Illustration by Abby Carter

Plants drink their food. If your soil dries out, they starve -- or wilt. Gardeners in many regions of the country are advised to prepare ahead for a dry growing season, especially toward harvesttime. Don't be fooled by a cool, wet spring. Those hot, rainless days will tax us -- to say nothing of our plants. Here are some steps you can take to avoid disaster:

Improve the Soil
Proper soil preparation is a major water-conservation measure. Rainwater sluices through pure sand at the rate of 20 inches an hour or even faster, taking with it everything plants need to survive. Soil with lots of organic matter slows the transition of water from the soil to the subsoil, giving plants a chance to take in what they need. Add lots of peat moss and compost at planting time.

Cut Back on Thirsty Crops
Plan your garden to focus on plants that can weather dry spells, and avoid or greatly reduce those that need frequent watering.

Plan a Smaller Garden.
It's so tempting to plant all those bean or zucchini seeds in the spring, even though they'll produce enough food to feed the neighborhood. Take stock of what you really need to grow and don't exceed your calculation. For example, two or three hills of zucchini and cucumbers will easily meet the needs of a family of four.

Choose Bush Varieties
Plants that grow low to the soil will lose less water through transpiration than those that spread rampantly (Hubbard squash) or twine up to the sky (pole beans). Check descriptions in seed catalogs for varieties that need little space and can tolerate dry conditions. Space Plants Close Together. Leaves from neighboring plants will shade the soil, helping to conserve surface moisture and reduce weed growth. Plant beans about an inch apart, tomatoes about 18 inches apart.

Mulch Well
Mulch prevents moisture from evaporating directly from the soil surface, and it can greatly reduce competition from weeds. Use whatever you have at hand, from black plastic to large flat stones and apply it when the soil is wet. (Don't mulch with peat moss; it dries out and forms a mat on the top of the soil that easily sheds water. Always work it well into the soil.) Weed Diligently. Don't allow weeds to compete with your plants for moisture. Smother them, pull them out, keep on fighting.

Reduce Evaporation
Water your garden in the late afternoon or early in the morning -- times when the least amount of water will evaporate from the leaves. Give it a thorough soaking rather than several light waterings to encourage good root development.

Use a Drip System
Drip irrigation is more water-thrifty than sprinklers. (Consult your county extension agent for tips on setting it up.) If you install a drip system, allow for different beds or separate parts of the garden to be on a separate set of commands. The water needs of plants differ widely, and a system that delivers one rate of water to your entire property can be wasteful.

Strip Off Leaves
Large, bushy tomato plants lose a lot of water through their leaves. Once the green tomatoes reach full size, strip off most of the leaves to reduce evaporation and keep water going to the ripening fruit.

Harvest at Once
As soon as a fruit or vegetable is ripe, remove it from the plant. Pull up any plants that aren't productive or that are past their prime.

Old-time advice extols the merits of a large barrel, positioned just so to catch rainfall, especially from downspouts or gutters. Although in the spring it may seem as if the rain will never stop, there's some wisdom in saving as much rainwater as you can -- and in using it for your plants when the dry days come. If you have an engineering degree and the proper lay of the land, now is a good time to build a cistern. Or think of ways to save some water in large containers that can be covered.

Giving new life to barrels originally designed for importing olives, a Boston-based company sells a 60-gallon-capacity polyethylene barrel that collects and stores up to 60 gallons of water. It comes complete with an overflow fitting, drain plug, screw-on cover, and threaded spigot positioned 14 inches from ground level. Attach your hose to the spigot and water your garden. For additional water storage, link several barrels together with garden hose. Or add a diverter and channel water directly from your downspout into your barrel. For details, deals on unpainted barrels, and more information, contact the Great American Rain Barrel Company, Inc., 295 Maverick St., East Boston, MA 02128, or call 800-251-2352.

The Spruce Creek Company created its rain barrel from the ground up, using a entirely new mold that captures graphics and textures reminiscent of an old wooden barrel. Its one piece construction is formed of durable, UV protected polyethylene plastic that is almost 1/4 inch thick. An attractive design, it also provides great function with a threaded solid brass spigot, automatic overflow, link-ability, and two dispensing levels that allow users to use all the 54 gallons of water in the barrel. One piece construction means easy set up, safety for children and pets, reduced evaporation and insect prevention. Check The Spruce Creek Rainsaver for more details, or call 1-800-940-0187.

Create mini-reservoirs for tomatoes and peppers from plastic milk jugs or well scrubbed bleach bottles: With a sharp knife cut several small X-shaped holes in the bottom, bury about half of the jug in soil between two plants, and refill as needed. The water will seep slowly and deeply down to where the plants' roots can use it most.

Unglazed 1.5-gallon clay pots also make good reservoirs. Plug the bottom hole with a stopper or caulk; you want the water to leach slowly through the porous pot walls, not through the bottom. To use for melons or squash, prepare soil for planting and create pits 24 inches across and five inches deep. Fill each pit with rich soil and bury a clay pot in the center, its mouth level with the ground. Fill the pot with water and cover the top with a tile or an old slate shingle, or an old pot lid -- anything that will prevent evaporation. Weight the top with a brick, if necessary. Plant four seeds around the pot. Check the water level periodically and fill to the brim when the level falls.