Posts By

Jerad Bryant

Jerad Bryant is a plant nerd, botanical writer, and avid gardener in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Jerad is an active member in his local community of plant nerds in both the Willamette Valley Hardy Plant Group and the American Rhododendron Society.

Various species of heat tolerant lettuce, with bright green, red and purple leaves with wrinkled and smooth textures, smooth and curly edges, grow in rows in a garden bed.

Vegetables

15 Heat-Tolerant Lettuce Varieties to Grow All Summer

Leafy lettuce tastes great until it doesn’t! Hot weather forces these tender crops to bolt. They sprout flowers and their leaves turn bitter. One solution is to grow heat-tolerant lettuce varieties. Seasoned grower Jerad Bryant shares 15 favorites that excel from late spring through summer.

An overhead shot of a seedling of a crop that showcases how to grow broccoli from seed

Vegetables

How to Grow Broccoli From Seed

Cole crops fill temperate gardens with lush and edible foliage, flowers, and stems. Broccoli is one of the most widely grown cole crops, and for good reason! It sprouts dense, green heads with clusters of unopened flowers. Join seasoned grower Jerad Bryant in learning how to start this tasty crop from seed.

Close-up of a blooming native plant in late spring, possessing large clusters of funnel-shaped pink flowers with darker speckles bloom above glossy, dark green, leathery leaves.

Ornamental Gardens

11 Native Plants That Bloom in Late Spring

Pollinators need our care! Planting late spring blooming native species is an excellent way to help them. Your late flowering plants will provide pollen and nectar while their structures offer valuable habitat space. Native plant gardener Jerad Bryant shares 11 choice varieties for the home garden.

Freshly harvested Allium cepa bulbs in yellow, white, and red shades with green Allium fistulosum stalks.

Edible

15 Onion Varieties to Plant in March

With their crunchy texture and savory, pungent flavor, onions add a “wow” factor to meals. Whether you grow them from seeds or starts, these crops are essential for kitchen and cottage gardens. Join seasoned grower Jerad Bryant in discovering the 15 best onions to plant in March.

A hand places a sprouted Solanum tuberosum tuber with green shoots into loose brown soil.

Edible

Is it a Good Idea to Plant Whole Potatoes?

Potatoes are easy crops to grow! They spread underground, forming dozens of tubers below the soil. When planting, can you plant whole taters or is it better to cut them into pieces first? Seasoned grower Jerad Bryant answers the question.

pruners thinning fruiting tree branch

Fruits

When and How to Thin Fruit Trees for Beginners

Thinning is one of the hardest things a fruit tree grower has to do! Though it seems you’re removing the future harvest, you’re helping your tree grow large, juicy fruits instead of many tiny ones. Join backyard grower Jerad Bryant to thin your fruit trees for successful harvests.

Hand wiping a soft cloth over pale green leaves with yellow edges and light green veins.

Houseplants

7 Causes of Wilted and Brown Dieffenbachia Leaves

Wilting leaves are no fun! They’re a sign there is something wrong with your houseplant’s conditions. Fix the problem and the leaf wilting will dissipate. Join longtime houseplant grower Jerad Bryant in diagnosing and treating wilted or brown dieffenbachia leaves.

Close-up of a blooming saucer magnolia tree bearing large, cup-shaped pink flowers on bare branches with smooth, dark bark, while fresh, broad green leaves begin to emerge beneath.

Trees

How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Saucer Magnolia Trees

Magnolias are among the oldest flowering plants in the world. The saucer magnolia is a special hybrid that thrives in lawns, gardens, and large containers. Whether buying one for the first time or cultivating an old specimen, this guide has everything you need to know about saucer magnolias and their care.

A woman attaches a vining houseplant with heart-shaped, glossy leaves variegated in green and silver, around a supporting stake - moss pole.

Houseplants

9 Ways to Stake and Support Vining Houseplants

Vining and twining houseplants need support as they mature. Their long-reaching tendrils can grow up, down, or along a support. With stakes and trellises, you can influence the growth how you’d like. Try one of these nine methods from longtime houseplant grower Jerad Bryant; there may be an option that surprises you!

Close-up of Prunus domestica showing red oval fruits hanging from thin stems with narrow green leaves.

Trees

15 North American Native Plum Varieties With Ornamental Spring Flowers

Plum trees provide nutritious fruit, gorgeous flowers, and ample space for wildlife. They’re perfect for homesteads, landscapes, and wild spaces. Grow native plum species and you’ll help your local environment! Native plant gardener Jerad Bryant shares these 15 North American native plums that are perfect for your garden.