My eggplant didn't do much all summer and now it is blooming. However, eggplants don't do well in cold. So it is now the time to *harvest* eggplant here. It is in a container on my balcony, so there is a little hope.

I really like eggplant, so I am trying to find ways to let it grow outside as long as possible.

I was at Target the other day, and they were selling reflective auto shades with bubble wrap in them at half price. Now I am thinking of making it into something like a reflector during the day, and wrapping it around for protection at night. And I will have to do this without my apartment landlord objexting that it looks ugly.

My thought would be to anchor the bottom with a round plastic laundry basket around the pot, and for the top use a hula hoop. For the sides that unfold use various poles I have in order to slant the reflector up towards the plant

in the day and wrap around at night.

I've also got a few of the mesh unfolding laundry baskets that have seen better days. If I take out the mesh in the middle, I could stick plastic over those to cover plants.

From my camping days, I've got some reusable hand warmers. I could stick one out there at night, and then recharge it the next day.