--- title: "11 Drought-Tolerant Vegetables to Grow in Your Garden This Summer" description: "Lettuce, brassicas, and many other cold weather crops are thirsty plants that need regular watering to grow well. But if you want to cut down on water waste and make your garden easier to maintain during hot, dry summers, try…" date: "2025-03-10" modified: "2025-03-10" authors: - name: "Lauren Landers" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.bobvila.com/authors/lauren-landers/" url: "https://www.bobvila.com/lawn-and-garden/drought-tolerant-vegetables/" categories: - "DIY" - "Gardening" - "Lawn & Garden" - "Lawn Care & Gardening" --- # 11 Drought-Tolerant Vegetables to Grow in Your Garden This Summer ![A gardener harvesting chili peppers, a drought-tolerant vegetable for home gardens.]() *Photo: Klaus Vedfelt/VigitalVision via Getty Images* Lettuce, brassicas, and many other cold weather crops are thirsty plants that need regular watering to grow well. But if you want to cut down on water waste and make your garden easier to maintain during hot, dry summers, try growing heat- and drought-tolerant vegetables instead. In the list below, you’ll discover 11 hardy vegetables that thrive in dry soil, plus water-saving tips to make your garden more water resilient. ## 1. Beans and Most Legumes ![Rattlesnake pole beans growing on a trellis in a home garden.]() *Photo: Penpak Ngamsathain/Moment via Getty Images* Black-eyed peas are famously[ heat-tolerant plants]() that thrive in warm southern gardens. Yet many growers don’t realize that most warm-season legumes, including snap beans and pole beans, can get by with minimal water—especially if you layer mulch beneath your plants and group them around a shared trellis. Just keep in mind that cool-season legumes, like fava beans and [snap peas](), usually do better with more moisture. **Best For:** Vertical growing, sunny gardens **Our Recommendation:**[ **Rattlesnake Beans at Amazon for $4.94**](). Tolerant of hot weather and drought, Rattlesnake pole beans produce fast-growing vines that stretch up 10 feet long, plus they produce more pods than most for frequent harvesting. ## 2. Zucchini, Squash, and Some Melons ![A zucchini plant growing in a home garden during dry summer.]() *Photo: ideeone/E+ via Getty Images* Although [zucchini, squash](), and melons contain a lot of water, many of these cucurbits are actually[ drought-tolerant plants]() that bounce back quickly after spells of dry weather. This resilience is due to cucurbit plants’ long roots, which can access water deep in the soil, as well as their large leaves that cast shade on the earth and slow down soil evaporation rates. For best results, choose drought-tolerant varieties like Green-Striped Cushaw squash, Dark Star zucchini, or Iroquois cantaloupes and be sure to amend your soil with plenty of organic matter before planting. **Best For:** Sunny gardens, rich soil **Our Recommendation:**[ **Green Striped Cushaw Squash at Amazon for $6.29**]() Sweet and meaty cushaw squash is perfect for pies and roasting, and the plant is surprisingly drought-resistant. ## 3. Globe Artichokes ![A gardener holding an artichoke harvested during a dry spell.]() *Photo: Fertnig/E+ via Getty Images* [Perennial vegetables]() are hard to come by for gardeners in most growing zones. But globe artichokes can survive winters in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 and up and their drought tolerance and attractive, edible flower buds make them exceptional[ plants for xeriscaping]() and edible landscape designs. What’s more, these prickly plants are [naturally deer-resistant](), yet highly attractive to pollinators. **Best For:** Pollinator gardens, edible landscaping **Our Recommendation:**[ **Green Globe Artichoke at Amazon for $4.79**]() Green Globe artichokes produce edible buds for up to 5 years and they grow best in full sun and relatively dry soil. ## 4. Okra ![Okra growing in a home garden.]() *Photo: Penpak Ngamsathain/Moment via Getty Images* Another staple plant in Southern gardens, [okra]() can handle intense sun and periods of mild drought. However, as with the other plants on this list, newly planted okra needs to be watered regularly; only established plants can tolerate dry soil. And don’t forget: the[ best time to water plants](), regardless of their water needs, is in the morning when evaporation rates are slower and plants can absorb more water. **Best For:** Pollinator gardens, edible landscaping **Our Recommendation:** [**Burgundy Okra at Amazon for $4.84**]() Drought-tolerant and pollinator-friendly, Burgundy okra produces big, yellow flowers before its edible pods form. ## 5. Peppers ![Planters filled with chili pepper plants for drought-tolerant vegetable gardening.]