When to plant eggplant
Vegetable, tender
Use 6–8 week-old transplants after frost danger has passed; Clemson's FAQ also lists an 8-week indoor start before the last frost, and CSU's very-tender group prefers 2 or more weeks after frost. Days are from transplant (about 100–120 from seed) and seed sprouts fastest at 70–90°F.
The general rule
- Start indoors
- 6–8 weeks before the last spring frost
- Transplant outdoors
- 0–2 weeks after the last spring frost
- Plant when soil reaches
- 60°F
- Days to maturity
- 60–80 days
What that means in different climates
The same rule applied to the safer frost dates of cities from cold to frost-free.
| City | Last frost · safer | Start indoors | Transplant outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | Jan 23 | Nov 28 – Dec 12 | Jan 23 – Feb 6 |
| Tucson, AZ | Mar 2 | Jan 5 – Jan 19 | Mar 2 – Mar 16 |
| Portland, OR | Mar 21 | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 |
| Baltimore, MD | Apr 4 | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | Apr 4 – Apr 18 |
| New York, NY | Apr 12 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 |
| Nashville, TN | Apr 16 | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | Apr 16 – Apr 30 |
| Louisville, KY | Apr 23 | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Apr 23 – May 7 |
| Omaha, NE | May 6 | Mar 11 – Mar 25 | May 6 – May 20 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | May 15 | Mar 20 – Apr 3 | May 15 – May 29 |
| Miami, FL | Frost rare | Frost is rare: late winter to spring; late summer to fall (soil 60°F+). | |