Growing eggplant: timing, spacing and costs by zone
When to plant eggplant in Zones 6–9, spacing, and what to know before you commit ground.
Not yet expert-reviewed. Written by BAU Farm Intelligence from public extension and agency sources. Check dates and program details with your local extension office.
When to plant
Eggplant: warm-season, will not take a frost. Plant when soil reaches 75–90°F. Dates below are averages worked out from each zone's frost dates — check your own field.
- Zone 6b (Boone NC): set out May 8 – May 29; fall planting June 25 – July 16. First picking around August 3 – August 31.
- Zone 7b (Raleigh): set out April 22 – May 13; fall planting July 9 – July 30. First picking around July 18 – August 15.
- Zone 8b (Charleston SC): set out March 29 – April 19; fall planting August 2 – August 23. First picking around June 24 – July 22.
- Zone 9a (Gainesville FL): set out March 11 – April 1; fall planting August 18 – September 8. First picking around June 6 – July 4.
Setting it up
Grow as transplants, started about 8 weeks before last frost. Space plants 24 inches apart in rows 36 inches apart, about 0.25 inch deep. Expect roughly 80 days to first harvest.
Field notes
Flea beetle pressure is highest in early season; use row cover for the first 3 weeks after transplant.
How it fits each zone
- Zone 6b: good — Eggplant is frost-tender, so timing the outdoor transplant to the last frost matters more here than in warmer zones. Row cover buys 2 weeks of head start.
- Zone 7b: excellent — Eggplant is well suited to Zone 7b. Standard planting dates work with minor adjustments for microclimates.
- Zone 8b: excellent — Eggplant is well suited to Zone 8b. Standard planting dates work with minor adjustments for microclimates.
- Zone 9a: excellent — Eggplant is well suited to Zone 9a. Standard planting dates work with minor adjustments for microclimates.
Before you plant
Line up who will buy it and at what price before seed goes in the ground. See the planting calendar for your exact zone.