50 Drought Tolerant Fruits, Herbs, and Vegetables to Grow

Fruits

1. Figs – Love heat and can survive with minimal water once established
2. Pomegranates – Thrive in dry conditions, perfect for hot climates
3. Olives – Mediterranean favorite, very drought-resistant
4. Grapes – Deep roots tolerate drought, especially table grapes
5. Jujube – Hardy and sweet, grows in poor soils
6. Apricots – Need some water at fruiting, but overall very hardy
7. Persimmons – Slow growing but resilient to dry spells
8. Cactus fruits (Prickly Pear) – Extremely low water requirement
9. Mulberries – Tolerate drought once mature
10. Loquats – Survive dry summers, produce sweet fruits

Vegetables

11. Tomatoes (determinate varieties) – Deep roots help withstand dry spells
12. Peppers – Heat lovers that do fine with minimal watering once established
13. Eggplants – Tolerant of warm, dry conditions
14. Okra – Thrives in hot, dry climates
15. Squash (winter varieties) – Store water in leaves and stems
16. Pumpkins – Require water early, but drought-tolerant once established
17. Sweet potatoes – Deep-rooted and drought-tolerant
18. Beans (cowpeas, black-eyed peas) – Survive dry soil better than many legumes
19. Chili peppers – Small watering needs once established
20. Corn (dent or flint) – Survives moderate dry periods if planted deep

Herbs

21. Rosemary – Mediterranean herb, thrives with little water
22. Thyme – Hardy, drought-tolerant, and easy to grow in rocky soil
23. Oregano – Loves dry, sunny conditions
24. Sage – Very resilient, aromatic, and easy to grow
25. Lavender – Not technically edible in large quantities, but great for flavoring and tea
26. Marjoram – Heat-loving herb, survives dry soil
27. Bay leaves – Can handle drought once established
28. Lemon balm – Mildly drought-tolerant, grows best in partial sun
29. Fennel – Tolerates dry soil and produces edible bulbs and fronds
30. Chives – Survives dry spells, grows back easily

Leafy Greens

31. Kale – Heat-tolerant varieties survive dry periods
32. Swiss chard – Survives drought once established
33. Collard greens – Deep roots make them drought-tolerant
34. Arugula – Fast-growing, tolerates moderate dry spells
35. Mustard greens – Survives hot and dry conditions
36. Spinach (Malabar or New Zealand) – Heat-resistant and drought-tolerant
37. Lettuce (romaine and leaf types) – Some varieties handle dry conditions better than iceberg
38. Endive – Survives dry soil, slow-growing
39. Sorrel – Hardy, grows well with little water
40. Mizuna – Asian green that tolerates heat and moderate drought

Roots and Tubers

41. Carrots – Deep roots help survive dry spells
42. Beets – Drought-tolerant once established
43. Radishes – Fast-growing, tolerate less water
44. Turnips – Hardy, survive moderate dry periods
45. Parsnips – Require early watering but drought-tolerant later
46. Jerusalem artichokes – Very hardy, survive low water
47. Garlic – Survives dry soil once planted
48. Onions – Some varieties very drought-tolerant
49. Shallots – Hardy and low-maintenance
50. Potatoes (especially russets) – Require watering early but later tolerate dry conditions

Tips for Growing Drought-Tolerant Food

• Mulching helps retain soil moisture and protect roots from heat.
• Deep, infrequent watering encourages plants to develop deep roots.
• Plant in well-draining soil to prevent root rot even if watering is limited.
• Group plants with similar water needs to avoid overwatering some and underwatering others.
• Choose local varieties when possible, they are naturally adapted to your climate.

Cautions and Warnings

• Even drought-tolerant plants need water to establish roots in the first few weeks.
• Avoid excessive pruning during drought, it stresses plants.
• Some drought-tolerant fruits like figs or apricots may produce smaller fruits during extreme dry periods.
• Heatwaves can still stress plants, so provide temporary shade if necessary.
• Overfertilizing dry-soil plants can burn roots, use compost or slow-release organic fertilizers instead.