How to Grow a Garden

Peter Bieneman, ’90, is the longtime general manager of Green Fields Nursery & Landscaping Company, a Baltimore-based garden center near the Evergreen campus. With a B.A. in Communication from Loyola and a Master of Landscape Architecture from Morgan State University, Bieneman brings expertise in sustainable planting and thoughtful design.

Here are his five tips for growing a successful garden and harvesting your favorite produce. (Bieneman’s top pick? Tomatoes.)

The most common mistake in gardening is a lack of planning. Before breaking ground, assess existing plants and any obstructions to sunlight. Measure where your garden will be and decide what you will plant. Determine what your soil needs—using an at-home test kit or working with a lab— to improve its health, whether it’s fertilizer, compost, or nutrients.

Arrive at your gardening center with measurements, photos of your yard, and your planting list. Especially if you’re planting produce, purchase organic soils and fertilizers. When in doubt, ask questions of the gardening experts!

Stake out your garden with string, remove sod or debris, and amend the soil. If you don’t know what your soil needs, your plants will tell you. For example, a lack of blooms or fruit indicates a phosphorus deficiency.

Maximize your harvest through succession planting—switching crops seasonally. Plant cold-weather crops (leafy greens and root vegetables) in early spring and summer crops (fruiting vegetables and herbs) in May. Rotate crops to maintain healthy soil and manage pests.

Like anything in life, things do their best when they are cared for. Maintenance is the final, ongoing step. Water your plants, remove disease or damage, and of course, enrich your soil with nutrients as needed.