I was so thankful for the compost this year. That 3'x2'x4' compost bin the roommate made is wonderful. I mulched with a good 3" of straw after topping the last 3"-4" inches of soil with compost from the bin this year, instead of purchased compost when I planted them. I think I covered an area about two inches beyond the length of the largest leaf of each plant. I'll give them all compost tea each week until the compost runs out. Hoping that will get the plants good and strong and healthy for setting fruit. The white egg one is smaller than the Ichiban by more than half, and not as strong, so I only gave all of them a few days of hardening before planting in ground. The little one perked right up. What is the saying, "A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. I kind of think that having multiples of the same plant/vegetable, is better for the plants. I think they might like to have each others company.
I can't wait to harvest the seeds to be all set for next year. And hopefully have enough seeds to get to practice germinating them until I get some plants. With an earlier start in the year. That seems a long way away, but I like the idea of keeping that in mind. It will cost me less to grow eggplant next year if I am successful. So it will be useful to learn since it is easier to be successful harvesting the seeds, now just need to get to the next level with the seeds I manage to save. Or trade the seeds for different varieties that might enjoy this microclimate. I think part of me is still thinking in terms of zone 5 instead of zone 8. Hard to let go. But I think I have to do more fiddling to get things just right to survive the brutal summer heat.
I do find it a bit challenging for me to grow a lot of things in ground that I was habitually doing in containers so I could rotate plants in and out of the shade. There isn't enough shade here to bother with rotating at the moment. (Am working on ideas for next month.) I'm trying to get used to the idea of eggplant because they are supposed to love heat. So I'm growing them in about the same spot as last year where we had the one successful eggplant - transplant, not seed. But they will have more compatible companions this year also.
I hope to see pictures of everyone's progress. I took pictures the last few days. I think I posted some? I know I got them into my computer, so maybe in the next couple days, if I haven't already.
