Growing Eggplant, also Aubergine

Solanum sp. : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

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

(Best months for growing Eggplant in Australia - sub-tropical 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 24°C and 32°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 60 - 75 cm 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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for Australia | for all countries
20 Nov 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Read through the comments about Zucchini here. They need pollinating - bees or by hand.
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20 May 17, Linda (Australia - temperate climate)
I have an eggplant still producing fruit but they aren't turning purple are they ok to eat
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22 May 17, Sean (Australia - temperate climate)
Egg plant, tomatoes, potatoes and capsicums are in the same family as deadly nightshade and produce an alkaloid called Solanine which can be toxic. An average adult would need to consume 400 mg of Solanine for it to be life threatening and an average eggplant would contain around 11 mg so you would have to eat over 35 egg plants to get to that level. Maybe you have a passion for them! Trust this helps.
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20 May 17, Mary Qoriniyasi (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
What do I do to eggplant plant when season is over
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22 May 17, Jack (Australia - temperate climate)
Egg plant is a short-lived perennial and will grow on into the next season. For strong, healthy plants with a good yield you would be better to treat them like an annual and plant them in a different spot next season.
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19 May 17, Clive Halliday (Australia - tropical climate)
We have 5 eggplants in large tubs. They are flourishing wit many flowers. But the young fruit are being eaten through the skin and scooping out the flesh. What is causing this? Nothing unusual found on plants. This did not happen last two years.
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24 May 17, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Only guessing - birds or some grub. You could put some plastic bags on them - put a few holes in the bag to let some air in there. Or spray with some grub killer and see if this stops them.
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10 May 17, Dave Christie (Australia - temperate climate)
What is the correct time to pick eggplant. How long can you leave them on the vine after that time.
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11 May 17, Giovanni (Australia - temperate climate)
Unripe eggplants will be a bit greenish inside rather than a clear cream or creamy-white. they probably could still be eaten. I worked at a community garden and a lot were harvested before they were ripe. Sorry I can't answer the other part of your question.
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12 Mar 17, Jill (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My eggplants are purple but very hard. Now starting to go green and a bit striped. I picked this one and cooked - it was a little bitter. Am I leaving it too late or picking too early. Thanks jill
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Showing 101 - 110 of 274 comments
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I know it's over a year later, but I've been looking for info for overwintering a huge eggplant plant, and saw your question here. Summer '22 I picked up three 5" Japanese eggplant plants from local Tractor supply store, on sale in 3 or 4" pots, for $4 each. I grew them in central MA, each in a 12 or 14" pot all summer. Got some good yield, and they grew to about 18" high, but I decided to bring them inside for the winter to see if I could get more fruit from them. I put them on a south facing bay window, air temp was never much above 68*, I watered, fertilized once (maybe 2x) from October-May, and hand pollinated flowers with a paint brush. Got about 10 fruits, which I thought was pretty good! Nice and tender and sweet. In late May/early June they went outside, (after hardened off properly) planted 1 into 2' tall raised wooden garden box (with tomatoes, potatoes, basil, borage), 1 into a large deep pot, and one in a conditioned straw bale. The pot one failed, the box and straw bale one thrived and are now 3' tall and maybe 2-3' wide. Tons of flowers, fruit, I couldn't keep up. I'm trying to figure out if I can bring one of them inside again (transplant into v. large pot) and get one more summer out of it! So you can probably grow Ichyban Japanese in your zone, just protect from cooler temps, and bring inside if your season isn't long enough.

- TMR

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