Growing Eggplant, also Aubergine

Solanum sp. : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
  S S                  
        T              
        P              

(Best months for growing Eggplant in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 75°F and 90°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 24 - 30 inches apart
  • Harvest in 12-15 weeks. Cut fruit with scissors or sharp knife.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Beans, capsicum, lettuce, amaranth, thyme
  • Avoid growing close to: Potatoes

Your comments and tips

25 Mar 12, Savithri (Australia - temperate climate)
thanks for the reply.....I didn't find any snails around but recently I noticed brown insect(Garden Weevils???) eating everything in my garden. They are attacking the leaves/stems and the young shoots of all the plants. How do you get rid of Garden Weevils? Thank you.
22 Feb 12, Terry (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My eggplant has many fruit of varying size but I need to know when they are ripe as all are the same dark colour
21 Feb 12, Andrew (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
My eggplant growing well but not turning fully black and are a yellow brown colour at base of eggplant is there something that can be done about this
12 Feb 12, Rob Brown (Australia - tropical climate)
I've planted my eggplants out to my aquaponics system 5 weeks ago (just after christmas), all had flowered within 2 weeks and at week 3 they have fruit about 5cm long, I planted both redskin and normal shop variety.
10 Feb 12, yvonne cardy (Australia - tropical climate)
I have a 'yellow' eggplant, round in shape and a bright colour. My neighbour gave me the seedling but I can't find anything on yellow eggplant. Can you help?
08 Feb 12, Chandra Akhil (Australia - temperate climate)
I planted seedlings (varieties) early December and started harvesting very healthy good size fruit late January. I am still harvesting almost every three weeks.It just grows and grows and gives lots of fruit. I give it good watering and lot of compost from time to time. I have left a fruit on each plant for seeds which will be handy come July.
01 Jan 12, lukevdh (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
i had a simillar problem, but i had heaps of flowers yet they all dropped off after a week or so. i am going to try a fertilizer with a high level of phosphorus.
30 Mar 12, Margret (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
my question: how old do plants get? how often to replace?
11 Feb 12, Chandra (Australia - temperate climate)
Instead of a Chemical based fertilzer try an Organic Fertilizer like Cow Manure, Horse Manure. Do not use Chicken Manure. It is too hot when moist and will burn your plants. Water well and give it a lot of Compost.
16 Dec 11, chehade bghaoui (Australia - temperate climate)
what is the solution for leaves wilt and for leavessudenly yellowing and drying
Showing 181 - 190 of 269 comments

Eggplant is generally a summer grown veg, like plant in the spring to early summer. I bought seedlings of little fingers from Bunnings about mid Feb. They are about 3' high now and I have been picking them the last 10 days, had them on toast for brecky this morning. Make sure your soil is fertile and a good watering each 2 days. A nice sunny spot also. I have some of the same seedlings in gardens 10klm away and they have not produced eatable fruit yet, I fertilised them this morning to give them a kick along.

- Anon

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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