water.

'Queensland Blue' 

This favourite Australian heirloom is a world standard grey pumpkin that has stood the test of time. It is well-suited to dryland and warmer conditions, and is well adapted to South African growing conditions.

It’s a rather strange looking top heavy pumpkin that grows on strong productive vines. The medium to large fruit weighs 3-4kg and has a smooth, very hard and strongly ribbed dark grey skin, and sweet, rich, deep orange flesh, and can be stored for up to 6 months.

‘Flat White Boer’ 

 Flat White Boer is a typical flat, ribbed, white skinned, South African heirloom pumpkin that adapts well to drier cultivation methods. It is open pollinated and remains a favourite for its sweet yellow flesh and large size, 4-6kg or more. It is a very vigorous plant suitable for the field and home gardens.

'Musquée de Provence'

This pumpkin originates from the south of France and is also known as the Fairytale Pumpkin. These pumpkins look like big cheese wheels, squat and deeply ribbed. The immature fruits are green, maturing to a rich mahogany-orange when ripe.

‘Yellow Scallop’

The yellow scallop is an heirloom variety of patty pan that is commonly eaten very young, but if you grow them larger, to at least 15cm in diameter they are really flavoursome.

‘Juane et Verte’

This is a stunning French heirloom patty pan squash known for its scalloped shape and creamy-yellow skin with deep green stripes. It tastes mild and sweet, much like zucchini. It is tasty when picked young and the flavour only improves as it gets older.

‘Bennings Green’

A classic pale green to white heirloom patty pan variety known for its tender texture and slightly sweet and mild, buttery flavour when harvested young.

Baby Marrow/Zucchini

Baby Marrow is not very tolerant of drought and requires regular watering to flower and fruit well. During very hot and dry seasons they need regular deep watering. Mulching the soil will help to conserve water. Varieties of Baby Marrow like Caserta and Golden Zucchini are noted for being reasonably drought tolerant once the plants are established.

‘Caserta’

Caserta is a sturdy baby marrow type that handles warm, productive growing cycles well. It is a classic and beloved Italian heirloom variety that stands out because of its light green speckled skin. It is very prolific, with a rich, nutty flavour and a smooth, firm texture.

‘Golden Zucchini’

The golden zucchini features bright yellow skin, and tough resilient growing habits similar to the standard green zucchini. These small compact bushes will continue producing for months if picked often enough. For fun and a real flavour sensation, allow some fruits to get 'submarine sized'.

Gem Squash:

Gem squash has a tap root that can descend to 60cm, but most of the roots are in the top 20-30cm topsoil zone and it is these shallow roots that do most of the work in providing water and nutrients to the plant and ultimately the fruit. Therefore, although gem squash can be produced under dryland conditions, it will produce much better when irrigated.

Water requirements will vary with soil type, season and growth stage. Avoid over irrigation and waterlogging. Although gem squash prefers sandy loam to loamy soil, gardeners can conserve water during hot and very dry seasons by mulching the soil.

Rolet 'Little Gem'

Little gem is a favourite South African heirloom that produces small, round, dark green fruits with a mild, delicate flavour and creamy texture. This compact, early-maturing squash typically grows 60–90cm in height, and needs 1m to spread. It is a highly productive variety that is perfect for small spaces and containers, where it will grow beautifully on a trellis or fence.

Rhubarb

Rhubarb is moderately drought-tolerant once the plant is established, and will survive brief dry spells due to its deep, water-storing roots. However, it thrives best with consistent moisture and suffers reduced yields or stress under severe or prolonged droughts. Young plants require regular watering during their first one to two years to build strong roots. Mature plants need deep watering every 7 to 10 days during hot, dry summer stretches. Do not overwater, as soggy soil rots the plants crown.

Vegetable crops that suffer with insufficient water

Endive

Endive is somewhat more resilient and more heat-tolerant than regular lettuce, it is not truly drought-hardy and prefers cooler weather. While mature chicory-family plants with deep roots handle dry spells better than soft salad greens, lack of water quickly ruins the harvest. Endive requires steady, even moisture to grow properly, and dry soil causes it to bolt (go to seed early) and also makes the leaves very bitter.

Maize

Maize and sweet corn have very shallow roots and need regular watering. Demand is most critical during tasselling, silking, and ear development. Yield is directly related to quantities of water, nitrogen and spacing. Water stress delays the silking period, but not tasselling. Under mild water stress the crop may tassel and shed pollen before silks are ready for pollination. The lack of pollination may reduce yields or even eliminate ear production.

If you want to grow maize at home plant varieties that are developed for semi-arid growing conditions.

‘Stowell’s Evergreen’

Stowell’s Evergreen is a leading white sweet corn for the home and market gardeners. This classic heirloom is drought-tolerant and known for its long harvest window, deep sweet kernels, and exceptional storage quality.

'Kalahari Early Pearl'

Kalahari Early Pearl is fast maturing white maize developed for South Africa’s semi-arid growing conditions. This open-pollinated variety is named for its ability to thrive in the hot, dry Kalahari region and is widely grown for fresh green mealies. With strong germination and broad adaptability, it has become a staple crop in smallholder and home gardens alike. Plants produce cobs of about 18cm with large, white kernels and good field-holding ability.

