🍆 When to Plant Eggplant

🥬 Vegetable
Warm Season

Start early indoors; loves heat

📅 Planting Calendar by USDA Zone

Select your zone to highlight your exact planting dates. Dates are calculated from each zone's average frost dates.

Find my zone
Zone Last Frost Start Indoors Transplant Direct Sow
Zone 2A May 30 Mar 21 Jun 13
Zone 3B May 15 Mar 6 May 29
Zone 4A May 8 Feb 27 May 22
Zone 4B May 1 Feb 20 May 15
Zone 5A Apr 25 Feb 14 May 9
Zone 5B Apr 18 Feb 7 May 2
Zone 6A Apr 21 Feb 10 May 5
Zone 6B Apr 10 Jan 30 Apr 24
Zone 7A Apr 5 Jan 25 Apr 19
Zone 7B Mar 28 Jan 17 Apr 11
Zone 8A Mar 20 Jan 9 Apr 3
Zone 8B Mar 12 Jan 1 Mar 26
Zone 9A Feb 28 Dec 20 Mar 14
Zone 9B Feb 15 Dec 7 Mar 1
Zone 10A Feb 1 Nov 23 Feb 15
Zone 10B Jan 15 Nov 6 Jan 29
Zone 11A Jan 1 Oct 23 Jan 15

Eggplant is a heat-loving crop that needs a long warm season. Beautiful in the garden and on the plate.

Top Growing Tips

  • Needs warm soil (70°F+) and air — don’t rush transplanting
  • Flea beetles are the main pest — use row covers on young plants
  • Harvest when skin is glossy and springs back when pressed
  • Stake heavy-fruiting plants to prevent branch breakage
  • Japanese varieties mature faster and work in shorter seasons

Companion Planting

Good companions: peppers, beans, spinach, thyme

Avoid planting near: fennel

Harvest Timeline

65-80 days from transplant