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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22 May 17, Sean (Australia - temperate climate)
Egg plant, tomatoes, potatoes and capsicums are in the same family as deadly nightshade and produce an alkaloid called Solanine which can be toxic. An average adult would need to consume 400 mg of Solanine for it to be life threatening and an average eggplant would contain around 11 mg so you would have to eat over 35 egg plants to get to that level. Maybe you have a passion for them! Trust this helps.
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20 May 17, Mary Qoriniyasi (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
What do I do to eggplant plant when season is over
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22 May 17, Jack (Australia - temperate climate)
Egg plant is a short-lived perennial and will grow on into the next season. For strong, healthy plants with a good yield you would be better to treat them like an annual and plant them in a different spot next season.
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19 May 17, Clive Halliday (Australia - tropical climate)
We have 5 eggplants in large tubs. They are flourishing wit many flowers. But the young fruit are being eaten through the skin and scooping out the flesh. What is causing this? Nothing unusual found on plants. This did not happen last two years.
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24 May 17, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Only guessing - birds or some grub. You could put some plastic bags on them - put a few holes in the bag to let some air in there. Or spray with some grub killer and see if this stops them.
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10 May 17, Dave Christie (Australia - temperate climate)
What is the correct time to pick eggplant. How long can you leave them on the vine after that time.
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11 May 17, Giovanni (Australia - temperate climate)
Unripe eggplants will be a bit greenish inside rather than a clear cream or creamy-white. they probably could still be eaten. I worked at a community garden and a lot were harvested before they were ripe. Sorry I can't answer the other part of your question.
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18 Apr 17, Nigel (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Is it possible to grow eggplant from cuttings?
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19 Apr 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Yes it is. Take short tip cuttings in late Spring and into the Summer. If the leaves are large, reduce them with a pair of scissors. Put your cutting/s into a jar of water in a warm spot (not hot) and they will grow roots. Treat them as ordinary seedlings after planting out.
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28 Apr 17, Chris (New Zealand - temperate climate)
A speedier way to propagate is to use an aquarium air pump to add extra oxygen to the water you have your cuttings in
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Showing 161 - 170 of 358 comments
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I know it's over a year later, but I've been looking for info for overwintering a huge eggplant plant, and saw your question here. Summer '22 I picked up three 5" Japanese eggplant plants from local Tractor supply store, on sale in 3 or 4" pots, for $4 each. I grew them in central MA, each in a 12 or 14" pot all summer. Got some good yield, and they grew to about 18" high, but I decided to bring them inside for the winter to see if I could get more fruit from them. I put them on a south facing bay window, air temp was never much above 68*, I watered, fertilized once (maybe 2x) from October-May, and hand pollinated flowers with a paint brush. Got about 10 fruits, which I thought was pretty good! Nice and tender and sweet. In late May/early June they went outside, (after hardened off properly) planted 1 into 2' tall raised wooden garden box (with tomatoes, potatoes, basil, borage), 1 into a large deep pot, and one in a conditioned straw bale. The pot one failed, the box and straw bale one thrived and are now 3' tall and maybe 2-3' wide. Tons of flowers, fruit, I couldn't keep up. I'm trying to figure out if I can bring one of them inside again (transplant into v. large pot) and get one more summer out of it! So you can probably grow Ichyban Japanese in your zone, just protect from cooler temps, and bring inside if your season isn't long enough.

- TMR

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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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