When to plant Eggplant
A heat-loving relative of the tomato and pepper that wants the warmest spot you've got. Cold soil checks it badly, so transplant late. Pick fruit glossy and firm; dull skin means it's over-ripe and seedy.
Companions: Beans, peppers, marigold — beans help deter beetles
How to grow Eggplant
Eggplant is usually started indoors and transplanted out, giving this tender crop the head start it needs. Give it full sun and space plants about 18 inches apart. It takes roughly 80 days from planting to its first harvest, so count that against your frost dates to be sure it can finish. Classic companions include beans, peppers, marigold — beans help deter beetles.
Grower's tip: Loves heat even more than peppers — don't rush it outside until nights are warm.
When to plant Eggplant by USDA zone
Timing shifts with your climate — the same eggplant goes in weeks earlier in a mild zone than a cold one. Find your zone below for its planting window, or open that zone's full calendar.
| Zone | When to plant |
|---|---|
| Zone 1a | Start seeds indoors Apr 20–May 4 Transplant outdoors Jun 29–Jul 6 |
| Zone 1b | Start seeds indoors Apr 15–Apr 29 Transplant outdoors Jun 24–Jul 1 |
| Zone 2a | Start seeds indoors Apr 10–Apr 24 Transplant outdoors Jun 19–Jun 26 |
| Zone 2b | Start seeds indoors Apr 4–Apr 18 Transplant outdoors Jun 13–Jun 20 |
| Zone 3a | Start seeds indoors Mar 30–Apr 13 Transplant outdoors Jun 8–Jun 15 |
| Zone 3b | Start seeds indoors Mar 25–Apr 8 Transplant outdoors Jun 3–Jun 10 |
| Zone 4a | Start seeds indoors Mar 20–Apr 3 Transplant outdoors May 29–Jun 5 |
| Zone 4b | Start seeds indoors Mar 15–Mar 29 Transplant outdoors May 24–May 31 |
| Zone 5a | Start seeds indoors Mar 10–Mar 24 Transplant outdoors May 19–May 26 |
| Zone 5b | Start seeds indoors Mar 5–Mar 19 Transplant outdoors May 14–May 21 |
| Zone 6a | Start seeds indoors Feb 24–Mar 10 Transplant outdoors May 5–May 12 |
| Zone 6b | Start seeds indoors Feb 18–Mar 4 Transplant outdoors Apr 29–May 6 |
| Zone 7a | Start seeds indoors Feb 10–Feb 24 Transplant outdoors Apr 21–Apr 28 |
| Zone 7b | Start seeds indoors Feb 4–Feb 18 Transplant outdoors Apr 15–Apr 22 |
| Zone 8a | Start seeds indoors Jan 25–Feb 8 Transplant outdoors Apr 5–Apr 12 |
| Zone 8b | Start seeds indoors Jan 18–Feb 1 Transplant outdoors Mar 29–Apr 5 |
| Zone 9a | Start seeds indoors Jan 3–Jan 17 Transplant outdoors Mar 14–Mar 21 |
| Zone 9b | Start seeds indoors Dec 21–Jan 4 Transplant outdoors Mar 1–Mar 8 |
| Zone 10a | Start seeds indoors Dec 6–Dec 20 Transplant outdoors Feb 14–Feb 21 |
| Zone 10b | Start seeds indoors Nov 20–Dec 4 Transplant outdoors Jan 29–Feb 5 |
| Zone 11a | Start seeds indoors Nov 6–Nov 20 Transplant outdoors Jan 15–Jan 22 |
| Zone 11b | Start seeds indoors Nov 6–Nov 20 Transplant outdoors Jan 15–Jan 22 |
| Zone 12a | Start seeds indoors Nov 6–Nov 20 Transplant outdoors Jan 15–Jan 22 |
| Zone 12b | Start seeds indoors Nov 6–Nov 20 Transplant outdoors Jan 15–Jan 22 |
| Zone 13a | Start seeds indoors Nov 6–Nov 20 Transplant outdoors Jan 15–Jan 22 |
| Zone 13b | Start seeds indoors Nov 6–Nov 20 Transplant outdoors Jan 15–Jan 22 |