9 Ways to Be Water-Wise in the Edible Garden
Consider these tips to get a healthy backyard crop that uses less water
Is there anything that feels more like summer than fresh fruit and vegetables from the garden? But with water consciousness on many people’s minds, particularly in California and other parts of the West, it may seem irresponsible to keep up with the summer tradition. But you don’t have to eliminate edibles altogether — just be as water-efficient as you can. Landscape designers who have dealt with drought share their best tips on how to grow edibles with a little less water.
2. Prevent Evaporation at the Surface
It’s important to reduce evaporation that occurs on the ground’s surface by covering exposed soil. Mulching is a common way to do this. One of the designers we spoke with has experimented with straw, and Vanderhaar suggests leaves or even partially decomposed compost. Though you’ll probably want to mulch about once a year, Vanderhaar says you should add mulch any time you see bare soil.
Planted ground covers can also shade the soil and prevent evaporation immediately after watering. Vanderhaar recommends annual ground cover companion plants like clover, thyme, calendula and borage. These plants also attract beneficial insects. Dill, fennel and cilantro are other options, and they’re also edible. San Jose landscape designer Kim Leichner also likes strawberries, especially the California native Fragaria chiloensis, as a ground cover. Hers grow in full sun and full shade but are sometimes eaten by dogs and snails.
It’s important to reduce evaporation that occurs on the ground’s surface by covering exposed soil. Mulching is a common way to do this. One of the designers we spoke with has experimented with straw, and Vanderhaar suggests leaves or even partially decomposed compost. Though you’ll probably want to mulch about once a year, Vanderhaar says you should add mulch any time you see bare soil.
Planted ground covers can also shade the soil and prevent evaporation immediately after watering. Vanderhaar recommends annual ground cover companion plants like clover, thyme, calendula and borage. These plants also attract beneficial insects. Dill, fennel and cilantro are other options, and they’re also edible. San Jose landscape designer Kim Leichner also likes strawberries, especially the California native Fragaria chiloensis, as a ground cover. Hers grow in full sun and full shade but are sometimes eaten by dogs and snails.
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3. Don’t Be Afraid to Plant Close Together
Biointensive gardening and square-foot gardening are great ways to make sure you’re making the best use of your space. Leichner grew up with a backyard-sized edible garden arranged in tidy, well-spaced rows. “As an adult I have thrown that out the window,” she says. “I use all the soil space I can. I know that is counter to what is preached, but I don’t experience issues from pests and disease that would be expected from tight corners.” This works well for annuals since they don’t have too much time to get diseased.
She relies on companion planting to help keep pests away — garlic cloves and dill around tomatoes keep whiteflies and other pests at bay. Nasturtium helps cover soil and also attracts pollinators and is itself edible. Leichner says it attracts aphids too. Yarrow is another secret weapon. Pollinators, ladybugs and lacewings will also beat the bad bugs.
Biointensive gardening and square-foot gardening are great ways to make sure you’re making the best use of your space. Leichner grew up with a backyard-sized edible garden arranged in tidy, well-spaced rows. “As an adult I have thrown that out the window,” she says. “I use all the soil space I can. I know that is counter to what is preached, but I don’t experience issues from pests and disease that would be expected from tight corners.” This works well for annuals since they don’t have too much time to get diseased.
She relies on companion planting to help keep pests away — garlic cloves and dill around tomatoes keep whiteflies and other pests at bay. Nasturtium helps cover soil and also attracts pollinators and is itself edible. Leichner says it attracts aphids too. Yarrow is another secret weapon. Pollinators, ladybugs and lacewings will also beat the bad bugs.
4. Buy Local
Some seed companies sell seeds they have cultivated to be more drought-tolerant. Local farmers often save the seeds of specific plants that have done well in the area’s climate, and that usually means surviving with less maintenance. For Vanderhaar that means plants adapted to high altitude, cold snaps, high wind and alkaline soil, while for other gardeners the local plant adaptations will be different.
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Some seed companies sell seeds they have cultivated to be more drought-tolerant. Local farmers often save the seeds of specific plants that have done well in the area’s climate, and that usually means surviving with less maintenance. For Vanderhaar that means plants adapted to high altitude, cold snaps, high wind and alkaline soil, while for other gardeners the local plant adaptations will be different.
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5. Get Your Watering Right
Drip irrigation reduces water use in all gardens, and edibles especially benefit from the routine watering of drip. (We’ve learned that improper watering is a top reason why container-grown edibles tend to fail). Spray irrigation loses water to evaporation, and it can be difficult to be consistent with hand watering. “With drip irrigation on a controller there is no remembering, and the seeds, seedlings or new plants have a chance to get started,” Leichner says.
Leichner waters her seedlings once a day for two minutes. As the plants get larger and develop deeper roots, she’ll water longer in order to reach the roots, paying close attention that the water isn’t dripping out the bottom. Surber recommends exploring smart irrigation — some systems tap into real-time weather info that can help save on watering.
