6 Common Gardening Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them in Zone 7b)
When I first started gardening here in Towson, I thought it would be as simple as sticking a few seeds in the ground and waiting for nature to do its thing. Spoiler: it wasn’t. I made plenty of mistakes — some small, some big, and a few that nearly made me want to quit altogether.
But here’s what I’ve learned: mistakes are where the magic happens. Every failed crop, every wilted seedling, every bug infestation has taught me something I now carry into my garden today. And if you’re a new gardener in Baltimore County (Zone 7b), I want to save you some frustration by sharing the most common mistakes I’ve made — and how you can avoid them.
1. Planting Too Early in Spring
I can still remember one March when we had an unseasonably warm week. I was so eager to get my hands in the soil that I planted basil, peppers, and even a few tomato starts. They looked so happy in the sunshine… until the temperature dropped back into the 30s a few nights later. By the end of the week, everything was shriveled and brown.
This is such a common mistake because Baltimore’s weather can be deceiving. Just because we get a warm spell doesn’t mean winter is finished with us. In Zone 7b, our average last frost date is around April 15, but I’ve seen frost sneak in even later than that.
What to do instead:
If you’re itching to start planting early, stick to cool-season crops in March — think lettuce, peas, radishes, kale, or broccoli. They actually prefer the chilly weather. Save your tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil, cucumbers) for after the frost date. If you want a head start, you can always start them indoors under grow lights or in a sunny window.
2. Neglecting the Soil
For years, I thought gardening success came down to choosing the right plants. I’d pick out gorgeous seedlings at the nursery, bring them home, and tuck them into my raised beds. Sometimes they grew beautifully… and sometimes they didn’t. The difference wasn’t the plant — it was the soil.
Here in Baltimore County, we deal with heavy clay in many areas. Clay holds water well, but it also compacts easily, which can suffocate roots. Early on, I didn’t pay much attention to this and ended up with stunted growth and poor yields.
That’s when I discovered the power of raised bed gardening. Raised beds let you start fresh with soil that’s loose, fertile, and full of organic matter. Instead of fighting the native clay, you’re creating a custom environment where plants can thrive. My 3x4 raised beds have been game changers — not only for soil quality, but also for keeping the garden organized, easier to maintain, and more productive.
What to do instead:
Make your soil a priority. Add compost every season to boost fertility, incorporate shredded leaves to improve texture, and keep feeding the soil so it stays alive and active. If you’re starting fresh, consider building raised beds and filling them with a mix of compost, topsoil, and organic matter. Over time, this soil becomes richer each season — and your plants will thank you with stronger growth and bigger harvests.
3. Ignoring Sunlight Needs
When I first started gardening, I put my raised beds in what I thought was the perfect spot — right outside my kitchen window. It got morning sun, which felt lovely, but by noon it was shaded. That summer, I couldn’t figure out why my tomatoes looked healthy but weren’t producing much fruit. The answer? They simply weren’t getting enough sunlight.
In Zone 7b, our summers can be humid and shady areas might feel cooler, but most vegetables really do need at least 6–8 hours of full sun to thrive. Without it, you’ll get lots of leaves and very little harvest.
What to do instead:
Before you build a bed or plant a crop, spend a few days observing your yard. Where does the sun hit first? Where does it linger longest? Save those prime sunny spots for your heavy feeders like tomatoes, peppers, squash, and sun-loving flowers. Shade-tolerant herbs like mint, parsley, or cilantro can handle the less intense areas.
4. Not Planting Successively
In my early gardens, I planted everything all at once in April. The garden looked lush and full for a few months, but by July the lettuce had bolted, the peas were finished, and I was left with bare patches. It felt discouraging, and I thought I’d somehow done something wrong.
The truth is, I’d just missed the beauty of succession planting. Zone 7b has a long growing season, which means we don’t have to settle for one round of harvests. With a little planning, you can rotate crops through your garden so something is always producing.
What to do instead:
Think in waves. Plant cool crops in early spring, then follow with warm-season crops in late spring, and finish with another round of cool crops in late summer for fall harvests. For example: peas in March, basil in June, kale in September. The more you practice this, the more abundant your garden will feel.
5. Inconsistent Watering
Watering has been one of my trickiest lessons. Some summers I was too eager and drowned my plants. Other years, I got busy and forgot altogether, only to find wilted leaves and dried-out soil.
Because I don’t use mulch in my beds, I have to pay close attention to the moisture levels in the soil — especially in July and August when the sun is relentless. Plants don’t like inconsistency: going from desert-dry to swampy wet stresses them out and leaves them vulnerable to disease.
What to do instead:
Get in the habit of checking your soil with your finger. If the top inch is dry, it’s time for a thorough soak. Water deeply rather than lightly sprinkling, which only encourages shallow root growth. Early mornings are best, so plants can take up moisture before the midday heat.
6. Expecting Perfection
This might be the biggest mistake of all. For a long time, I beat myself up every time something went wrong — when cabbage worms devoured my kale, when powdery mildew hit my zucchini, or when my zinnias flopped after a storm.
But gardening isn’t about perfection. It’s about relationship. The plants, the soil, the pollinators, the weather — they’re all part of a living system that we get to participate in. Some seasons will be magical, and others will test your patience. Both are worth it.
What to do instead:
Shift your perspective. Instead of expecting perfect plants, expect lessons. Celebrate small victories (your first ripe cherry tomato is a big deal!). Let the imperfect harvests remind you that gardening is about connection, not control.
Final Thoughts
Gardening in Baltimore County, Zone 7b, is a gift. We get four true seasons, a long growing window, and plenty of opportunities to experiment. Mistakes will happen — they always do. But those mistakes are exactly what make us better gardeners.
So if you’re just starting out, give yourself grace. Keep a journal of what worked and what didn’t. Don’t be afraid to try again. And most importantly, enjoy the process.
🌿 I’d love to hear: what’s the biggest gardening mistake you’ve made so far? Share it with me in the comments — let’s learn (and laugh) together.