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When to plant eggplants

Start eggplants seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost and plant them out 1 to 3 weeks after the last frost.

Your dates for eggplants

Set your ZIP code at the top of the page and we will work out when to plant eggplants where you live, from the frost records of the nearest NOAA weather station. Your ZIP code is remembered on this device only.

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Eggplants planting dates by zone

JFMAMJJASOND Zone 4b Zone 5b Zone 6b Zone 7b Zone 8b Zone 9a
Start indoorsPlant outFirst harvestDates use each zone's typical frost dates. Enter your ZIP code for your own.
Dates from each zone's typical (median) frost dates.
ZoneStart indoorsPlant out
Zone 2aApr 15 to 29Jun 17 to Jul 1
Zone 3aApr 9 to 23Jun 11 to 25
Zone 3bApr 6 to 20Jun 8 to 22
Zone 4aMar 31 to Apr 14Jun 2 to 16
Zone 4bMar 26 to Apr 9May 28 to Jun 11
Zone 5aMar 21 to Apr 4May 23 to Jun 6
Zone 5bMar 21 to Apr 4May 23 to Jun 6
Zone 6aMar 17 to 31May 19 to Jun 2
Zone 6bMar 10 to 24May 12 to 26
Zone 7aMar 3 to 17May 5 to 19
Zone 7bFeb 22 to Mar 8Apr 26 to May 10
Zone 8aFeb 8 to 22Apr 12 to 26
Zone 8bJan 27 to Feb 10Mar 31 to Apr 14
Zone 9aJan 10 to 24Mar 14 to 28
Zone 9bJan 4 to 18Mar 8 to 22

Where frost is rare

In frost-rare areas eggplant is set out in late winter or late summer and often bears into summer; in the low desert it is planted only in spring. High heat or drought can make fruit bitter or tough.

ZonePlanting months in Extension guides
Zone 9Jan-Feb and Aug-Sep (Central FL); mid-Mar-Jul in North FL (~8b-9a); Mar transplants in the Phoenix-area low desert
Zone 10Aug-Feb (South FL); Jan-Feb and Aug-Sep in Central FL (~9b-10a)
Zone 11Aug-Feb (South FL)

Based on UF/IFAS Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (VH021) Table 1, North/Central/South regions (North ~8b-9a, Central ~9b-10a, South ~10b-11); University of Arizona AZ1005 Maricopa County planting calendar (transplants, March only). Warm-winter areas are matched to zones approximately, so use the months for your region.

How to grow eggplantsYour full planting calendar

Sources