I live in the middle of the chihuahuan desert, where we have clay soils in the Ph range of 8.5. I don't mind fertilizing and turning the soil, but I want to take advantage of the natural soils around me as much as possible without buying potting soils, peat moss, or composting. I've read this post, but I'm more interested in planting things I can eat.
Are there any edible plants I can grow in this type of soil (aside from the obvious prickly pear and mesquites)?
Well, I'd still highly recommend composting. You don't have to improve the soil all at once, but most common edibles just have not evolved to grow in poor soil - they've been bred over generations and generations to be pampered a bit. I'm not sure what your motivation is for choosing fertilizer over compost, but you'll actually be kinder on your native soil by composting than by adding fertilizer.
That said, I live in a very different climate than yours (Upper Midwest) and have way more rainfall, but I do have alkaline clay. The plants that do best in areas of my soil that I've not improved yet are herbs - mints, thyme, oregano, sage, chives, winter savory and dill are all very happy without any changes to the soil. French sorrel also does great and can be used as a vegetable. Kale would be worth trying - it comes up happily in my garden paths where the soil is poor.
Beyond that, I think I'd see if there are any old-time gardeners in your area who save seed from their own gardens. You're more likely to find strains that do well in your native soils and climates if you can find seed that has been selected for it. Good luck!
One word, Pomegranate. But you probably already knew this. I do actually grow fruit trees in soil exactly like yours in central coast of California .. hard clay pH 8.3. Amend with lots of copper and boron and wash in with lots of vinegar in water once or twice a year - there's one fig that is much tougher and better tasting than all the rest for growing here "violette de bordeaux" it will grow as a large bush, it does not do well pruned as a tree. epsom salts are also appreciated since there's not much Mg in these soils, nothing green to decompose. Apples and Plums seem to do the best as far as fruit. Apples love clay.
