Five drought-defeating veggies for your garden

As the drought continues to leave gardens parched, here is a list of five veggies you can grow at home without breaking the water bank.

1) Eggplant

This high-yield fleshy veggie is perfect for your garden as it provides a great additional food source for your family during the drought. Eggplant does not require as much water as other garden vegetables as too much water can cause root-rot. Six inches (15 centimetres) of water is sufficient under normal conditions, but eggplant can still grow nicely with less than this during a drought. Packed with vitamin C, vitamin B-6, magnesium and iron – eggplant is as energy rich as it is delicious. Eggplant is also a great source of protein, an essential ingredient for growth and muscle recovery, making it the ideal veggie for vegetarians and carnivores alike.

2) Sweet potato

Potatoes are the staple food for almost half the world’s population for a reason. Cheap to produce, easy to grow, drought resistant and highly nutritious, sweet potatoes are one of nature’s super foods. Loaded with minerals including magnesium, iron, potassium and sodium, as well as vitamins A, C and B-6 – sweet potatoes offer a scrumptious way of staving starvation. Although a root vegetable, sweet potatoes only need a relatively small amount of water compared with other vegetables, which makes it the perfect candidate to add to your drought-defiant veggie garden.

3) Kale

Not many people know about the many benefits this powerful super-food can offer. This leafy vegetable is filled to the brim with almost too many vitamins and minerals to count and provides a great supplement to your diet with many potential benefits to your health. Kale contains an anti-oxidant called alpha-lipoic acid, which has been shown to lower glucose levels and increase insulin sensitivity in diabetes sufferers. The high levels of fibre, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin B-6 found in kale can also lower your risk of developing heart disease and even cancer, while the large amount of protein and vitamin K in the veggie promotes muscle development and recovery, as well as good hair, skin and bone health.

4) Chickpeas

They sound cute, taste great and are the essential ingredient to a number of foods we all know and love, including couscous, hummus and falafel. Chickpea plants are also drought tolerant as they are able to tap water from deep layers in the soil, so you don’t necessarily have to worry about receiving fines for watering them. High in protein, rich in potassium and stuffed with vitamins A, C and B-6, chickpeas offer a highly nutritious food source that can supplement staples such as rice, pasta or maize in your diet that you can grow at home.

5) Bell peppers

Add some colour to your garden with this classic crop and enjoy the fruits of the little amount of labour required to grow them. Peppers are incredibly hardy plants and do not require a lot of water to grow and bear fruit, which is great for planting at home. Exceptionally rich in vitamin C, vitamin B-6 and minerals including calcium, potassium and magnesium, peppers are incredibly healthy and provide a delicious addition to your family meals.

Do you want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message with your name and surname to 061 718 4438.

Please read our WhatsApp broadcast list disclaimer.
Join us on BBM at 59015786
Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.