We are in winter now but I'm dreading the summer. I was sorting out the shade cloth yesterday in readiness. I'm worried about whether the renters will be as diligent as me when the scorching weather comes. I might start up an irrigation system but usually I drape sheets over the fruit and veg too and water them in worst weather.

All you can do is keep the soil fed and mulched over winter and hope that provides some resilience next year. And yes plant varieties that can hack the drought. Look into wicking containers and beds perhaps. Hugelkukture. That doesn't help for the fruit trees but perhaps if you can build cages around them you can easily drape shade cloth over for Feb worst of summer.

May the drought break soon. It's tough on people who tend the land.