How to grow a resilient veggie garden that thrives in heatwaves

With summer holidays on the horizon, I’m already thinking of ways to protect my veggie patch in the heat, so I don’t return home to a crispy wasteland.

I live in Australia’s driest capital city — Tarntanya (Adelaide) — which, this year, has had its driest spell since records began in 1839.

That makes for tough food-gardening conditions.

Happily, though, thanks to a few simple yet strategic methods, my permaculture garden fares relatively well in the hot and dry — and, most importantly, still pumps out plenty of organic food.

For my latest ABC Lifestyle story, I’ve rounded up key ways I’m preparing my veggie patch for summer, helping it thrive through South Australia’s heatwaves even when I’m not home to tend it.

My simple summer gardening strategies include:

• Building healthy, water-retentive soil by adding organic matter and using no-dig methods.
• Choosing hardy, locally adapted plant varieties.
• Providing shade for plants with cloth, umbrellas, sheets or climbing plants.
• Watering efficiently with drip irrigation, rainwater tanks and greywater reuse.
• Mulching and “chopping and dropping” plant material to retain moisture and improve soil structure.
• Planning ahead so the garden can thrive even when you’re away.

I still get a bit anxious leaving my garden behind in Adelaide’s often-brutal heat, but supported by this careful planning and preparation, it usually comes through thriving and resilient.

This story is part of a regular gardening column I write for the ABC, one of Australia’s most-read news websites. You can browse my full story archive here.