Eggplant Seed Starting Tips

Eggplants are a tender, very warm-weather crop.

• Start eggplants indoors 10 to 8 weeks before the average nighttime temperature is expected to stay above 55°F (13°C),
• Set eggplants in the garden after nighttime temperatures are consistently greater than 55°F (13°C) and daytime temperatures average 70°F (21°C). If temperatures are much cooler you should protect eggplants from the chill with a plastic tunnel or floating row cover.
• Eggplants mature in 50 to 75 days from transplanting. From the time seeds are sown indoors until harvest, eggplants require a total of 100 to 140 days depending on the variety.

Eggplant Sowing and Planting Tips

• Grow eggplant from seeds or seedlings.
• Eggplant seed is viable for 5 years.
• Eggplants are commonly started indoors in a greenhouse or warm, well-lit sunroom or kitchen.
• Sow eggplants in individual pots of light potting mix 10 to 8 weeks before you intend to set plants out.
• Do not set eggplants outdoors until the nighttime temperature is consistently greater than 55°F (13°C)—unless you plan to protect the plants from chilling under a plastic tunnel or spun poly-row cover.
• Sow 3 or 4 seeds to a pot or sow seeds across flats; then clip away the weaker seedlings once the strongest seedling is about 2 inches (5 cm) tall.
• Sow seed ¼ to ½ inch (7-13 mm) deep.
• Germination soil temperature is 70-95°F (20-35°C); the optimum soil temperature for germinating seed is 86°F (30°C).
• Germination takes 10 to 15 days at 86°F (30°C) or warmer.
• Keep seed starting mix just moist until seedlings are well-established.
• Eggplant seed can be sown directly in the garden if the soil temperature is warm enough—and there are enough days in the season for plants to reach maturity.
• Seedlings started indoors should be kept under grow lights or in a sunny window after germination. Keep the indoor nighttime temperature above 62°F (17°C).
• Fertilize with fish emulsion or a soluble complete fertilizer at half strength.
• Transfer seedlings to a larger container once they are 2 to 4 inches (5-10 cm) tall; be sure that seedlings have sufficient room for root growth in the new container; this process is called “potting up”; continue to pot up seedlings as they outgrow containers—until they are transplanted into the garden or a very large container.
• Eggplants can be transplanted to the garden after they are at least 4 to 6 inches (10-15 cm) tall.
• Set plants 24 inches (60 cm) apart in rows at least 24 inches apart.
• Add aged compost to planting beds in advance of transplanting.
• Eggplants prefer a pH range of 5.5 to 6.8.
• Grow eggplants in full sun for best yield.
• If you plant seedlings started by another grower, select plants 6 to 8 weeks old; usually in a 4-inch (10 cm) pot. Check the bottom of the pot to be sure roots are not growing through and the plant is not root-bound.
• Avoid planting eggplants where tomatoes, potatoes, or peppers have grown recently.
• Fertilize with an organic fertilizer such as fish emulsion at half strength.
• Protect early-season plants from cold weather under lightweight spun poly row covers supported by wire hoops or under a plastic tunnel. Cold nights will cause blossoms to drop producing bushy plants without fruit.
• Common pest enemies include aphids, Colorado potato beetles, cucumber beetles, flea beetles, tomato hornworms, and others.
• Common diseases include blossom end rot, bacterial spot, and soft rot.

Interplanting: Plant eggplant with bush beans, chives, cucumbers, lettuce, marigolds, peppers, and tomatoes.

Container Growing Eggplant: Choose a 10-gallon container or larger.

Eggplant Planting Calendar

• 10-8 weeks before the last frost in spring: start seed indoors for transplanting out when nights are warm; start sooner if planting out into a warmed plastic tunnel; pre-warm soil for 2 weeks under black plastic sheeting; minimum soil temperature should be 60°F.
• 3-4 weeks after the last spring frost: transplant seedlings to the garden if nighttime temperatures are 55°F or greater or if you can protect plants under row covers or plastic tunnel from the chill.

Recommended Eggplant Varieties

‘Black Beauty’ is a classic purple-skinned fruit; ‘Dusky’ is purple; ‘Rosa Bianca’ is an heirloom with lavender streaks; ‘Ichiban’ and ‘Pingtung Long’ have long fruits; ‘White Egg’ and ‘Early Black Egg’ are small-fruited and small plants suitable for container growing.

Botanical Name: Solanum melongena

Eggplants are a member of the Solanaceae family, other members of this family are tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes.

More tips: How to Grow Eggplant.