When to plant eggplant
The rule
Days to maturity: 75–90 days [src]
Method: Start seeds indoors, then transplant. Frost tolerance: frost-tender (derived from the planting timing above).
Eggplant is frost-tender; it's grown as a spring/summer crop.
Eggplant planting dates by hardiness zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant / sow | Sow for fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 2a | April 9 – April 23 | May 28 – June 11 | — |
| Zone 2b | April 17 – May 1 | June 5 – June 19 | — |
| Zone 3b | April 12 – April 26 | May 31 – June 14 | — |
| Zone 4a | April 6 – April 20 | May 25 – June 8 | — |
| Zone 4b | April 2 – April 16 | May 21 – June 4 | — |
| Zone 5a | April 4 – April 18 | May 23 – June 6 | — |
| Zone 5b | March 27 – April 10 | May 15 – May 29 | — |
| Zone 6a | March 23 – April 6 | May 11 – May 25 | — |
| Zone 6b | March 16 – March 30 | May 4 – May 18 | — |
| Zone 7a | March 8 – March 22 | April 26 – May 10 | — |
| Zone 7b | February 27 – March 13 | April 17 – May 1 | — |
| Zone 8a | February 16 – March 2 | April 6 – April 20 | — |
| Zone 8b | February 6 – February 20 | March 27 – April 10 | — |
| Zone 9a | January 23 – February 6 | March 13 – March 27 | — |
| Zone 9b | December 26 – January 9 | February 13 – February 27 | — |
| Zone 10a | December 8 – December 22 | January 26 – February 9 | — |
| Zone 10b | December 13 – December 27 | January 31 – February 14 | — |
What you'll need
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Seed-starting traysBurpee SuperSeed 36-cell trayReusable cells that pop seedlings out with the roots intact at transplant time.See it on Amazon- Seed-starting mixEspoma Organic Seed StarterA fine, sterile mix so small seeds can push through and seedlings don't rot.See it on Amazon
- Heat matVIVOSUN heat mat with thermostatWarm-season seeds sprout in days instead of weeks when the soil sits near 75–85°F.See it on Amazon
- Grow lightBarrina T5 LED grow lights, 4-packA windowsill is too dim in late winter; a light 2–3 in. above keeps seedlings short and sturdy.See it on Amazon
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Calendar computed 2026-09-27. Sources: University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension — “Growing Vegetables: When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden”; University of Georgia Extension — Vegetable Planting Chart (Circular C963) (days to maturity); NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Climate Normals (frost); USDA 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map.