The poly acrilimide polymers are suposed to mess with the tase, but ZEBA is starch based (from potatos) an should be fine an is aproved for food growing by some one (Fda?)... I got it of amazon.com for cheep 15$ for the packets.
I would use Mulch on topof a platic trash bag buried under a few inches of dirt to keep all water in the ground, pull a stake out near the plant an deep water em , Alot of shade might be nessacary as someone said earlier. I never grew anywhere that dry lol.