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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16 Jul 08, Raj (Australia - temperate climate)
Is it right time to sow the eggplant seed in Perth metro area?
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15 Jul 08, Joanne (Australia - temperate climate)
I seem to have these little grubs burrowing into and eating my fruit. you cant really see that they are there untill you chop the fruit in half. does anyone know what these are and how to get rid of them?
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14 Jul 08, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Jan, Eggplants should do well in your area. Remember to keep them well watered, drying out stops growth and flower production. They may need staking, depending on variety.
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13 Jul 08, Jan van (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
On the Sunshine Coast. Growing eggplant for the first time. Planted seeds early June. No frost here. Now 7"- 8" high. surrounded by silverbeet and shallots. Parsley, Rosemary and garlic Chives in same garden. Organic. Fertilize with liquid (seaweed etc ) and cow manure. Use sugar cane mulch on all gardens. Last put down in March. Any info useful.
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18 Jun 08, Liz (Unknown climate)
Susan, if you can start your eggplants in pots under cover in winter, they will have a good start and you can plant them out when no danger of frost. They will take a while to start flowering but seem to set fruit well once they start. I find that they need at least 3 months of warm, frost free weather to get a good crop. They also need plenty of water (mulching helps). The long slim varieties - "Japanese" or "Asian" are earlier and more prolific fruiters.
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15 Jun 08, Susan Lockwood-Devlin (Unknown climate)
We are interested in growing eggplant on our property but need some advise re temp/soil/length of time before fruiting? Taminick Victoria. Near Glenrowan and Wangaratta Would appreciate any advise you have. Thank you in advance, Susan.
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16 May 08, Chris (Unknown climate)
If you can protect eggplant from getting too cold (especially frosts) then they can keep growing and fruiting for years.
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16 May 08, johneen ford (Unknown climate)
Can anyone tell me if eggplants still grow during winter. I am reluctant to pull my plant out as it is flowering again. Will it fruit again???
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Showing 351 - 358 of 358 comments
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I’ve grown several eggplants for the past three years with great fruiting results. Of course as soon as one plant started to look “oldish” I’d cut that one right back (quite heavily) give it a decent fertilizing (liquid if in a pot or granular if in the ground) and it would recover just great. I also gave it a really good soaking watering immediately after or with the fertilizing. I’d do that about every 6 months for each plant (but not at the same time so as to ensure a continual fruit supply). However just recently those plants have had it… Just plain worn out… I suspect a very heavy build up of root knot nematodes and the start of root and stem collapse. I reckon if you can get 2-3 years from an eggplant then that’s more than enough and then call it quits. From my observations you can get up to 3 years happily from a plant growing in the soil and about 2-2.5 years from one growing in a large container. The pruning back also helps a lot in controlling a pest problem like spider mites. I live in a lovely sub-tropical climate on the Gold Coast so the plants continually grow and fruit. The variety I like is the dwarf Lebanese type. I am about to publish an e-book on growing herbs and veggies in small spaces but more about that later Cheers John

- John Bee

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