() *Photo: Alexander Spatari/Moment via Getty Images* Most types of peppers can grow in hot weather and mostly dry soil, so they are among favorite [drought-tolerant crops](). Plus, heat and water stress really bring out the flavors of fiery hot chilies like [jalapenos](). On top of that, pepper plants are compact enough for [container growing, raised beds, or mixed veggie gardens](), and surplus peppers are ideal for freezing, canning, or dehydrating. **Best For:** Container gardens, food preservation **Our Recommendation:** [**Heirloom Jalapeno Peppers at Amazon for $4.85**]() This variety matures in about 73 days. You know jalapenos peppers have been water-stressed and are super-hot when they display striations or “corking” on their skins. ## 6. Armenian Cucumbers ![An Armenian cucumber growing in a home garden.]() *Photo: Barbara Rich/Moment via Getty Images* One of the biggest[ drawbacks of growing vegetables]() is that thirsty plants like cucumbers turn yellow and become bitter if they don’t receive enough water. But Armenian cucumbers can handle drier soil than most other cucumber varieties, and they’re a good solution if your garden is on the dry side. For another drought-tolerant option, try the ever-popular lemon cucumbers. **Best For:** Vertical growing, rich soil **Our Recommendation:**[ **Armenian Pale Green Cucumber at Amazon for $5.99**]() Unlike most cucumbers, burpless Armenian cucumbers don’t turn bitter when they’re water-stressed. ## 7. Swiss Chard ![Swiss chard growing in a home garden.]() *Photo: Jacky Parker Photography/Moment via Getty Images* Most leafy greens bolt in hot weather. But Swiss chard can handle heat and dry soil like a champ. For a larger harvest, try[ succession planting]() Swiss chard seeds every few weeks and mix compost into your soil before planting. **Best For:** Container growing, succession planting **Our Recommendation:**[ **Rainbow Swiss Chard at Amazon for $4.94**]() Drought-tolerant and colorful, Rainbow Swiss chard produces plants with a mix of yellow, magenta, and green stalks. ## 8. Eggplants ![A gardener harvesting homegrown eggplants from her garden.]() *Photo: Zuraisham/Moment via Getty Images* Eggplants love hot weather and lots of sun and they can survive periods of dry soil. However, these plants are more productive when they’re watered well and planted in nutrient-rich beds. If you want to increase harvest yields while conserving water, consider installing a drip irrigation system beneath your plants and add lots of mulch. **Best For:** Sunny gardens, container growing **Our Recommendation:**[ **Eggplant Seed Collection at Amazon for $9.99**]() All eggplants can handle some drought, so why not grow this mix of pale purple, dark purple, and white eggplants. ## 9. Rhubarb ![Harvested rhubarb outside of a garden.]() *Photo: Johner Images via Getty Images* Grown for their edible stalks, rhubarb plants are harvested earlier than most other veggies, but the plants continue to add color to gardens through long, hot summers. These perennials are naturally resistant to most pests, and established rhubarb plants store water in their roots so they can tolerate long periods of drought. **Best For:** Edible landscaping, early harvests **Our Recommendation: Victoria Rhubarb at Amazon for $5.99** Heat- and cold-tolerant, Victoria rhubarb is easy to grow and winter-hardy down to Zone 4. ## 10. Heirloom Corn ![Multicolored cobs of heirloom corn grown in a home garden.]() *Photo: Steve Terrill via Getty Images* [Sweet corn]() needs regular watering to produce well, but some types of corn can tolerate longer periods of drought. If you want to slash water use, try out heirloom varieties like Hopi Pink or Painted Mountain corn, and consider fencing off your plants or companion planting corn with prickly squash to keep pests at bay. **Best For:** Larger gardens, seed saving **Our Recommendation:**[ **Painted Mountain Corn at Amazon for $3.99**]() Drought-resistant Painted Mountain corn can be grown for decoration, ground into flour, or used for seed saving. ## 11. Jerusalem Artichokes ![A gardener digging up Jerusalem artichokes in her garden.]() *Photo: Westend61 via Getty Images* With their bright yellow flowers and long, slender stems, it’s no wonder why Jerusalem artichokes are often used in[ drought-tolerant landscaping](). These native plants aren’t just a treat for the eyes, though. They produce edible and tasty tubers that can be eaten like potatoes, and pollinators adore them. **Best For:** Pollinator gardens, native plant gardens **Our Recommendation:**[ **Jerusalem Artichoke Tubers at Amazon for $14.45**]() Tolerant of sun or part shade, these resilient plants grow perennially in Zones 2 and up, and they’re tasty, too. ## Author Lauren Landers is an active Master Gardener volunteer and professional writer and editor with over a decade of writing experience. Based out of Bangor, Maine, Lauren is particularly passionate about nature, gardening, and sustainability-related topics including wildlife and pollinator gardening, native plants, habitat building, edible gardening, small-space gardening, organic gardening, soil building, DIY, houseplants, homesteading, and food preservation. ### Author social links [LinkedIn]() [Instagram]() [Twitter]()