How to grow Eggplant
Solanum melongena
Glossy, sun-loving, and worth the wait.
Eggplant is a heat lover — it wants the same warm, sunny treatment as peppers. In cooler regions, start indoors early, use a compact variety, and a black-plastic mulch to bank heat.
Grow Eggplant with step-by-step help for your exact yard.
Start free in Seededly →Eggplant at a glance
| Sun | Full sun |
|---|---|
| Soil pH | 5.8–6.8 |
| Spacing | 24 in |
| Harvest | 70–85 days |
| Plant | After last frost |
| Note | Loves heat |
How to grow Eggplant, step by step
Start warm
- Start seed indoors 8–10 weeks before your last frost; it needs a long warm season.
- Transplant only once nights stay above 55°F.
Sun & support
- Full sun and rich soil; stake taller varieties so fruit doesn’t snap the plant.
- Mulch to keep soil warm and evenly moist.
Pick glossy
- Harvest when skin is firm and glossy — dull skin means overripe and bitter.
- Cut with a bit of stem; picking often keeps it producing.
Eggplant problems & fixes
Eggplant — Holes chewed in leaves: what's wrong and how do I fix it?
Flea beetles love eggplant. Use row cover early; healthy plants outgrow light damage.
Eggplant — Fruit bitter or seedy: what's wrong and how do I fix it?
Picked too late. Harvest while skin is glossy and firm.
Eggplant — Few fruit set: what's wrong and how do I fix it?
Too cold. Eggplant needs warmth — wait for steady heat or use mulch to warm the soil.
Recommended eggplant varieties
- Black Beauty — All-rounder. The classic big glossy globe.
- Ichiban — Japanese. Slim, fast, tender - very productive.
- Fairy Tale — Mini. Small striped fruit; great in pots.
Eggplant month-by-month
| January | Off-season. |
|---|---|
| February | Plan a hot, sunny spot. |
| March | Start seed indoors. |
| April | Pot up seedlings; keep warm. |
| May | Transplant after frost when warm. |
| June | Plants establish and flower. |
| July | First fruit — pick glossy. |
| August | Peak harvest — keep picking. |
| September | Keep harvesting; watch for beetles. |
| October | Last fruit before frost. |
| November | Pull spent plants. |
| December | Off-season. |