Eggplant planting calendar
When to plant eggplant — pick your state
Eggplant timing swings hard by climate — choose your state for sow, transplant, and harvest dates calibrated to its USDA zone and frost window.
Northeast
Southeast
Midwest
Southwest
West
Pacific
Common questions
When should I plant eggplant?
Eggplant needs more heat than tomatoes or peppers — transplant only after soil reaches 18 °C (65 °F) and night temperatures stay consistently above 13 °C (55 °F); cold soil causes prolonged transplant shock and purple-leaf discolouration. Start seeds 8-10 weeks before last frost at a soil temperature of 27-30 °C for good germination rates. In zones 3-5, rely on long-season indoor starts and black plastic mulch to boost soil heat. Because the right window depends on your local frost dates, pick your US state above for a calendar with exact sow, transplant, and harvest dates.
Does the best time to plant eggplant vary by state?
Yes — planting dates swing by several weeks across the US because each state sits in a different USDA zone with its own frost window. Every state page here gives eggplant dates calibrated to that state's climate.
How are these eggplant planting dates calculated?
Each state's dates come from that state's dominant USDA hardiness zone and NOAA average frost dates, then adjusted for eggplant's cold tolerance and days to maturity.