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 T T          
      P P              

(Best months for growing Eggplant in Australia - 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

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07 Aug 19, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Some varieties do have greenish fruit. www.thekitchn.com/a-visual-guide-to-10-glorious-varieties-of-eggplant-232828
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08 Aug 19, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Yes there are some green eggplant. I have found the last few years when the plant has cropped for awhile and the soil is maybe running out of nutrients etc the fruit becomes a bit deformed and is green and purple and doesn't look very attractive. I don't know why this happens - could be weather, trace element deficient - could be one of a hundred different reasons. If I have had a good crop then I'm happy and it's time to pull them out. My eggplant self germinates from fruit left on the ground from last year and dug in. Probably won't germinate until Oct/Nov.
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07 Aug 19, (Australia - temperate climate)
Look at the top of this page and read it and take notice of what it says. You are temperate zone - plant seeds Aug to Sept - transplant from Oct to Jan. It needs soil temp of 24-32 to germinate. My soil temp(Bundaberg) is presently 18 degree - so I shouldn't be even trying to germinate eggplant for another 6 weeks - I'm sub tropical. IT IS a summer crop - NOT a winter crop. When they grown the right time of the year, the fruit will be purple right from when they start forming.
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20 Jul 19, Noel (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi,I’m from Melbourne in the northern suburbs. I have about 5 eggplant plate 2 different varieties. We had a great season. Some plants are still having fruits. It’s middle of July, temps drop to about 2c in early mornings. Is it better to uproot plants and start new this season or trim back and let them re grow this season..? Trying to plan my veggie garden to start planting in September. Any advise is appreciated. Thanks.
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22 Jul 19, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Read the article above. Temperate - treat it as an annual. Grow it in a new position is my suggestion - think of the sun and the shade it will create - other plants.
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17 Jun 19, joe graham (Australia - temperate climate)
just a question my egg plant is still producing fruit. i live an hour north of Sydney. its the middle of June.its flowering like crazy and has about 10 on it ranging in size from tennis ball size to large grape fruit size.we are having mild sunny days and very cool nights down to 6deg is this normal or is climate change a factor in why its doing this. thanks for any reply or advice.
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18 Jun 19, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Climate is 30 years of weather for a particular area. Climate does not change from year to year. Year to year is variable temperature change. Both your plants eggplant and zucchini are warm/hot weather crops so if you are still having warm days then they would still produce as long as they have sufficient nutrient.
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28 Jun 19, joe graham (Australia - temperate climate)
Thanks for your reply. I have learned something new today
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04 May 19, Jan (Australia - temperate climate)
My eggplant is being attacked. Small hole but when you cut them they have black spots all throughout and then you see a light coloured grub. Help please.
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12 Apr 19, Denise Brady (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
For bugs on Egg Plants I always use Neem oil spray, works really well.
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Showing 61 - 70 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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