Permaculture - drought resistant plants (lesson 36)

The last technique suggested by Mary Zechman is simply related to including the information about the amount of rainfall in designing our garden. That simply means that if we are living in a dry place, we should avoid planting trees, shrubs, or veggies that require plenty of water, like avocado.

Let's dig deeper and think about what climate would require special attention while planning the garden. In general, we should mention two climates here. First will include all semi-arid and arid areas, second Mediterranean climate areas.

---

Semi-arid and arid areas

In a semi-arid climate creating the garden is possible, but water stress forces us to limit the variety of crops to a few plants that will survive without water for a long time. With the arid climate, which will include the deserts, the situation is a bit more complicated and require soil recultivation first or at least box gardens (it will be mentioned in the future lessons). With some extra work, we can plant there most of the crops dedicated to a semi-arid climate.

I have prepared for you the list of 36 plants that will survive without water for a long time and could be cultivated in that kind of place. It's not the complete list and some additional biodiversity can be included, but those mentioned plants seem to be the most universal and easy to cultivate in every place with the water stress.

---

Drought-tolerant crops

Basil	Borage	Catnip	Chamomile
Hyssop	Lavender	Lemon Balm	Oregano
Rosemary	Sage	Snap beans	Thyme
Cantaloupe	Mustard greens	Clemson Spineless Okra	Amaranth
Waltham Broccoli	Sweet Marjoram	New Zealand Spinach	Sugar Baby Watermelon
Jalapeno Peppers	Poblano Peppers	Eggplant	Pole beans
Purslane	Roma Tomatoes	Cocozelle Zucchini	Cushaw Green Striped
Pineapple Tomato	Yard Long Asparagus Beans	Yellow Pear Tomato	Lima Beans
Lemon Cucumber	Opuntia	Ficus	Phoenix Plant

---

---

Mediterranean climate

The second climate and totally different categories include the plants from the Mediterranean climate. In that climate, the summer is hot and very dry, but winters warm and humid. Plants that we will select for the garden in that climate not only have to be drought resistant but also have to tolerate more rain in the winter (their roots cannot rot in humid soil).

You may notice, that some of the plants are repeated (I mentioned them in the previous table too) - it's not a mistake. Selected plants can grow in both climates, although most of the listed veggies and fruits can live only in one of those two climates.

---

Mediterranean-drought tolerant crops

Almond	Aloe Vera	Blackberry	Catmint
Borage	Lemonadeberry	Honey Locust	Hind's Black Walnut
Fennel	Licorice	Hackberry	Hawthorn
Fig	Italian Stone Pine	New Zealand Flax	Cardoon
Garlic	Borage	Bladder Senna	Bead Tree
Grape	Barberry	Alstroemeria	Golden Bamboo
Hazelnut	Glossy Abelia	Jujube	Lavender

---

---

Finally, I have one more suggestion for you - a universal tip that will work well wherever you are living. If you do not want to test if the plants can grow in your place or not, simply observe the nature around you, read about the native plants from your area, region, country, and limit your garden to those of the plants that surely will grow well in your district. Remember that recommended plants to your garden do not have to be limited to the most popular veggies. Many veggies, herbs, and fruits were commonly eaten in the past and forgotten now - you may want to consider introducing them in your garden.

---

---

---

---

Table of content
(previous lessons)

---

---

Chapter 1 - Fertilizers

---

Chapter 2 - Soil and minerals

---

Chapter 3 - Space design

---

Chapter 4 - Basics of traditional permaculture

---

Chapter 5 - Different types of beds

---

Chapter 6 - Unconventional food production

_{29 - homemade sugar in non-tropical climate}

---

---

---