Here is the sad update. My little test plant (which I now know I planted too soon) bent it's two little leaves to the ground and never recovered. So the rest, in the egg carton kept growing. I waited for 2 sets of leaves to appear, and THEN I put them in the ground. They now have more leaves and are obviously happy and growing. Except... There were two late "hatchers", and I let them wait. But outside. I wanted to acclimate them to the night air. HUGE mistake! I am a triple murderer now!! Those two egg shell babies, nestled in the egg carton were sitting on the edge of the jacuzzi, where there is sun in the day! Last night as I slept, a big wind came up... I woke up thinking I would go give them a drink, and they were no place to be found... Until I glanced in the jacuzzi! OMG!! The shells were broken, the egg carton was floating upside down, and I murdered two precious little seedlings!! Lesson learned!!

Oh no, they lay eggs just about anywhere on the plant. The eggs are small - about the size of a pin head- and reddish brown in color. I have had a terrible time with them on my crooknecks and zucchini. I have picked hundreds of eggs, but the borer prevailed and I lost 2 plants so far. The other 2 have been invaded - I had to cut the stem and pull out the larvae, then bury the stem to root and hopefully save the rest of the plant. It's up in the air as to whether I will get any more fruit. I think next year I will try row covers. Good luck with yours! Let us know what you spray with and how they do!

When I pull out the rootball, I try to extract about 1 cubic foot of old potting mix, then I add the same in new potting mix, stir it in and add Lime and Tomato-tone fertilizer. I will do this again in Year 3 as well, then in Year 4, I will empty out the 'Tainer completely, and reload with 100% new potting mix, using the old stuff somewhere else in the yard. Raybo

The friend is Indian, I wonder if she likes them very ripe or if I had picked them a day early. She did not give any details, I think she did not want to be rude. That would not be a problem, I just wanted to give her what she wanted. Your replies are informative,thank you for the help. Wish I could send you some of these organic egg plants. I am surprised at the weather here in S.C.