When to Plant Eggplant
Start eggplant indoors 8 to 10 weeks before your last frost, then plant them out 2 to 4 weeks after your last frost.
Eggplant at a glance
- Start indoors
- 8 to 10 weeks before your last frost
- Plant out
- 2 to 4 weeks after your last frost
- Time to harvest
- 65 to 85 days from planting out
- Harvest lasts
- about 12 weeks
- Spacing
- 1 plant per square foot
- Frost
- Tender: frost kills it
Growing eggplant
Eggplant is the most heat-loving member of the tomato family. Plant it out only when nights stay warm, in full sun and rich soil, and cover young plants on cool evenings. Long, slim Asian varieties ripen sooner than big globe types and suit shorter summers.
Dates by hardiness zone
Typical dates for each zone; your ZIP code gives your own.
| Zone | Start indoors | Plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3a | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | Jun 11–25 | Aug 15 – Sep 14Pick a fast variety. |
| Zone 3b | Mar 8–22 | May 31 – Jun 14 | Aug 4 – Sep 25 |
| Zone 4a | Mar 3–17 | May 26 – Jun 9 | Jul 30 – Sep 28 |
| Zone 4b | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | May 22 – Jun 5 | Jul 26 – Oct 1 |
| Zone 5a | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | May 17–31 | Jul 21 – Oct 5 |
| Zone 5b | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | May 15–29 | Jul 19 – Oct 10 |
| Zone 6a | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | May 13–27 | Jul 17 – Oct 9 |
| Zone 6b | Feb 12–26 | May 7–21 | Jul 11 – Oct 3 |
| Zone 7a | Feb 5–19 | Apr 30 – May 14 | Jul 4 – Sep 26 |
| Zone 7b | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Apr 19 – May 3 | Jun 23 – Sep 15 |
| Zone 8a | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Apr 12–26 | Jun 16 – Sep 8 |
| Zone 8b | Jan 6–20 | Mar 31 – Apr 14 | Jun 4 – Aug 27 |
| Zone 9a | Dec 22 – Jan 5 | Mar 16–30 | May 20 – Aug 12 |
| Zone 9b | Nov 23 – Dec 7 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 21 – Jul 14 |
| Zone 10a | Nov 23 – Dec 7Nights are still cool before mid-February, so this starts a little later. | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 21 – Jul 14 |
| Zones 10b–11b | Frost is rare here, so eggplant can go in from late winter, and again in late summer for a fall crop. | ||
Questions about eggplant
What makes tiny holes in eggplant leaves?
Usually flea beetles, small jumping beetles that love young eggplant. A light row cover keeps them off until the plants are big enough to shrug off the damage.
Can eggplant grow in a pot?
Yes. Compact varieties do well in a large pot, at least five gallons, in full sun. Pots warm up quickly, which eggplant likes, but they dry out fast, so water often.
