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.

A person holding dark, rich organic matter with a few small green plants in the background.

Soil Improvement

How Fast Does Compost Turn Into Soil?

Compost typically decomposes from a month to a year, but you can make your own in as little as a week! How fast it decomposes depends on your garden conditions. Let’s break down your dirt with native plant gardener Jerad Bryant.

Violas with delicate purple and yellow petals growing vibrantly among green leaves in a garden setting.

Seeds

27 Best Heirloom Plants You Can Grow From Seed

Are you looking for historical plant varieties to stuff into your garden? Look no further than these 27 best heirlooms you can grow from seed. Join native plant gardener Jerad Bryant and leaf through these perennials, herbs, and wildflowers that start easily from seeds.

Close-up of rich, dark, finely textured earth, showcasing its readiness for planting or cultivation.

Soil Improvement

What is Well-Drained Soil? How to Assess Soil Drainage

Understanding soil drainage terms helps you select the right plants for the right locations. Many species prefer well-drained soil, but what is it exactly? We’ll cover how to assess your garden soil’s drainage so you can confidently garden, worry-free. Explore how to know your soil better alongside native plant gardener Jerad Bryant.

Close-up of two ripe hybrid peppers with round, irregular shapes and bumpy ridges, featuring glossy thin skins in green and bright orange.

Vegetables

A Comprehensive Guide to Creating Your Own Hybrid Peppers

Hybrid peppers combine the genetics of two different varieties into one. Plant breeders use this process to make new varieties like mild jalapeños or spicy bell peppers. Like them, you too can make hybrid peppers! Follow these 11 easy steps from avid pepper grower Jerad Bryant to create new, unique hybrids.

Portulaca grandiflora features succulent, cylindrical leaves and vibrant, cup-shaped flowers in a variety of colors.

Flowers

29 Beautiful Heirloom Flowers For Your Garden

Heirloom plants are special varieties with long histories. Their popularity helps them stick around, as gardeners grow them and save their seeds. Partake in their history and start some seeds yourself! Discover the 29 most beautiful heirloom flowers for your landscape alongside avid gardener Jerad Bryant.

A joyful assortment of bright pink flowers with a gradient from deep rose centers to softer blush tips, accompanied by large, glossy green leaves.

Shrubs

19 Lace Bug-Resistant Rhododendrons For Your Landscape

Plant lace bug-resistant rhododendrons, and you’ll never have to spray their leaves with pesticide! These varieties ward off pesky lace bugs with fur, thick leaves, and strategic defenses. Join American Rhododendron Society member Jerad Bryant as we tour 19 of the best lace bug-resistant rhododendrons for your shady garden.

A cluster of large, delicate pink blooms nestled among lush green leaves, bathed in soft sunlight in a serene garden setting.

Shrubs

How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Tree Peonies

Peonies are beautiful, but tree peonies are magnificent! These deciduous shrubs sport gigantic peony blooms on woody stems. They offer year-round ornamental interest, as they don’t die back like herbaceous peonies do. Join backyard peony grower Jerad Bryant as we discover the best ways to care for these special plants.

A pile of long, slightly twisted green sweet peppers , harvested and ready to dry or eat.

Vegetables

How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Cubanelle Peppers

Grab your Cubanelle seeds and get ready to grow peppers! This cultivar is a necessary component for many Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Cuban dishes, including sofrito. With sunlight, good soil, and water, your chiles will excel all summer long. Join longtime pepper grower Jerad Bryant in learning the juicy details about this unique variety.

Close-up of gardener's hands holding freshly harvested bright red tomatoes with shiny skins against a blurred background of tomato plants.

Edible

You’re Harvesting These 11 Crops Too Late

Don’t fumble your crops! Some fruits and vegetables ripen off the vine, like tomatoes. Others, like squash and cucumbers, should be eaten before they ripen too much. Still, others grow woody or tough and are more palatable when you pick them early. Learn with seasoned grower Jerad Bryant which 11 crops you might be harvesting too late.

The image shows a close-up of a red, heart-shaped vegetable, highlighting its shiny, smooth exterior with a rich, uniform color.

Vegetables

How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Pimiento Peppers

Are you looking for a bell pepper that isn’t bland? Look no further than the pimiento types. These red peppers have sweet flesh, thick walls, and excellent flavor. Learn to grow and prepare these chiles alongside seasoned vegetable grower Jerad Bryant.