In a desert environment I would recommend deep penetration of the soil with ample organic matter (I prefer turkey or chicken manure as it won't burn seedlings and has fewer weed seeds) topped with a lot of mulch to keep the soil moisture from evaporating too quickly. Secondly, I would recommend sinking pots into the ground between the plants and filling with bark or pebbles and watering into the pots with a drip irrigation tip of at least 2-3 gallons an hour. Putting the water into the ground will make the roots chase moisture for a deeper root formation thereby making them more immune to the sun's heat. Also it eliminates water on the leaves which can lead to powdery mildew, mold and fungi problems. I live in Southern California so I know what a desert is capable of.
In a desert environment I would recommend deep penetration of the soil with ample organic matter (I prefer turkey or chicken manure as it won't burn seedlings and has fewer weed seeds) topped with a lot of mulch to keep the soil moisture from evaporating too quickly. Secondly, I would recommend sinking pots into the ground between the plants and filling with bark or pebbles and watering into the pots with a drip irrigation tip of at least 2-3 gallons an hour. Putting the water into the ground will make the roots chase moisture for a deeper root formation thereby making them more immune to the sun's heat. Also it eliminates water on the leaves which can lead to powdery mildew, mold and fungi problems. I live in Southern California so I know what a desert is capable of.