Choosing Crops for Hot, Dry Summers

Start with the water you can reliably supply and the season in which each crop grows best. A plant that likes warmth is not necessarily able to crop well without water.

By Simon Adams · Updated 25 October 2026

Separate heat from drought

A warm-season crop can still suffer when its roots dry out or temperatures become extreme. Check both requirements before choosing. Note your soil, exposure, summer rainfall and access to irrigation; sandy soil and a windy position can make the same crop harder to manage than a sheltered, moisture-retentive bed.

A UK summer calendar is a starting point, not a prescription for every European garden. Where midsummer is repeatedly difficult, compare the prospect of growing more in spring and autumn with maintaining a full summer planting.

Choose crops with different water demands

Herbs for a sunny, well-drained place: established thyme, rosemary, sage and oregano generally cope with dry conditions better than soft-leaved herbs such as basil and parsley. New plants still need establishment care, and pots need checking. Check winter hardiness as well as summer suitability.

Vegetables for a more resilient bed: established carrots, beetroot and parsnips are relatively drought tolerant compared with many leafy crops. That does not make dry seedbeds suitable for germination. Chard and chicories may be less demanding than lettuce or spinach, but still need water for useful leaves.

Crops needing a dependable supply: reserve reliable watering for the plants you most want to harvest. Courgettes need consistent moisture, and fruiting crops such as tomatoes benefit from it through flowering and fruit development. Do not expand a thirsty crop beyond the water and attention you can give it.

Move some growing out of peak summer

Where conditions allow, grow early crops before severe drought, and plan later crops for cooler weather. Check local frost risk, soil temperature and the variety’s season before moving sowings. Starting earlier is not useful if cold damages the plants.

Preserving a useful early harvest can be more practical than repeatedly resowing into hot, dry soil. For autumn leaves, arrange the next sowing before the space is empty, allowing for establishment and declining light.

Make water reach the roots

Improve the soil’s capacity to hold moisture with suitable organic matter, control competing weeds and mulch appropriate crops. Check moisture in the root zone and water thoroughly where needed rather than repeatedly wetting only the surface. Check irrigation outlets and adjust to the crop’s stage of growth.

Light shade can help suitable leafy crops; deep shade is not a substitute for water. Trial a small area and watch growth before extending it. Keep greenhouse heat management separate from the outdoor watering plan.

Run a small local trial

Choose a few crops and record sowing dates, water supplied, useful harvest and losses. Compare them through the same season rather than relying on a claim that a crop is “drought-proof”. Keep the choices that worked in your soil and kitchen, then change one part of the plan at a time.