When to plant eggplant
Start eggplant indoors 6–8 weeks before your last spring frost, then transplant 2.5 weeks after the frost date.. Enter your ZIP below for exact dates.
The rule
Start indoors; set out 2–3 weeks after the last frost. [src]Cited: University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension — “Growing Vegetables: When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden”
Start indoors 6–8 weeks before setting out. [src]Cited: Johnny's Selected Seeds — Seed-Starting Date Calculator chart
Days to maturity: 75–90 days [src]
Method: Start seeds indoors, then transplant. Frost tolerance: frost-tender (derived from the planting timing above).
Eggplant is frost-tender; it's grown as a spring/summer crop.
Eggplant planting dates by hardiness zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant / sow | Sow for fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 10a | December 8 – December 22 | January 26 – February 9 | — |
| Zone 10b | December 13 – December 27 | January 31 – February 14 | — |
| Zone 2a | April 9 – April 23 | May 28 – June 11 | — |
| Zone 2b | April 17 – May 1 | June 5 – June 19 | — |
| Zone 3b | April 12 – April 26 | May 31 – June 14 | — |
| Zone 4a | April 6 – April 20 | May 25 – June 8 | — |
| Zone 4b | April 2 – April 16 | May 21 – June 4 | — |
| Zone 5a | April 4 – April 18 | May 23 – June 6 | — |
| Zone 5b | March 27 – April 10 | May 15 – May 29 | — |
| Zone 6a | March 23 – April 6 | May 11 – May 25 | — |
| Zone 6b | March 16 – March 30 | May 4 – May 18 | — |
| Zone 7a | March 8 – March 22 | April 26 – May 10 | — |
| Zone 7b | February 27 – March 13 | April 17 – May 1 | — |
| Zone 8a | February 16 – March 2 | April 6 – April 20 | — |
| Zone 8b | February 6 – February 20 | March 27 – April 10 | — |
| Zone 9a | January 23 – February 6 | March 13 – March 27 | — |
| Zone 9b | December 26 – January 9 | February 13 – February 27 | — |
What you'll need
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Last verified 2026-07-16. Sources: University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension — “Growing Vegetables: When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden”; University of Georgia Extension (days to maturity); NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Climate Normals (frost); USDA 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map.