Crops › Eggplant
How to grow Eggplant
in the US
Sow March to June, plant out July, harvest June to October. About 75 days from seed to plate.
Shown for zone 6. Zone table further down.
Eggplant is a member of the Solanaceae family, a bit like tomatoes or peppers. It's a medium difficulty crop, but really rewarding when you get it right. On my plot, they always look so striking with their big leaves and shiny fruit, proper handsome plants.
Sowing
Eggplant seeds need warmth to get going, so starting them indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost is the way to go. Sow them about 1/4 inch deep in good quality seed compost, one or two seeds per small pot or cell. Keep the compost consistently moist and aim for a temperature around 70-80°F (21-27°C) for good germination. Depending on your USDA zone, you could be sowing from January right through to July or even September in the warmest spots. Check your zone's specific sow dates in the GrowMore CookMore app, as it makes a big difference.
Growing on
Once your seedlings have their first true leaves, prick them out into individual 3-4 inch pots if you started multiple in a cell. Keep them warm and watered. About 1-2 weeks before transplanting outside, start hardening them off gradually. Plant them out after all danger of frost has passed and the soil has really warmed up, spacing them 2-3 feet apart. Many varieties benefit from some support, like a sturdy stake, as the fruits can get heavy. Compact varieties do well in large containers too.
Looking after it
Eggplants are thirsty plants, especially once they start fruiting, so consistent watering is crucial. Don't let them dry out, or the fruit can get bitter. A balanced fertilizer every few weeks helps, particularly in pots. Mulching around the base keeps moisture in and weeds down. Pinching out the growing tip can encourage bushier growth and more fruit.
What goes wrong
To be honest, the biggest nuisances on my plot are usually flea beetles and aphids when the plants are young. A physical barrier like row covers can protect them early on. Keep an eye out for Colorado potato beetles and spider mites too, especially in hot, dry spells. Good air circulation and keeping the plot tidy helps prevent most diseases, you know what I mean.
Harvest
You'll be harvesting about 75 days from sowing, from August through October for most, when the fruits are shiny and firm. Cut them with a bit of stem attached to avoid damaging the plant. If they look dull, they're probably overripe. They don't store for ages, so use them fresh. Store them in a cool, dry place, or refrigerate for a few days if you must.
I always put a couple of my eggplant plants in the greenhouse, even if I'm growing most outside. That extra bit of warmth really gives them a boost and I often get the earliest, biggest fruits from those.
Dates for your plot
Type your zone and the plant-out advice shifts to your frost dates.
Varieties, and whether the club would grow them again
| Variety | Club verdict |
|---|---|
| Black Beauty This is a classic, proper reliable performer, giving you big, dark purple fruits. Great for beginners wanting a straightforward, productive plant. | No club votes yet |
| Nadia A dependable choice that consistently produces lovely, elongated, dark fruits. It's a solid variety if you want consistent harvests. | No club votes yet |
| Galine This variety is known for its high yields of sleek, black, uniform fruits. It's a cracking choice for a steady supply of good quality eggplants. | No club votes yet |
| Patio Baby A compact little plant, absolutely perfect if you're short on space or growing in containers. It gives you loads of small, tasty eggplants. | No club votes yet |
| Ichiban This one gives you long, slender, dark purple fruits with a lovely mild flavor. It's a fantastic choice for grilling or stir-fries. | No club votes yet |
| Fairy Tale A beautiful, striped mini-eggplant variety, giving you small, tender fruits. Ideal for early picking and a bit of a fancy look. | No club votes yet |
| Rosa Bianca A stunning Italian heirloom with beautiful pink and white streaked, round fruits. It's known for its creamy texture and mild taste, a real treat. | No club votes yet |
| Listada de Gandia Another eye-catching heirloom, producing beautiful white and purple striped, teardrop-shaped fruits. It's got a lovely mild flavor and tender skin. | No club votes yet |
| Ping Tung Long This variety produces long, slender, purple fruits that are very tender and rarely bitter. It's a good one if you want a lot of fruit over a long season. | No club votes yet |
| Millionaire A very popular Japanese variety, known for its high yields of glossy, slender, dark purple fruits. It's a good reliable choice for consistent harvests. | No club votes yet |
| Orient Express This one gives you early, slender, dark purple fruits that are quite vigorous. It's a cracking choice for a quicker harvest. | No club votes yet |
| Diamond A dependable variety that produces classic, teardrop-shaped, glossy black fruits. It's a good all-rounder for most growing conditions. | No club votes yet |
| Dusky This variety offers good yields of medium-sized, oval, dark purple fruits. It's a solid, straightforward choice for a steady crop. | No club votes yet |
| Classic A really reliable maincrop variety, giving you those traditional, dark purple, teardrop-shaped eggplants. It's a very consistent producer for the home gardener. | No club votes yet |
| Calliope A stunning hybrid that produces loads of small, variegated purple and white fruits. It’s a productive and pretty choice for both containers and the plot. | No club votes yet |
Votes are members rating varieties in their Seed Tin, one vote per gardener. Tap a variety for the full page and where to buy.
Buy Eggplant seeds
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Sowing by USDA zone
| Zone | Sow / plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | June to July | August to September |
| Zone 4 | May to June | July to September |
| Zone 5 | April to June | July to October |
| Zone 6 | March to June | June to October |
| Zone 7 | March to July | June to November |
| Zone 8 | February to August | May to November |
| Zone 9 | January to September | April to December |
| Zone 10 | January to October | March to December |
Cook the harvest
The quintessential Greek comfort dish layers roasted eggplant with a spiced ground lamb and tomato sauce, all topped with a velvety béchamel and baked until golden and bubbling. It takes time but every layer rewards the effort with complex, warming flavor.
100 min · hardThick rounds of eggplant are char-grilled until smoky and tender, then laid out on a platter and drizzled with a lemony tahini sauce and topped with pomegranate seeds, fresh herbs, and a dusting of sumac. A stunning Middle Eastern-inspired dish that works as a starter or side.
25 min · easyWhole eggplant is charred directly over a flame until the flesh is silky and deeply smoky, then blended with tahini, garlic, and lemon to create the most flavourful baba ganoush you will ever taste. Finished with pomegranate seeds and fresh mint, it makes a stunning, crowd-pleasing dip.
35 min · easyChunks of eggplant and chickpeas slowly simmer in an aromatic Moroccan-spiced tomato sauce fragrant with cumin, cinnamon, ginger, and preserved lemon. This warming, satisfying stew is perfect over couscous and fills the kitchen with irresistible aromas.
60 min · mediumWatch for, and grow alongside
Companions: beans, peppers, spinach, thyme
Questions people ask
When do you sow Eggplant in the US?
Sow Eggplant from March to June in zone 6, earlier or later by zone. Plant out July, after the last frost.
How long does Eggplant take from sowing to harvest?
Roughly 75 days, with the harvest June to October.
Which Eggplant varieties do gardeners grow again?
Club members rate every variety they grow. This page shows the grow-again votes for Black Beauty, Nadia, Galine, Patio Baby and more.
Track your Eggplant from packet to plate
Sowing reminders and harvest forecasts for your own frost dates, the Seed Tin, Scan Centre for any label or packet, and the Potty Mouth Garden Club. Free to start.
Allotment keeper in the North East of England, the voice behind the Tony C Smith YouTube channel, and the gardener who built GrowMore CookMore. Club numbers on this page update as members log their plots. Last updated 3 September 2026.