Growing Eggplant, also Aubergine

Solanum sp. : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
  S S                  
        T              
        P              

(Best months for growing Eggplant in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 75°F and 90°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 24 - 30 inches apart
  • Harvest in 12-15 weeks. Cut fruit with scissors or sharp knife.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Beans, capsicum, lettuce, amaranth, thyme
  • Avoid growing close to: Potatoes

Your comments and tips

12 Aug 13, Jesse chant (Australia - temperate climate)
This is most probably due to a lack of pollinators (bees etc). Try planting some bee attracting plants. You can hand pollinate in the meantime.
30 Sep 12, dirk (Australia - temperate climate)
I have a very large eggplant 8 ft tall, , inherited fromprevious owner, dont know how old , do i cut right back or let it go, it has big spikes on it. pl
11 Dec 12, Jack (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I think what you are describing is not actually an Eggplant but a related species. Try looking up Solanum mauritianum. It is an invasive weed, I had one recently and immediately thought it looked like an Eggplant. Do not eat! it is posinous.
15 Sep 12, Anne Eaton (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My eggplant is mature and has lots and lots of flowers and leaves but no fruit. What am i doing wrong?
29 Oct 12, Vai (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Anne, The only thing I can suggest is sprinkling some sulphate of potash around the plant and watering it in. Alternatively, you could bury a couple of bananas (with skin) around the plant but I'd suggest the concentrated sulphate of potash. As you probably know, potassium promotes healthy flower and fruit growth in most plants. Nitrogen promotes new stem and leaf growth so its possible you have too much nitrogen in the soil (using cow or sheep manure?) and not enough potassium.
13 Jul 12, julie (Australia - tropical climate)
They could be sun burnt. Even in winter sun strong enough to burnt the tender skin of your eggplants
03 Jun 12, (Australia - temperate climate)
You need to cross-pollinate manually. Bees are the pollinators. We had bees in the garden & fruit on the eggplants, then no bees & no fruit. The flowers are hermaphrodite. Pick a freshly opened flower from one bush & gently brush the stamen against flowers on other plants.
24 May 12, Mandy (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I am trying to grow a lebanese eggplant. The plant was completely healthy two three days ago. Then suddenly one of its branches started wilting and now the whole plant looks wilted. Its still got fruit on it which looks fine and flowers don't look wilted at all but the whole plant seems to be dying down. what could be the problem. Could someone please help.
17 Jan 13, Felicity (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Mandy - did you ever find a solution - because you are describing exactly what is happening to my eggplants!!
16 May 12, Janelle Coppel (Australia - temperate climate)
What months/seasons is the eggplant at its best quality
Showing 231 - 240 of 348 comments

Ask a question or post a comment or advice about Eggplant

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.