Drew Barr

Mate, What is "Black Friday" in the States? For us down under it was the really bad bushfires in January '39. As for Christmas, our philosophy is give something for kids only, and make a big point to the kids that the adults' gifts to each other are just presence and love. And because our seasons are the inverse of yours, its also about the first summer fruits and first swimming of the season - a celebration of spring/summer plenty before the sharp end of the fire season.

I've heard "Devil's Plant" works well as an eggplant rootstock. We have a native solanum here in Oz called Kangaroo Apple, and I've also heard of those being used. Also got a thriving Rocoto, which I'll try. We're not great eggplant fans, but we love out of season capsicums and tomatoes.

Here in Melbourne we're 38 degrees south, which is equivalent to the Carolinas (I think), but with scorching summers. It's our sprnig now, so we will definitely give this grafting solanums a try, and may be able to report back before the northern spring.