I'd probably plant as normal. We're in the East Bay and I'm seeing properties for sale that are landscaping as usual (or even adding new landscaping). It does tend to be either drought tolerant/Bay-Friendly plantings or else edibles, but that's been the case for a number of years now (before the drought was a big factor) and it sounds like that's what you have already. That said, we are still on voluntary restrictions here, so it may be a different story if you have mandatory restrictions that would preclude watering whatever you plant. In that case I'd plant whatever you think you can realistically water. Or put in a few larger veggies and fill with edible flowers or other colorful garden plants that don't need much water. Good luck!

Plant the beds! Tomatoes are very popular. I'd add some basil and maybe some dill...let them know it's a 'pizza garden' if they have kids :)

I'd just try to list the house as quickly as possible...and hopefully, you'll have it sold before the lack of water takes a real toll on the garden. Good idea about the water retaining polymers!

If you can't use a grey water system, can you capture water in the house (like using a dishpan instead of letting water go down the drain) to put on your garden?

If people are very aware of the water restrictions, they might very well find a bed that will require maintenance and watering off-putting. I would probably fill in with lots of drought-tolerant herbs and sedums and just a couple tomatoes. I think that chard doesn't require lots of water after it is established, either.

Are you allowed rain barrels?

"Are you allowed rain barrels?"

Yeah, but there is no rain.

Ha, apparently I wrote my response a few hours too soon...guess we're on mandatory restrictions now too! At any rate, I still don't think people are factoring landscaping in to housing purchases tremendously given the market (except as a positive--haven't heard of it being a negative yet). I'd still plant what you think you can reasonably water and keep looking nice through the period the house will be on the market.

We do have rain barrels, and though there isn't much rain, they do fill immediately when there's even a little rain (ours are linked into our gutters). However, it's not advised to use graywater to water edibles, so that may not help much. (They're relatively inexpensive, though, so if you think people might be concerned, you consider investing in a couple to add to the yard.)

We have mulched everything that can be mulched and I'm eyeing our purely decretive wine barrels ( now used as tables outside) as potential-not-ugly rain barrels. We are supposed to get rain next week! The rain barrels would have been useful for the couple of times it did rain this winter. I am going to leave a couple of the raised beds empty, and top them with compost, and have promised not to go overboard with the tomatoes,

artemis78 - Grey water systems can be used for fruit and veggies, just not root veg or for where edibles touch the ground. The Santa Clara valley water district is even offering rebates $$ for setting up a system. For now I may just try for a handout when we list stating how easy it would be to set the house up for a grey water system. The laundry to garden option is inexpensive and easy but I have yet to see a retro fit system that isn't kind of clunky looking.

It will be interesting to hear comments regarding water use when we list the house.