Espoma Organic
  • Products
    • Close
    • Product Line Overview
    • Plant food finder
    • Garden Fertilizers
    • Potting Soils
    • Liquid Fertilizers
    • Lawn Fertilizers
    • Single Ingredients
    • Conventional Plant Foods
    • Animal Care Products
  • Where to Buy
  • Our Story
    • Close
    • Our Story
    • Locations
    • Historical Timeline
    • Our Commitment
    • Directions
    • Solar
    • Join our Team
    • Espoma Brand Partners
  • Learn
    • Close
    • Espoma Blog
    • FAQ’s
    • Pocket Guide
    • Espoma Guides
    • Garden Clubs
    • Safe Paws Lawn
    • PRODUCT FACT SHEETS
    • Fertilizer Fundamentals
      • Close
      • Understanding Plant Nutrition
      • Reading Labels
      • Choosing the Right Type of Fertilizer
      • Terms & Definitions
    • Gardening Projects
    • Resource Links
  • Contact Us
  • Menu Menu
Where to Buy

5 Tips for Growing Veggies in a Drought

June 13, 2017/in Blog, Fruits & Vegetables, Summer Gardening

Summer brings the prime-time vegetable growing season and the delicious harvest of our fruit and vegetable gardens. But what happens when that summer heat gets a little too hot and leaves drought-prone areas high and dry?

Don’t stress — even though water is an essential component to vegetable gardening, there are plenty of ways to grow healthy, fresh veggies during dry times.

Try these low-water vegetable gardening tips for success all season long.

1) Build a Strong Base

When planting in dry conditions, amending your soil is crucial to success. Start with Espoma’s Bio-tone Starter Plus for big, healthy blooms. Then, add rich Espoma Organic Land & Sea Compost to the soil to increase water retention. After you have healthy soil as your base, be sure to add mulch. A 3-4” layer of mulch on top of your soil can reduce watering needs by up to 50 percent. Mulch keeps the soil cooler and traps moisture in the soil, instead of allowing it to evaporate.

2) Strategic Planning

When it comes to drought-tolerant vegetable gardens, plan strategically. Raised bed gardens and containers retain moisture better than open gardens. Use Espoma Organic Raised Bed Mix for all your raised bed plantings to ensure your plants grow deeper roots, greener foliage, and more productive plants.

Instead of planting in straight rows, plant in a zig-zag or diamond pattern. With plants spaced out, their leaves create more shade and keep the soil cooler. Try companion planting, too. Pair plant varieties that work well together and benefit from each other.

3) Drought-resistant veggies to consider planting during drier times:

  • Eggplant
  • Bell peppers
  • Okra
  • Artichoke
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Swiss chard

4) Be Water Wise

Some of the water used in overhead watering systems never makes it to the soil. Most of the water evaporates on the leaves before serving its purpose.

Instead, try a drip irrigation system for more efficient watering. Drip watering methods can use upwards of 70 percent less water by avoiding evaporation, runoff and wind. Soaker hoses are another water-saving alternative. Lay the hose across an especially dry patch of soil while small holes in the hose allow water to seep through to the soil.

5) Time It Right & Keep Up with Maintenance

The time of day you garden matters, especially during drought. Water early in the morning or later in the evening when temperatures are cooler to reduce evaporation. Check soil moisture regularly and remove weeds, which compete with your veggies for water and nutrients. Prune back excess foliage if needed to help plants conserve energy and moisture. Staying on top of small tasks can make a big difference in helping your garden thrive through the heat.

Bonus Tip: If all else fails, move your garden indoors! Grow smaller varieties of vegetables in small spaces. While indoor vegetable gardens still need proper watering, the soil won’t dry as fast as it would in the hot summer sun.

*****

Love the heat and the sun? Learn more about succulent gardening here!

 

Featured Products:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where to Buy

Tags: Bio-tone Starter Plus, drought, Organic Gardening, smart watering, summer garden
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on X
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share by Mail
https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/watering-can-garden.jpg 665 1000 espoma https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.png espoma2017-06-13 15:29:542025-06-25 14:02:205 Tips for Growing Veggies in a Drought
You might also like
woman with hands in bowl of soilVideo: Winter Seed Sowing with Garden Answer!
organic vegetables, broccoli, peas, carrots, zucchini6 Vegetables to Sow During Early Spring
Laura from Garden Answer holding leavesVIDEO: Repurposing Leaves for an Easy DIY Mulch Layer 🍂 with Garden Answer
Skye Hamilton getting ready to plant hydrangeas.VIDEO: Transplanting Hydrangeas 🌸🌱 with Skye Hamilton
Video: How to grow and care for geraniums with Garden Answer!
VIDEO: Using Different Types of ORGANIC Fertilizers ??? with Wyse Guide
1 reply

Trackbacks & Pingbacks

  1. 5 Deliciously Unique Fall Vegetables | Espoma says:
    March 12, 2019 at 10:53 pm

    […] “wow” factor in your veggie garden, then Romanesco broccoli is the plant for you. Its intense, bright green fractals of broccoli are stunning. It is similar to cauliflower in terms of care. For best results, be sure to keep the […]

Comments are closed.

Where to Buy

Get News & Updates

Recent Posts

  • VIDEO: Hanging Baskets for Shade 🌿🌸 with Skye Hamilton
  • VIDEO: How to Fertilize Roses 🌹 with Skye Hamilton
  • VIDEO: Planting Herbs and Berries in Containers 🌿🍓 with Summer Rayne Oakes
  • VIDEO: Tulip Garden Tour with Summer Rayne Oakes 🌷
  • VIDEO: Planting a Reblooming Lilac 🌸 with Garden Answer

Tags

All-Purpose Potting Mix bio-tone Bio-tone Starter Bio-tone Starter Plus cactus and succulents Cactus Mix caring for houseplants Container Gardening DIY project Espoma espoma grown espoma organic Espoma Organics Espoma Video fall gardening flower garden flowers garden Garden Answer Gardening gardening tips gardens grow holly-tone houseplants Indoor! indoor gardening indoor plants Kaleb Wyse organic organic fertilizer Organic Gardening organic plant food Organic Potting Mix Outdoor Gardening Planting plants Potting Mix potting soil Spring Gardening succulents summer rayne oakes vegetable garden Vegetable Gardening Wyse Guide

Espoma. A Family Tradition Since 1929.

Espoma Organic logo
  • Espoma Dealer
  • Espoma Pro
  • Garden Club
  • Privacy Policy

Scroll to top