When to Plant Eggplant: Dates by Frost, Warm Nights and Fall Planting

Eggplant is a close relative of tomatoes and peppers, but it is fussier about cold than either. University of Minnesota Extension says eggplants are much less cold hardy than tomatoes and may never fully recover if they are chilled, and University of Maryland Extension notes that cold weather stops their growth and makes flea beetle damage worse. Clemson says eggplant grows best at 70 to 85°F. Getting the planting date right matters more than almost anything else you do.

Wait for warm nights and warm soil

Extension sources set the bar a little differently, but they all wait for real warmth:

• Nights: UMN says to transplant after nighttime lows are above 50°F, and to bring hardening-off seedlings indoors if nights drop below 55°F.
• Soil: Utah State says to transplant when the soil is 60°F; Maryland and Clemson say to wait until the soil has thoroughly warmed after the frost-free date.
• Days: Texas A&M says to plant after all danger of frost has passed and daytime temperatures are at least 65°F.
• Frost: Utah State says a light frost kills eggplant.

Spring dates by last frost

The table counts from your average last spring frost. The indoor and plant-out columns match our planting calendar (seeds 10 to 8 weeks before the frost, plants out 2 to 3 weeks after it); the last column is Texas A&M's spring window of 2 to 6 weeks after the frost-free date. Treat the plant-out dates as the earliest and check the night forecast.

Regional examples: in central Maryland (last frost around April 15), UMD lists eggplant seeds indoors in April and transplants from mid-May to mid-June. Clemson gives South Carolina spring transplant dates of May 1 to June 30 in the Piedmont and April 1 to 30 on the coast.

Starting eggplant from seed

Planting day

Fall eggplant in hot-summer areas

Where summers are long, eggplant can be planted again for a fall crop. Texas A&M's vegetable table gives fall planting 12 to 16 weeks before the first freeze, and lists 80 to 90 days to harvest. UMN notes that days above 90°F and very warm nights hurt flowering, so midsummer fruit set may slow down before picking up again as nights cool.

Texas A&M's fall gardening guide lists the last optimum date for setting out eggplant, peppers and tomatoes by Texas gardening region:

Clemson does not recommend fall eggplant in the South Carolina Piedmont, so in cooler parts of the South, one spring planting is the safer plan.

Florida dates

University of Florida IFAS lists eggplant for February to March or August in North Florida, January to February or August to September in Central Florida and August through February in South Florida, where it is a cool-season crop. UF notes that hot, dry conditions can make the fruit bitter.

How long until harvest

Maryland gives 55 to 80 days from transplanting and Clemson 65 to 80 days (100 to 120 from seed). Utah State says fruit reaches full size 10 to 20 days after the flower opens. Texas A&M picks fruit anywhere from one-third to full size, while the skin is still glossy. Eggplant is killed by frost, so pick everything before your first fall frost.

Where eggplant goes in the garden

Eggplant goes out at about the same time as peppers, a week or so after tomatoes. See what to plant with eggplant for companions, when to plant peppers and when to plant tomatoes for its relatives, and when to plant basil for an herb that wants the same warm nights.

Frequently asked questions

When should I plant eggplant outside?

About 2 to 3 weeks after your last frost, once night lows stay above 50°F (UMN) and the soil has warmed to about 60°F (Utah State). Texas A&M's table gives 2 to 6 weeks after the frost-free date.

When should I start eggplant seeds indoors?

About 8 to 10 weeks before planting out. UMN says about eight weeks; Maryland and Utah State use transplants 8 to 10 weeks old; Clemson and Texas A&M say 6 to 8 weeks.

What temperature is too cold for eggplant?

A light frost kills it (Utah State). UMN waits for night lows above 50°F before transplanting and brings seedlings in when nights drop below 55°F, and says chilled plants may never fully recover.

Can I plant eggplant in summer for a fall crop?

In hot-summer areas, yes. Texas A&M gives fall planting 12 to 16 weeks before the first freeze. Clemson does not recommend fall eggplant in the South Carolina Piedmont.

When do you plant eggplant in Florida?

UF/IFAS lists February to March or August in North Florida, January to February or August to September in Central Florida, and August through February in South Florida.

How long does eggplant take to grow?

About 55 to 80 days from transplanting (Maryland), 65 to 80 days from transplanting or 100 to 120 from seed (Clemson). Texas A&M's table lists 80 to 90 days.