I can't specify what is optimum in any particular situation. Each
gardener must consider his own unique factors and make his own
estimation. All I can do is stress again that the essence of
water-wise gardening is water conservation.
Optimizing Space: Planning the Water-Wise Backyard Garden
Intensive gardening is a strategy holding that yield per square foot
is the supreme goal; it succeeds by optimizing as many growth
factors as possible. So a raised bed is loosened very deeply without
concern for the amount of labor, while fertility and moisture are
supplied virtually without limit. Intensive gardening makes sense
when land is very costly and the worth of the food grown is judged
against organic produce at retail--and when water and nutrients are
inexpensive and/or available in unlimited amounts.
When water use is reduced, yield inevitably drops proportionately.
The backyard water-wise gardener, then, must logically ask which
vegetable species will give him enough food or more economic value
with limited space and water. Taking maritime Northwest rainfall
patterns into consideration, here's my best estimation:
Water-Wise Efficiency of Vegetable Crops
(in terms of backyard usage of space and moisture)
EFFICIENT ENOUGH
Early spring-sown crops: peas, broccoli, lettuce, radishes, savoy
cabbage, kohlrabi
Overwintered crops: onions, broccoli cauliflower,
cabbage, favas beans
Endive Kale
Garden sorrel
Indeterminate tomatoes
Giant kohlrabi
Parsley--leaf and root
heirloom summer squash (sprawly)
Pole beans
Herbs: marjoram, thyme, dill, cilantro, fennel, oregano
Root crops: carrots, beets, parsnips
MARGINAL
Brussels sprouts (late)
Potatoes
Determinate tomatoes
Rutabagas
Eggplant
Leeks
Leeks
Savoy cabbage (late)
Peppers, small fruited
INEFFICIENT
Beans, bush snap
Peppers, bell
Broccoli, summer
Radishes
Cauliflower
Scallions, bulb onions
Celery
Sweet corn
Lettuce
Turnips
Have fun planning your own water-wise garden!
More Reading
About the Interlibrary Loan Service
Agricultural books, especially older ones, are not usually available
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