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

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18 May 20, Paul Lehmann (Australia - arid climate)
If you don't get any frosts you can leave them in the ground/pot but give them a prune back to half their size. If you have frosts you can cover them if you really like them or pull them out and plant a green manure crop to put energy back into the soil. Eggplants are hungry plants!
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23 Apr 20, joanne priscilla Threlfo (Australia - temperate climate)
I planted the store bought punnett of one eggplant a bit late in January now about 2 ft high, I have one eggplant on it that hasn't grown more than 5 inches in weeks and lots of flowers - maybe lack of water and nutrient? . Do I need to prune excess leaves to promote fruit growth? and I notices a few new fruit coming on just today
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24 Apr 20, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
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.
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01 Apr 20, Lea Zimmer (Australia - temperate climate)
Planted in January as as stated for the temperate zone area. There is only one eggplant forming but. numerous flowers can be seen it is a strong healthy bush and it was planted from seeds it is taking a very long time to grow and produce .prior to the planting of the seeds the soil was prepared with cow manure and nutrients and left to sit for 3 months. Can anyone advise me where do these flowers will form fruit I will I only have one eggplant also does the eggplant bush produce another season or does it need to be removed after fruiting.
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13 Apr 20, Another gardener (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Flowers sometimes need to be pollinated by hand to form fruit. Not enough bees around at some times of year. Just go out there with a cotton bud and transfer the pollen between flowers and you will have a bounty of fruit forming.
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02 Apr 20, Genevieve (Australia - temperate climate)
Unlike you I bought a plant from Bunnings nursery here in Southern Tasmania, so the plant was probably ahead in growth by a month compare to yours. We had hot and cold weather since I planted in early December. Normally its a prolific plant but I only got 6 fruit off it and there are still flowers forming, guess you would be lucky if you get a few more. I'm not sure of your weather but if you don't get any more in May, the plant is an annual, so would need pulling up unfortunately.
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28 Mar 20, Helen (Australia - temperate climate)
Its almost the end of March and i still have eggplant growing with flowers but no fruit. Will they still produce or is it better to remove and use for other veggies? Thank you
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30 Mar 20, Lachlan (Australia - temperate climate)
If your eggplant is still growing with flowers, but no fruit, they should still produce, however, don’t wait too long. I would wait until the end of April and then pull them regardless if they have fruit or not since winter crops will thrive in the cold temperatures.
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29 Dec 19, Alison TSAO (Australia - temperate climate)
Is it too late to plant Eggplant in Geelong, Victoria? Is Eggplant a climber? Where do I get the seeds or small plants?
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04 Jan 20, JOHN CRANE (Australia - tropical climate)
I have them growing now on the Goldcoast, and planted as seedlings, and have several different varieties. The plants are between 30cm and 45cm tall, and started flowering less then 2 weeks after planting, Also have cucumber growing on a trellis adjacent, and getting 2 or 3 mature fruit per day
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Showing 41 - 50 of 274 comments
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A quick tip for those trying to grow eggplant in a cool climate with a short growing season - rather than waiting for the end of Spring frost (usually November here), you really should be getting eggplants in the ground by October at the latest. They need a long growing season to produce abundant fruit and the warm weather months in these climates are limited. They take a long time to raise from seed, so are best purchased at nurseries etc. at this time of year. To protect them from Spring frosts one trick is to cut off the top halves of plastic softdrink or mineral water bottles, remove the lid for ventilation, and securely place the top half in the circle of soil surrounding the young seedling. In the event of late frost, this will improve their chances of survival. If growing in containers, moving them to a sheltered, part-sun location (eg. under the dappled shade of a tree) may also help protect them from late frosts. The same can be done for other frost sensitive crops in the nightshade family eg. tomatoes, chillies, capsicum. Happy gardening, P.

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