If you’re looking for a high-calorie crop that can still produce in drought and summer heat, look no further than these 6 heat-tolerant survival crops.
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Survival crops that withstand drought and heat
Summers in central Texas can be miserable. On the day I shot the video below, we were in the middle of a heat wave with temperatures above 100°F for more than 60 consecutive days. So, obviously, we’re starting to talk a lot about heat-tolerant survival crops.
If you’re growing tender annuals during a heat streak like this, you’re probably out of luck.
I know this is not a problem for some people in the north.But if you are gardening in a hot climate—You are planning to have your garden support you in an emergency—You’d better watch my video about these great heat-tolerant survival crops.
Try not to rely on your summer harvest
One of the best strategies for dealing with extreme heat that can wipe out your garden plants is: Don’t rely on your summer harvest!
Try to eat more food in the fall and spring so that if your summer garden isn’t productive, it’s not as destructive.
I’ve talked to many senior Texans about how they cope with the summer heat. The most common thing I hear is, “I don’t deal with the summer heat. I spend my summer afternoons indoors, and in the fall I start my garden again.”
You can also enjoy:
Choose heat-resistant survival crops
When it comes down to it, these 3 plants may be your best options for adding a lot of calories during extreme heat without a lot of water: Black Eyed Peas, Okraand sweet potato.
Sweet potato plants do very well when they’re stressed, so they’re an excellent source of simple calories when times are tough in the garden.
You can also enjoy:
“Growing Sweet Potatoes: Preparing and Planting Beds”
“Sweet Potato Vine: How To Grow This Antioxidant Powerhouse”
If you find yourself in real trouble (for example, the store is closed and the shelves are empty), I’ve also grown 3 other plants to provide them when needed:
- Lamb’s Quarters It’s a nutrient-dense edible vegetable that doesn’t mind extreme heat and low water.
- Walnut, or walnut grass, is a very common weed here. If you keep a lawn in central Texas, you probably know it well. But did you know it’s edible? I grew a variety that was sold as wild turkey feed and it was delicious. Not to mention…it’s hard to kill!
- Finally, I keep some Canna Lily When more water is available, nearby plants can double as ornamental plants. It’s not as pretty in the dry summer heat, but the tubers are edible, and it’s a pretty solid plant.
Think outside the box about summer gardening
When you hear people talk about summer vegetable gardens, you hear a lot of advice like “use more mulch” and “install drip irrigation.” Those standard techniques are fine, and they’ll probably get you a lot of veggies. But if your entire strategy relies on a lot of mulch and irrigation, you could end up in big trouble if your store closes or your local water company shuts down.
What do you think?
If you have any other tips or suggestions for survival crops that tolerate extreme heat, please share using the comments section below. I would love to hear about your growth this summer!
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Marjory Wildcraft is the founder of The Grow Network, a community of people focused on modern self-sufficiency. She has been named an expert on off-grid living by National Geographic, she hosts the Mother Earth News Online Homes Summit, and is listed on Who’s Who in America for inspiring hundreds of thousands of backyard gardens. Marjory is the focus of an article that won the Reuters Food Sustainability Media Award and she recently wrote Growing Systems: The Essential Guide to Modern Self-Sufficient Living – From Growing Food to Making Medicines.
