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.

Small Solanum lycopersicum plants with thin green stems and bright leaves growing in dark soil.

Seeds

How to “Brush” Your Seedlings For Stronger Stems

Brushing seedlings may seem like extra work, but it’s a valuable practice for growing strong, resilient plants. Though they have protection indoors, they lack exposure to natural conditions like wind, rain, and temperature shifts. Join seasoned gardener Jerad Bryant and learn how to use this practice for healthy, robust specimens.

A woman replants a soggy seedling into fresh soil in a seed starting tray to save it.

Seeds

5 Ways to Save Soggy, Overwatered Seedlings

Soggy seedlings are no joke! They may suffer from root rot and wither before they recover. Seasoned grower Jerad Bryant shares these five simple solutions for fixing overwatered seedlings, as well as how to identify them. Let’s dig in!

Bushy Solanum lycopersicum plants with clusters of red fruit growing beside dark purple Ocimum basilicum leaves.

Vegetables

7 Tips for Preventing Spindly Vegetable Seedlings

Leggy, spindly seedlings are heartbreaking to see. You planted seeds hoping to grow strong, healthy plants and now have to deal with elongated weak ones! Fear not, as some simple tricks turn these leggy specimens into robust seedlings. Seasoned grower Jerad Bryant shares these seven expert tips for preventing spindly veggie starts.

Starting seeds in egg cartons, with egg trays on a wooden table filled with soil and young sprouted seedlings.

Seeds

7 Pros and Cons of Starting Seeds in Egg Cartons

Rather than pay exorbitant fees for seed-starting supplies, you can reuse empty egg cartons! Biodegradable, cheap, and effective, egg cartons are ideal for growing shallow-rooted fruits and vegetables, though they’re not the best for every plant! Seasoned grower Jerad Bryant shares seven pros and cons of using them for seed-starting.

A gardener uses pruning shears to prune clematis vines with dark green, lance-shaped leaves and large, showy purple flowers with ruffled petals.

Vines

How to Prune Clematis Vines: 7 Pro Tips

Gorgeous flowers bloom off of clematis vines! To get the most blooms from your plant, you’ll want to prune it correctly and during the right season. Seasoned grower Jerad Bryant shares seven pro tips for pruning clematis vines.

A gardener's hand in a white glove uses white pruning shears to prune dry branches of a berry bush in a February garden.

Fruits

11 Berry Bushes You Should Prune in February

Though it’s snowy, icy, and wet outside, now is the perfect time to look at your berry bushes! Though some types appreciate pruning in fall, these kinds benefit from late winter and early spring cuts in February. Join seasoned grower Jerad Bryant in tackling these 11 berry bushes!

Bright green Vitis vinifera leaves filter sunlight, with small purple fruit clusters hanging below.

Fruits

How and When to Prune Grapevines for Healthy New Growth

Grapevines tolerate extreme pruning! They benefit from yearly cuts during the dormant season. Prune them in the right way at the right time and they’ll reward you with bunches of grapes by late summer. Grape grower Jerad Bryant shares when and how it’s best to prune your vines.

A watering can pours water onto a young cabbage plant forming a rosette of green, rounded, serrated leaves on thin, pale stems in loose soil in a February garden.

Gardening Tips

When and How Much to Water Your Plants in February

February is a unique time for plants. Most areas of North America have snow or ice, while others have mild temperatures and occasional rainfall. When and how much you should water depends on the plants you’re growing, their location, and your climate. Let’s dive in!

A cream-colored Patricia’s Pride Lilium with dark maroon centers and six broad petals. The petals curve slightly outward, revealing dark stamens with pollen-covered anthers. Glossy green leaves surround the flower.

Bulbs

7 Bulbs We’re Planting Now for Summer Blooms

Summer blooming bulbs offer gorgeous blossoms after many other plants finish flowering. They’re easy to care for, lying dormant from fall through winter. Seasoned grower Jerad Bryant shares these seven favorite bulbs; plant them in late winter for midsummer blooms!

A bushy Petroselinum crispum with vibrant green, serrated leaves growing in a yellow pot on a windowsill.

Herbs

How to Grow Parsley Indoors: 7 Pro Tips

Parsley is a hardy biennial that loves cold climates. Though it grows well outdoors during late winter and early spring, it’s also a lovely indoor plant for your kitchen herb garden! Seasoned grower Jerad Bryant shares these seven essential tips for growing it indoors.