'Sahara Corn'

Sahara Corn is hardy yellow dent maize developed for Southern African conditions, offering dependable yields and strong disease resistance. This open-pollinated variety produces robust plants reaching up to 2.6m in height with distinctive hanging leaves and long, well-filled cobs measuring up to 35cm and carrying plump yellow kernels. Sahara has become a trusted staple for commercial and home growers alike.

Brassicaceae Crops

Members of the family Brassicaceae include: Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Kohlrabi, Collards, Kale, Arugula (Rocket), Bok Choy, Mizuna, Watercress, Turnips, and Radishes. 

These vegetables grow best as intermediate or cool season crops, and although hybrids allow us to grow them in the warmer months, these varieties will need regular watering no matter what season they are grown in.

The quality of these crops is significantly reduced if the plants get dry anytime during the growing season. Water use is highest and most critical during head development. Therefore, it is not advised to grow Members of the Brassicaceae family during periods of drought unless their watering requirements can be met.

Shelling Peas and Snap Peas

Peas are not drought hardy. They are intermediate to cool-season crops with shallow roots that need steady moisture to grow well and set pods.

Table Celery

Celery is not drought hardy; it is one of the thirstiest garden crops because it naturally evolved in marshy, boggy environments. Most roots sit in the top 45cm of soil, meaning they dry out very fast. The soil must stay evenly moist at all times. Lack of water makes the stems stringy, fibrous, and tough. Dry soil can cause the inside of the stalks to become hollow. Water stress creates a bitter, sharp taste instead of crisp, fresh flavour.

Fennel

In cooler regions fennel can be sown from spring to autumn, but in hotter regions, soaring temperatures tend to induce bolting. Therefor fennel is generally grown as an intermediate to cool season crop. Common sweet fennel plants are drought hardy once they are fully established, thanks to a deep taproot. However, bulb (Florence) fennel needs steady moisture and is less tolerant of dry spells. Water young fennel plants regularly for the first few months so they can build a strong root system.

Root Crops

Root crops require a constant supply of moisture and are intolerant of dry soils. Small, cracked, knobby, woody, misshapen, and a hot flavoured root crops are symptoms of water stress. They can survive short dry periods, but severe lack of water ruins the crop quality.

Parsnips

Mature parsnips are fairly drought tolerant once their deep taproots are well established. Young plants require consistent, moist soil and will fail or dry out completely if left in parched earth. Established plants send roots a meter or more deep into the ground, making them surprisingly resilient against dry spells. Extreme drought and prolonged lack of water stops growth and can cause the large roots to split or become woody when re-wetted.

Radishes

Radishes need steady moisture to grow right. Dry soil makes the roots hard and woody and turns the taste very sharp, hot, or bitter. Stressed plants may stop growing roots or split open when watered late. Dry and hot weather causes the plant to bolt (go to seed) prematurely.

Carrots

Carrots are relatively drought-tolerant once established, using deep taproots to find moisture, but they need consistent water during early growth and root development for good yield and quality. Severe dry stress followed by sudden watering can cause mature roots to split or crack. Lack of water during active root growth reduces overall size and crop yield, and severe moisture deficits lead to woody, misshapen, or poorly coloured carrots.

Onions

All members of the onion family: Onions, Spring Onions, Leeks, Garlic, and Chives have an inefficient rooting system making irrigation management a key factor in produce quality. They require a constant supply of moisture and are intolerant of dry soils.

Garlic

Standard culinary garlic (Allium sativum) is not truly drought hardy. While established plants can survive brief dry periods, lack of water severely stunts bulb growth, causes premature early flowering (bolting), and results in small, split, or misshapen cloves. Garlic has a weak, shallow root system that dries out quickly. Plants need regular moisture while leaves and bulbs are forming. Dry soil during spring development dramatically cuts total yield and bulb size. You should stop watering completely 2 to 3 weeks before harvesting. Letting the soil dry out at the very end helps the outer wrappers turn papery and dry, preparing the bulbs for storage

Beetroot

Beetroot is relatively drought-tolerant once it is established, as its deep taproots and waxy leaves help it survive dry spells better than many other root vegetables. However, beetroot still needs steady moisture and severe or long dry periods will harm the crop.

Turnips

Turnips are moderately drought-tolerant once established, but they need regular watering to grow well. Without enough water, turnip roots turn woody, small, and bitter. They can survive short dry periods, but severe lack of water ruins the crop quality.

Celeriac

Celeriac is not drought hardy. It requires consistently moist, nutrient-rich soil and has shallow roots that dry out easily. High heat and dry spells require frequent watering, sometimes every day or two. Lack of water makes the swollen root tough and stringy and the flavour becomes harsh and unpleasant instead of mild and nutty. Dry stress stops the root from swelling properly, ruining the harvest size. Therefore, the soil must never be allowed dry out completely during its long growing season.

Potatoes

Potatoes are not drought hardy and are very sensitive to water shortages as most potato roots stay in the top 30-60cm of soil, missing deeper water, and drying out quickly in hot weather. Dry spells during tuber setup or growth result in huge drops in crop yield, and result in deformed potatoes. Some specific regional types (like BP1) handle dry conditions slightly better than others, but they still need regular moisture to produce a good harvest