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 T

(Best months for growing Eggplant in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings

September: Bring on in pots - need a long growing season

  • 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

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29 Jan 18, Cathie (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Any chance you have an African Horned Melon?
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03 Dec 17, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)
How certain are you they are Turkish Egg plants. Let them grow and see what the end up like. Google about them - read all you can. Or look up some seed selling companies and buy some real T E P seeds. The joys of gardening.
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17 Nov 17, L.T. (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have nice flowers on my Aubergine plants but they either drop or die before producing the fruit, also I am trying to grow globe courgette, the fruit looks beautiful and healthy but as soon as it becomes the size of a golf ball they drop off and die. What can I do to get the veggies I want
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20 Nov 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Read through the comments about Zucchini here. They need pollinating - bees or by hand.
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15 Nov 17, Ian Gall (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
I, m growing my egg plant in a tunnel house, the leaves are turning black? What to do?
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21 Nov 17, rachel (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
it's most likely a fungus, you need to spray with something like organic copper
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20 Nov 17, Michael (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I have the opposite - all the lower leaves are turning yellow! But at least I have a couple of dark fruit growing fast.
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23 Oct 17, Robyn Boswell (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Several years ago i bought a patio miniature eggplant which produced really well. I haven't been able to find one since. Can you tell if i can buy the seeds or plant anywhere please? I am in northland
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25 Oct 17, Lorraine (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
I purchased Egg Plants from Mitre 10 Whangarei 2 years ago give them a call they will back order if they don't have them in stock
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20 May 17, Linda (Australia - temperate climate)
I have an eggplant still producing fruit but they aren't turning purple are they ok to eat
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Showing 151 - 160 of 358 comments
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actually in southern ecuador in the sierras. subtropical humid and rainy now until march then flowing into very dry season. Difference from your other sites in southern hemisphere is the winds. My location is about 5000ft above sea level. the real temps (not with humidity) hover about 27c to 30C and it can drop to 10C overnight in the dry season and everything turns brown, in the rainy season it may cool down if there is cloud cover for two days (we are in the Sierras). . I notice that eggplant can become a perennial but how long might it last in a container. this seems a better option. climate control is easier and digging a pit thru rocky soil to use compost is laborious. I hire people to do that for large bushes and fruit trees and even the roses - which seem to thrive here in this climate pose a learning curve LOL

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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. GardenGrow 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.
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