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.

Bright orange Cucurbita pepo fruits with deep ridges rest on rich, dark soil among sprawling green vines and leaves, basking in the warm sunlight.

Gardening Tips

How Long Can You Leave Ripe Pumpkins on the Vine?

Your pumpkins may look ripe and ready to harvest, but should you pick them just yet? Leaving your vegetables on their vines has surprising benefits, like boosting flavor and making storage easier. Learn how long you can leave your ripening pumpkins in the field alongside seasoned grower Jerad Bryant.

A green plant stem curls and twists as a purple sprout with layers of petals emerges from it.

Edible

How to Exponentially Increase Garlic Harvests With Bulbils

Bulbils help you go from having one garlic bulb to hundreds! They take longer to reach full size than garlic cloves but are more abundant in a season. Let your garlic scapes flower, and you’ll have enough bulbils for years of productive harvests. Join longtime garlic grower Jerad Bryant to learn how a single garlic can turn into over a hundred in two years.

A lovely coastal garden with various plants, appearing to have lush greens and different colored blooms and foliage

Gardening Inspiration

31 Stunning Plants For a Coastal Garden

Coastal gardens present interesting challenges for plants. They have to tolerate salt, moisture, and sandy soils. These 31 species offer choices for any North American coastline, whether you live in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the West and East Coasts. Join backyard gardener Jerad Bryant in discovering stunning plants for your coastal garden.

The Fritillaria meleagris features lance-shaped green leaves and distinctive, nodding flowers with a checkered pattern in shades of purple.

Flowers

17 Fritillaria Varieties to Plant This Season

Fritillaria, or fritillary plants, are hardy perennial bulbs that sprout flowers off drooping peduncles. They’re native to North America, Europe, and Asia, so there are native and non-native varieties for your garden. Join native plant gardener Jerad Bryant in discovering these 17 fritillaria bulbs you can plant this year for spectacular, fragrant, and bright-colored blooms.

A woman's hand in an orange glove mixes a compost heap with garden debris using a garden pitchfork.

Soil Improvement

9 Types of Garden Debris to Add to the Compost Pile

Most organic matter can go into your compost pile without issue, but some items have exceptions and stipulations. Learn what can go into compost, and you’ll never throw it in the trash again. Join seasoned gardener Jerad Bryant in discovering these nine types of waste that break down into rich, crumbly soil.

A plant with seeds still attached to the top of the stem with dried buds surrounding it ready for beginner seed-saving

Seeds

A Beginner’s Guide to Seed-Saving in the Garden

When seed-saving for the first time, you may feel overwhelmed with information about hybrids, heirlooms, and proper seed-saving techniques. This easy guide takes you from start to finish so you can confidently collect your favorite plants’ seeds. Learn how magical these tiny living things are alongside native plant gardener Jerad Bryant.

A decorative composition of flowers in woven baskets of a garden

Flowers

Annual vs. Perennial Chrysanthemums: Which Kind Do You Have?

Chrysanthemum shrubs decorate grocery store shelves from late summer through winter. After buying one of these plants, you may wonder if it’s an annual or a perennial and if it’ll overwinter in your yard. Wonder no more, as you’ll discover what kind of chrysanthemum you have alongside seasoned grower Jerad Bryant.

Close-up of a dried seedhead with a cluster of small, fluffy seeds ready for dispersal, supported by a slender, brown stem.

Seeds

9 Native Plant Seeds to Collect Now

Native plant seeds are invaluable treasures. Use them to grow limitless supplies of perennials, annuals, shrubs, and trees wherever you’d like. Native plant seeds appear seasonally, and certain species ripen during the fall. Join native plant gardener Jerad Bryant in discovering these nine seeds you should start harvesting now.

Close-up of a gardener holding pruning shears, preparing to trim a bush to maintain a fresh appearance in the fall garden.

Gardening Tips

9 Ways to Keep Your Garden Looking Fresh This Fall

As summer heat wanes and fall temperatures arrive, you’ll want your garden to look its best. Some easy maintenance this season will ensure it looks spectacular from autumn through spring. Follow these nine easy steps from seasoned gardener Jerad Bryant to refresh your space with more plants, animals, and flowers.