It will be just fine. As you mentioned the rot was due to ripening, that is good. Even If the eggplant had rotted all the way, still the seeds would have been fine. That is how it happens in the wild; Eggplant ripens, falls off, get rotted, seeds survive and grow.Tomato and eggplant seeds are tough. That is how I collect cucumber seeds; let one over ripe, almost rot. Then I cut it open and take the seeds out and process it.

Planting a tree deep is not going to make it tolerate dry soil. Tree roots grow horizontal and most roots are in the top foot of soil. The horizontal roots in time will grow "sinker" roots down from them which will help through dry periods. The reason roots are mostly shallow is because the soil there has the most nutrients and air, and in most cases water. Mulch is important to slow evaporation of moisture from the soil as well as to add nutrients and microbes. Al

From your list, I have only grown Balloon Flower from seed. I had collected seed from a plant I bought a couple years ago, and they germinate very easily. They need light to germinate, so make sure you just press them lightly in the soil, and be careful not to cover them with soil. For grow mix, I prefer to use PRO-MIX BX. I buy the big bales from my local garden center for like 30 bucks, and depending on how much you use, it can last a while! For container, I use the little "six-packs" or cell packs to start my seeds off. Then, if they need to be transplanted I use old 3inch pots or yogurt containers. I have also heard you can use old egg containers to start seeds, which I am going to try later on(since I have a ton and our egg farmer can't reuse them for "health reasons", I guess its a violation of the health code or something) for things like pumpkins, gourds and cucumbers. For fertilizer, I just use Miracle Gro, 20-20-20 or Bloom Booster depending on time. I usually start a half strength solution once a week after the second set of true leaves appear, then after I plant them out I up the solution to full strength and fertilize every other week. I have had luck with the Datura and Black-eyed Susan reseeding on their own in my garden, so they may need a cold treatment before germination? Good Luck and Happy Growing! Sarah

Waves are not intended to be cut back or "pinched" since they are supposed to trail so none is needed. They also do not need to deadheaded. But since all the waves are hybrids what you will get from your saved seed will not be wave-types. They will have reverted to parent stock and need some pinching. Try it on a few and see how they do and leave a few untouched to see which you prefer. Pinch the stem off just above a point where 2 leaves sprout from the stem - a leaf node - approx. 4-5" along the stem. Two new branches will develop from that node. Dave