Is your climate -resistant heder garden? If you want to keep your green thumb in the era of climate change, it can be time to adjust your gardening strategy. Heat and extreme droughts are becoming more frequent. “It is no longer gardening or seasons as usual with the most erratic climate and our award,” says Kim Stoddart, award -winning environmental journalist, editor and co -author of the climate change garden with Sally Morgan.
She suggests creating an intelligent garden for climate change to adapt and be more resistant. If not, the gardens run a greater risk of pests, diseases and extreme climate damage, not to mention that stress gardeners experience trying to mitigate new challenges.
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The need for climate resistant gardening
As climate change triggers a more extreme climate, such as heat waves, drought, hail, strong winds and heavy breasts, plants will inevitably fight. As Stoddart and Morgan analyze in their book, the increase in extreme climatic variables are occurring in a short space of time, which makes it difficult for garden plants to fix them. “A resistant plant is needed to survive everything that nature throws, and in a world changed by the climate, it is not only the long -term increase in temperatures, but also the extreme climatic events that are so harmful to plants,” they write.
A climate resistant garden can support and recover from extreme climatic conditions. Gardeners have several ways to deal with high temperatures and drought, explains Noyes Amber, horticulturist and editor of gardening tasks. One way is to choose plants that can prosper in thesis conditions. For example, plants that originate in tropical or subtropical regions tend to tolerate heat better than those of a colder climate in the north. Gardeners can also adapt their practices to the changing climate, for example, altering planting schedules and using irrigation methods with efficient efficiency in water.
How to find heat tolerant and drought crops
Fortunately, certain plants can tolerate heat and grow on low moisture soil. Look for seed descriptions that indicate plant lovers “or” heat tolerant “and” drought tolerant “. These varieties have the leg field and show the performance in warmer and dry conditions.
Stoddard and Morgan recommend perennial vegetables, which live more than two years, since their longevity allows them to survive challenging environmental conditions. In addition, their deep root structure helps them obtain the humidity of more effective duration of dry periods and absorbs the excess storms of rainwater.
There are also some varieties of plants that are specifically raised to support high temperatures. According to Alvin Pullins, a specialist in home and environmental improvements in Nerd in the house, “these varieties have adaptations that help them face heat stress and require less water.”
10 common heat and drought vegetables for your garden
Beans
The chickpeas, the lentils, the butter beans, the garden beans (also called asparagus beans), black -eyed peas, pea creams and purple helmets thrive in heat conditions.
Beet
Due to their deep roots, beets can be sown early to take advantage of the longest growth season. In addition, beet can support hot days when provided with a lot of water.
Carrot
Although carrots are slow growth vegetables that need enough water, they can still do it well even last the hottest days. Avoid juicy varieties because they have less fibrous roots, which are more prone to roots in dry conditions.
Eggplant
Native of Southeast Asia and India, eggplants are heat tolerant vegetables that require minimum irrigation once established. They grow successful in warm climates with full sun exposure. Give yourself to varieties such as Black Beauty, Thai Long Green, Blackbell Classic, Midnight and Florida Hi Bush.
Okra
Native of Tropical Africa, the OKRA thrown into hot climates with soil temperatures at 80 degrees Fahrenheit and more. The okra must be watered and collected regularly. It is not tolerant of frost, so the seeds of the plants after the spring frost has passed. Some good varieties to try include Clemson Spineless, Cajun Delight, Emerald and Burgundy.
Peppers
Originated in Central and South America, peppers are a tropical crop that works well in heat. The peppers require warm soil to germinate, about 80-90 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant Sweet pepper varieties such as Hungarian peppers, shishitos, elongated sweet peppers, sweet banana, gypsy and pimento that thrive in heat. The hot peppers, such as Anaheim, Jalapeno, Cal Wonder, Red Knight, Big Bertha, Sweet Banana and Cubanelle, have the same equal in prolonged heat.
Potatoes
Between originating in the Andes and growing on the ground, the potatoes are more tolerant with dry summers than many other vegetables. There is a wide choice of varieties; Look for the most resistant types that mature slowly and can be harvested in autumn after having time to recover from a drought.
Sweet potato
The sweet potatoes are another tropical plant that grows well in the heat. They require a long season of growth, regular and abundant irrigation, and are harvested before soil temperatures fall below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Swiss chard
While many types of vegetables will become bitter in warm climates, chard is quite tolerant or in heat and dry conditions. Experiment with multiple varieties, including the colorful rainbow chard.
Tomatoes
As one of the most popular garden vegetables, tomatoes are native to the tropics of South America and generally adaptable to variable climates, including warm climate. However, extreme heat can prevent flowers from producing fruit. They do it better in up to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Look for drought -resistant varieties, including Rome, San Marzano and Black Krim. Cherry Sungold and Jasper tomatoes are breaking for the warm climate. Finally, some relics also do well in the heat, such as Arkansas Traveler and Brandywine. Learn to cultivate abundant tomatoes.
Tips for growing vegetables in a climate resistant garden
In addition to choosing crops that are known to resist hot and dry conditions, you can take the following steps to create a climate resistant garden in your backyard.
Adopt a practice without tillage
Tilling, the process of turning on the ground to loosen it, interrupts the microorganisms that are vital for soil health and plants and breaks the soil structure, which is what helps it maintain the water. A garden without tillage is based on a regular padding with organic matter. The mulch suppresses weeds, retains moisture and enriches the ground as it breaks down.
Use the shadow
Exposure to intense sunlight can damage plants, so use the natural shadow cover in your patio. You can also create shadow with high crops and structures such as pergolas, shadow cloths or entangled to reduce the exposure and evaporation of direct sunlight, Pullins suggests.
Plant before
Stoddart recommends changing your schedule to sow and plant at the beginning of the season. In this way, plants will be established before warm climate and dry soil. If you expect too much, the crops are more likely to fail in the heat.
Minimize water waste
Use ground and mulch covers to help improve water retention on the ground. “Try to avoid naked terrain, since this is more vulnerable to the impact of sun drying,” Stoddart warns. “Then, after a deep time, an application or mulch around plants can help keep water inside. This works well just before a drought, especially for hungry water plants.” Effective mulch materials include compost, straw, leaf mold, wood chips, grass cuts and comfort.
Use smart irrigation techniques
“Try to avoid watering their plants in the middle of the day,” says Noyes. “The night is usually the best moment. Be sure to water in the base of the plants where they need it most, unlike irrigation directly on the leaves or voice. The pollins suggest that the irrigation plants deeply and less frequently minimize the use of water and promote the growth of the deep root. This helps the plants to access the humidity of the lower soil layers and make them more resilient.
Editor’s note: Originally published on June 23, 2023, this article was updated in April 2025.
