Garden With Ernest

We need to learn how to grow vegetables in a drought as according to the scientists we are going to be facing warmer, drier summers. So how is it possible to produce vegetables in a drought?  When the sun reaches nearly 40 degrees and there’s a hose pipe ban that lasts for months? 

Without a doubt, Summers here are getting hotter and drier. Water restrictions are becoming commonplace. My traditional style veg patch struggled, and some crops failed to thrive.  

So I have adapted and now grow a diverse range of edible crops, using some principles of permaculture. I am learning new methods which save and conserve water. So Ernest and I would like to share those with you.

Drought conditions are really challenging but I have found with a bit of planning and some clever techniques it is still possible to grow vegetables even in a heatwave. However preparation is important.

Firstly prepare your soil.

Soil is made from a combination of sand, silt, clay and organic materials. Sandy soil has very little structure, water can soak in, but it drains away too quickly. 

Clay soils absorb water and hold on to it. But because clay soils compact easily, they are prone to waterlogging in winter and drying solid in summer.

Adding organic matter helps all soil types hold on to moisture .

Basically, organic matter is compost. It is made from dead materials, and it is this compost that holds onto water and releases it slowly. Soils that contain a high percentage of organic matter can hold on to water for a long time. “Compost increases the water holding capacity of droughty soils”

Clay soils require organic matter to open up their soil structure, so they drain better in winter but can hold on to water longer in the summer. 

We have very fine, gritty soil that drains easily. This is great in a downpour, but not ideal in a drought. So I have to prepare the soil to help it cope better in the dry season. And I have learned from experience that the best way I can do this is to add lots of organic matter, so I use a thick layer of mulch.

Tip from Ernest: Don’t dig ! You don’t need to dig the organic matter into the soil; this is harmful to the soil structure. Use a thick layer of mulch on top of the soil. It is best to do this in winter, or when your soil is bare. 

Worms work for us

Of course, the worms have other benefits too; they help open up soils with their tunnels, allowing the air in, so the plant roots can breathe. They also break down your organic matter, which helps feed your plants. And you will produce better results if you choose drought tolerant plants.

The worms and microorganisms will do the hard work for you. They take the organic matter down into the soil, and it is this organic matter that holds onto the water and releases it slowly as your plants need it. 

Plan what to plant

Choose your vegetables varieties carefully, because some plants have been bred to cope better in arid conditions. So it is important to consider where the vegetables that you are growing originate from. For example a tomato that has been selected to grow in Wales, would not thrive in southern Spain. 

Here is a list of edible plants that I would consider to be very drought tolerant. They have survived our hot dry summers, with little or no watering: 

• Asparagus
• Cardoon
• Globe artichoke
• Ground cherry (physalis pruinosa)
• Tomatillo
• Giant sorrel
• Amaranth
• Sweetcorn
• Tomato (sweet pea currant)
• Alpine strawberry (in semi shade)
• Pink lambs quarters
• Jerusalem artichoke
• Mustard greens
• Sweet potato

Mulching helps retain moisture.

And this list of plants have produce crops when grow with a thick layer of mulch, and weekly watering:

• Purple podded climbing beans
• Swiss chard
• Potatoes
• Cucumbers 
• Melons (small honeydew types need less water)
• Squash such as Pattypan
• Tuscany kale
• Tomatoes 
• Aubergines
• Bell peppers 
• Chilli peppers
• Okra
• Perennial onions
• Rhubarb

Try growing something different

I have yet to try peanuts, chickpeas and black-eyed peas but I am told they do well in hot dry climates. So maybe you could give them a try.

This final list are the thirsty plants. These veg need a lot of water to grow well and most of them don’t do well in excessive heat.

• Brussels sprouts 
• Cauliflower
• Broccoli
• Round headed cabbage
• Leeks 
• Onions 
• Lettuce 
• Swede
• Celery 

How to grow vegetable seedlings in a drought

All seedlings are very vulnerable in a drought, because they have not formed a good root system. They will scorch and burn up in excessive heat. So where possible, try to start growing your seeds when the weather is cooler and transplant seedlings in the morning or evening. But you will still need to protect them from scorching. 

Enclose the space

Use a shade cloth. A shade cloth protects the plants from the sun and stops them from being sunburnt.  They are a real asset if your garden is a south facing suntrap.

Seedlings will need watering until they are established.

How to save water and still produce crops in a drought

Collect water In rain barrels and keep the rain barrels covered to stop the water evaporating and to keep mosquitoes out. Although, you would need a lot of water butts to supply enough water for a veg plot, every little helps.

Don’t use water sprinklers as they waste a lot of water.

Instead, set up a drip irrigation system that delivers water directly to the plant roots, minimizing water loss through evaporation. 

When you water your plants, water them well, making sure the water soaks into the ground, this encourages the plants to develop deep roots. If you just water the surface, the plant will not develop deep roots and will dry out quickly.

And water early in the morning or late in the evening to reduce evaporation losses. 

Other ways to help your veg in a heat wave. 

Intercropping and companion planting saves water by shading the soil surface with a green canopy of leaves. This conserves water by reducing evaporation. Also, by growing plants with shallow roots next to plants with deep roots none of the water in the soil will be wasted. 

Red clover is a great wild flower for interplanting. Whilst it is growing, it acts as a living mulch protecting the soil. Clover is also a good source of food for insects, helping biodiversity. When it is cut back, the roots die back too, releasing their stores of nitrogen, which feeds your crops. And the leaves can be left on the soil surface to decay, trapping moisture in the soil. 

How Olla pots can help you to grow plants in a drought.

An olla pot is an unglazed ceramic jar. They have a short neck and a wide, plump body. They are buried in the ground and filled with water. Because the pots are porous, the roots of plants can slowly soak up the water. They were traditionally used, in Spain, to irrigate olive trees, and the Spanish certainly know how to grow vegetables in a drought.  

They can be expensive to buy, but you can make your own from terracotta plant pots.

Hügelkultur

Lastly, I want to mention the Hügelkultur, or hill culture method. Basically it is a mound made by piling logs, branches, plant waste and compost, which is covered with a layer of soil. It improves soil fertility, water retention, and benefits the plants growing on and around it. 

My French neighbour uses a similar system: he digs a trench and then fills it with rotting logs and cow manure, and then covers the trench with a thick layer of soil. This system works very well for him, and his vegetables flourish with very little watering.

How to grow vegetables in a “Messy Heap” in a drought.

My Messy Heaps are made from twigs and other woody plant waste, which is covered with a layer of green waste and weeds. At the end of winter, I cover heaps with cardboard and weigh the cardboard down with rocks.  

Then in spring I plant my courgettes and squashes by them. My Messy Heaps give the plants shelter and moisture. Worms and other microorganisms thrive in the heap, and their waste feeds the plants.  

These “Messy heaps” feed and shelter lots of insects, which then feed the birds and hedgehogs. As well as giving them homes to hibernate in. So this simple form of holistic gardening really appeals to me. And I like gardening techniques that use waste material efficiently and benefit biodiversity.

Learning how to grow vegetables in a drought helps biodiversity. 

Biodiversity in our gardens benefits from planting a diverse range of plants. And we benefit from eating a diverse range of fresh fruit and veg. But most importantly, plant diversity is essential to all terrestrial ecosystems. Plants provide life support systems upon which all life depends. Different plants will react and cope differently as our climate changes. Some species will be able to adapt and thrive. We must adapt, too. 

By growing some of our own food and using water wisely, we will be helping the fight against global warming and reducing our carbon footprint. 

So, how do you grow vegetables in a drought ? By planting a seed.

And saving every drop of water.