Agricultural Victory and Defeat

I'm close to gathering a full allotment (300 gallons) of rainwater, but it looks like I lost one avocado tree. I did my best covering them both against the cold this winter, but spring is here, and the Zutano just isn't budding. I'm toying with the idea of planting a couple of plum trees, instead. They are better suited to this climate.

I'll still have the Stewart avocado to challenge me. I've discovered that the local avocado orchards are in the foothills, where the winter temperatures are milder than here on the valley floor. I also unknowingly stressed these avocado trees with well water for years, before learning that wasn't good for them.

I've started sprouting a second lot of eggplant seeds, this time with added heat. The peppers and tomato seedlings are already up and thriving, while I haven't managed to sprout a single eggplant seed.