With very few exceptions, most vegetables and other edible crops are not very drought tolerant. That's not to say you can't include them, but it would make sense to keep them grouped in an area where they will share similar watering attention. Perennial veggies, like artichokes, asparagus, horseradish, etc., tend to be more drought tolerant than annual types. Sweet potatoes, okra, shell beans and melons also would work well - peppers and tomatoes are moderately drought tolerant. Most California native plants will fit the bill perfectly and there's a very long list from which to choose. Native plants tend to be ideally suited for local growing conditions as well as being quite tough and hardy. Plants that originate from Mediterranean climate areas will also work well for you. With the plentiful number of retail nurseries and growers scattered throughout both northern and southern California, there should be very little need to "send away" for any plants - everything you need should be available locally. Visit your local garden center - I'd bet good money they have a drought tolerant or 'waterwise gardening' section in place with a lot to select from. Here is a link that might be useful: California native plants

I'm trying to get perennials going, especially gypsophilia paniculata, but it hasn't bloomed yet, tried some crushed drywall (chalky) to lower the ph a little. Coreopsis went double on me, loved that, but hard to train right, cut it back. I have grown annual salvia 2 years now but want to go perennial where I used that, blue crystal this year and sangria last year, also a freebie yellow coneflower looks nice, meadow sage is good, haven't had time to mulch it yet and can't get that bed watered much. Some Color Parade lilies. Trying to get some delphs and white foxglove going. Crazy daisy should bloom next year. And catmint, not doing much this year but hangin' in there. Annual alyssum is very drought tolerant. White, pink and purple phlox. I stuck in some Rudbeckia Prairie Sun, very striking but not where it is, supposed to self-seed. I want something medium height or tallish with purple bells. What might that be? Failed twice trying to get campanula? ladybells going from seed, will give it one more shot. Russian sage I love but it gets too big, should try to find the smaller variety. Finally, clematis. Have two kinds going well now; one too young yet, one won't bloom, and one isn't happy where I put it. Many of the plants people in warmer zones are using doubt will grow in my zone.

Wow, not may folks answering these days! Ok, I'm game..... First off, check out the xeriscaping thread here on GW; lots of advice and knowledge. Don't forget a slow compost pile, which will eventually give you better soil for water retention, and teach you to mulch, for the same reason; again, the GW soil composting forum is great. Very few herbs are drought tolerant. Some of these are well-established rosemary, lavender, certain types of thyme and oregano, and bay laurel, which are native to areas with little rainfall, like where I live. Basically, Mediterranean herbs. They get the water they need during the winter rains, and then tough it out through 90+ degree fierce sun until the next winter and the next drop of rain, 8 months or so later. Your best bet is to make sure your soil is right for these (rocky and well drained), add top dressed compost a few times a year(I do it when it's dryest and the plants are looking stressed) and use "wise water". This means putting a bucket in the shower to get the water while you wait for it to heat up, put another bucket under the spout from your air conditioner, save veggie-only cooking water, and use it all to hand water right where it needs to go, in the late afternoon/early evening. The more water-loving herbs should go right near your door, so the the last of water bottles, glasses of water from meals, the odd ice cubes, what's left in the cooled kettle, etc, that every household produces can go right where you need them, without fuss. Unless, of course, you're into succulents and cacti, which I'm not! But for drought happy flowers, check out gaura. Hope this helps......

Dear All, thank you very much for your suggestions and tips for growing drought resistant/tolerant vegetables and varieties. I am busy in reading all your posts and simultaneously taking notes on the varieties to order. Its looks i not have all those varieties recommended expect couple of tomatoes. I am going to look at my seed stock filled in 3 big storage boxes before I place order. Jay, Thanks for your suggestion on NuMex chillies. I am going to order couple of varieties, by the way which is your best flavored chilly? I too often see that doughnut hole around our property in radar. I hope growing condition will turn better for this year. I love see my garden looks like jungle! Last year was really bad tomato year, but we have good harvest in the fall from fourth of july and sweet million. I will look for those new tomatoes you and Dwan suggested in seeds catalog and online. I am growing only dixondale this year but I love to hear back from you on your new and drought resistant onions. Thanks for all those points, I still feel a newbie when I read post here, so much to learn! I will keep experimenting with new varieties and note down good performer every year and tally those with climate, I guess may need many year to chose best for my garden... long way to go. Dawn, Wow that is awesome list to try! Growing less water drinking vegetable is to cut down water bill while not sacrificing yield. I also learned that water use efficient (less water drinking) vegetables and/or varieties have more flavor and taste and high nutrient that their counter parts which consume more water. This I also noticed last year with eggplants and chilli. Paula's Mild Jalapeno which was grown under less-frequent-watered-bed has stronger flavor than one that grown in bed which received more water. I try short DTMs and start as early as possible. This is already pushing to start my starts this weekend. I need go thorough each and every variety your suggested. By the way, I have not much success with broccoli and cabbage in the last years. But I am trying again this year with some row cover to check my luck. I will check Willhite and SESE. Yep that is true, most herbs did pretty well last year. Fowler Bush Bean sounds good. Dawn, you are right, I almost forgotten about the wind and hail tolerant variates, you know how much garden trashed by wind and hail last year. Carol and Dorothy, Thank you, I am envy on your rainfall pattern. Even thought you may not be growing drought tolerant varieties, but you always very nice trips and tricks to deal with problems. Dorothy, I am glad to know new salad mix of violets, burnet and swisschard. Carol,I know guys love eggplants, I bought few new types of eggplants from India, please let me know if you want some seeds or I will grow few extra plants for you and share with you later. All these are Indian types (drought resistant), but not sure how they will do here in OK. George, I will try you Fowler Bush Bean as well as Woody Mountain Crazy Bean. How is their flavor of these beans in comparison to blue lake? Yes yard long are must to grow, we had great harvest last year with out much care or watering. Any good recommendation on yard long bean with respect to flavor and production? I glad to know you are belong to SSE We love yard long beans, Priya makes curry and subji with very tender long beans and they also great for still fry. By the way, is there any difference between yard long and asparagus been? By the we not have any problem with large animals but bugs, the only two bugs I am afraid of with are squash bugs and borers. Seedmama, Thanks for offer, if you have extra, I love to have some. Hmm Bean called "Tepary"? you know the meaning my village local slang for "Rough and Tough" Lets grow that one as well. Thanks again for all these wonderful suggestion tips. Cheers -Chandra