How to grow Eggplant

At a glance

🌱 Grow your Eggplant with GardenDex

• Reminders to water it, timed to your weather and whether it's in a pot
• Frost and disease alerts for your garden, the night before
• Follow it from seed to harvest, and see what your garden grew in $
• Point your camera at any plant or bug to identify it

🗓️ When to plant

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost. Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date, when soil and air are consistently warm (ideally 18°C/65°F or warmer).

🌰 How to plant

1. Start seeds indoors in a warm spot (21–27°C / 70–80°F); keep soil moist until germination in 7–14 days.
2. Transplant seedlings to larger pots once they have 2–3 true leaves.
3. Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7–10 days.
4. Plant seedlings outdoors at the spacing above in a warm, sunny location after all frost danger has passed.

💧 Care

• Water consistently; eggplants are thirsty plants and need steady moisture, especially during flowering and fruiting.
• Mulch around plants with 5–8 cm (2–3 in) of organic material to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.
• Pinch off the top growing shoot when plants are 20–25 cm (8–10 in) tall to encourage branching and a bushier shape.
• Support heavy fruit with stakes or cages to prevent branches from breaking.
• Feed with a balanced fertilizer every 3–4 weeks once flowering begins.

🧺 Harvest

Pick eggplants when they are firm, glossy, and 15–20 cm (6–8 in) long, before the skin becomes dull or wrinkled; cut with pruners rather than pulling. Harvest regularly to encourage continued production throughout the season.

🐛 Common problems

Flea beetles: Use row covers on young plants, and spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap if infestations appear.

Spider mites: Mist foliage regularly and spray with neem oil or a strong water spray to dislodge mites.

Verticillium wilt: Choose resistant varieties, rotate crops yearly, and remove affected plants promptly to prevent spread.

Blossom end rot: Maintain consistent soil moisture and mulch well to prevent calcium deficiency in the fruit.

🤝 Companion plants

💚 Good neighbours: Basil, Thyme, Marigold, Spinach

⚠️ Keep apart from: Fennel, Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli)

More vegetables guides