Edibles for hotter, dry, shady conditions?

So, our 'forest garden' has suffered a significant loss.  As we get hotter, drier summers in England, the shady spot the previous gardener chose to plant purple gooseberry plants is no longer suitable.  Most of them have died due to drought (it's a well-drained area), and successive heatwaves, when we've just not had to the water or the time to keep them watered.

Are there any edibles which people are growing successfully in these hotter conditions in England & similar climates (spells of 30-40C daytime, 20+C night time now)?  Perennials a definite plus!

The site is heavily shaded from the West & South-West, and starts to lose the sun after c. 2pm.  Plus there are six dwarf fruit trees (apple, plum & pear) which will be drawing up the moisture to a fair degree.

Many thanks!

Sounds like a classic issue with forest garden plantings as the canopy matures and the microclimate shifts. Gooseberries really do hate drought, mine suffered similarly last summer. For hot dry shade I've had decent results with wild garlic and good king henry, both tolerate the conditions once established and come back year after year without much intervention. Turkish rocket is another one worth trying, seems genuinely unbothered by heat and dry spells. Rhubarb might be worth a go too if you can get water to it for the first year.

Here in Texas hostas work well in those conditions.

Hello,
Amelanchier ovalis, blackcaps raspberries and feral apricots and peach trees are coming strong here, under similar conditions.
I will have to replace my apple trees too, some were grilled in may. 'Granny Smith' is still alive but will not bear anything.
Have a nice evening,
Oliver

Here is a thought:  Sweet potatoes.  Sweet potatoes grow extremely well in sandy, especially poor soil.  They excel at drought and laugh at heat.  And here is the amazing bonus:  every part of the sweet potato is edible.  The aggressively vines can be trimmed a bit and the leaves used as a salad.  


Just a thought.


Eric

Anne Miller wrote:Here in Texas hostas work well in those conditions.

Unfortunately we also have lots of slugs around here.
Succulents and hostas do not survive long.

Have a nice evening,
Oliver

I have never had a problem with slugs though I have been told that vinegar and/or soapy water will kill them.  Also heard salt kills them.