Essential Watering Tips for Your Edible Garden
Drip irrigation reduces water use in all gardens, and edibles especially benefit from the routine watering of drip. (We’ve learned that improper watering is a top reason why container-grown edibles tend to fail). Spray irrigation loses water to evaporation, and it can be difficult to be consistent with hand watering. “With drip irrigation on a controller there is no remembering, and the seeds, seedlings or new plants have a chance to get started,” Leichner says.
Leichner waters her seedlings once a day for two minutes. As the plants get larger and develop deeper roots, she’ll water longer in order to reach the roots, paying close attention that the water isn’t dripping out the bottom. Surber recommends exploring smart irrigation — some systems tap into real-time weather info that can help save on watering.
Essential Watering Tips for Your Edible Garden
6. Plant Mediterranean Herbs or Other Drought-Tolerant Edibles
Most herbs are perennials and require very little water once established. Rosemary, lavender, oregano, chives, garden sage, thyme, echinacea and mint (if you keep it in a pot) are especially drought-tolerant. Herbs bring pollinators, they’re there when you need them as a food source, and they’re good for companion planting and bringing in beneficial bugs.
12 Essential Herbs for Your Edible Garden
Most herbs are perennials and require very little water once established. Rosemary, lavender, oregano, chives, garden sage, thyme, echinacea and mint (if you keep it in a pot) are especially drought-tolerant. Herbs bring pollinators, they’re there when you need them as a food source, and they’re good for companion planting and bringing in beneficial bugs.
12 Essential Herbs for Your Edible Garden
7. Use Greywater or Recycled Water Where You Can
Greywater is a wonderful resource for watering landscapes, and it’s becoming recognized by local water districts as a viable source. Gently used water from sinks, showers and laundry machines can be piped out to the landscape and used to water many of your garden’s plants, including fruiting trees and shrubs.
Laundry-to-landscape systems are the most common and simplest greywater systems to install. Consider that every time you wash a load of clothes or take a shower, you could also be watering your fig, pomegranate, loquat or citrus tree. Fruit trees take substantial water to establish but are more drought-tolerant once mature.
Depending on where you live, you might be able to capture water from downspouts in rain barrels; some cities offer rebates or free barrels.
Greywater is a wonderful resource for watering landscapes, and it’s becoming recognized by local water districts as a viable source. Gently used water from sinks, showers and laundry machines can be piped out to the landscape and used to water many of your garden’s plants, including fruiting trees and shrubs.
Laundry-to-landscape systems are the most common and simplest greywater systems to install. Consider that every time you wash a load of clothes or take a shower, you could also be watering your fig, pomegranate, loquat or citrus tree. Fruit trees take substantial water to establish but are more drought-tolerant once mature.
Depending on where you live, you might be able to capture water from downspouts in rain barrels; some cities offer rebates or free barrels.
8. Plant in the Right Place at the Right Time
Eight hours of sunlight, preferably with afternoon shade, is ideal for most edibles. Though they will grow in areas with more sun, they’ll require more water. Less than six hours of sunlight becomes more of a challenge.
Use microclimates to your advantage: Plant a heat-loving tomato against a south-facing wall but do so early in the season to establish a healthy root system, before it gets too hot and you have to water as much.
Eight hours of sunlight, preferably with afternoon shade, is ideal for most edibles. Though they will grow in areas with more sun, they’ll require more water. Less than six hours of sunlight becomes more of a challenge.
Use microclimates to your advantage: Plant a heat-loving tomato against a south-facing wall but do so early in the season to establish a healthy root system, before it gets too hot and you have to water as much.
9. Be an Active Gardener
Drip irrigation on automatic timers will make your watering more consistent, and you can plant edibles that require less water than others, but nothing replaces a conscientious eye. Make sure you are paying attention. Check your plants every day to see how they’re doing. Water needs vary as plants mature and seasons change. If everything is set on automatic, you might miss those subtleties.
Your turn: How do you save water in the edible garden? Tell us in the Comments.
More on Houzz
Read more edible-gardening guides
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Shop for gardening tools
Drip irrigation on automatic timers will make your watering more consistent, and you can plant edibles that require less water than others, but nothing replaces a conscientious eye. Make sure you are paying attention. Check your plants every day to see how they’re doing. Water needs vary as plants mature and seasons change. If everything is set on automatic, you might miss those subtleties.
Your turn: How do you save water in the edible garden? Tell us in the Comments.
More on Houzz
Read more edible-gardening guides
Find a landscape designer near you
Shop for gardening tools
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“You need really good soil,” says Nevada landscape architect Jana Vanderhaar. That usually means adding compost. Vanderhaar adds compost every time she plants, about an inch or so every season, and she also adds organic fertilizer to the plant holes.
Not only does the organic matter enrich the soil to help nutrient-intensive edibles thrive, it also helps the soil hold water better so you can water less frequently. “Healthy living soil acts as a sponge, holding seven times its weight in water,” says Los Angeles landscape designer Jacky Surber.
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