How To Grow Epic Eggplants From Seed To Harvest In Your Backyard Garden!

Upgrade your spring garden by planting some epic eggplants! When you grow eggplant from seed, you unlock access to exotic (and delicious) varieties rarely found in stores. You also cultivate an abundant crop perfect for upgrading pasta, salads, stir-fries, dips, and grilled dishes. Our epic eggplant gardening guide shows how – every step of the way.

Heavy and ripe eggplants growing in the garden.

So, grab your favorite gardening gloves and a shovel or two.

We’re growing some eggplants!

Germinating Eggplant Seeds Indoors In 3 Easy Steps

Eggplant seedlings growing in the bright light ready for the garden.

Follow this super-simple 3-step indoor eggplant seed germination process around 8 to 10 weeks before your zone’s last frost.

(Eggplant seeds need tremendously warm conditions to germinate, so we recommend planting them indoors for most growers!)

Step 1 – Create Your Eggplant Germination Paradise

Fill eggplant seed trays with premium, well-draining potting soil or seed starter mix. Moisten until it feels like a wrung-out sponge.

Plant the eggplant seeds ¼ inch deep, 2 to 3 per cell. These temperamental beauties demand warmth (75 to 85°F)! So, place them on a heat mat if necessary.

Cover the growing cups with a clear dome. The idea is to create warm temperatures and humidity that would make a tropical plant jealous!

Don’t let your eggplant soil get dry. Check the soil every few days – and give it a small drink when necessary.

Step 2 – Wait Patiently For Eggplant Seed Germination

Eggplant seeds take their sweet time. Expect your baby eggplant seedlings to take 7 to 14 days to emerge. Once green shoots appear, immediately remove the dome.

Then, position grow lights 2 to 3 inches above the eggplant seedlings. Provide 14 to 16 hours of light daily. Insufficient light now means leggy, weak eggplants later.

Step 3 – The Great Outdoors Transition

Transition your eggplants outdoors when the seedlings have 3 to 4 true leaves and outdoor soil temperatures consistently reach 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

But proceed with caution! These pampered indoor plants need gradual toughening. Harden them off over 7 to 10 days by increasing outdoor exposure daily.

On planting day, space them 18 to 24 inches apart in a full-sun location with rich soil. Water your new eggplants and watch them thrive!

Eggplant Growing Requirements

Delicious looking eggplants growing in a greenhouse garden.

Here’s what your eggplants need to thrive in your backyard garden!

Sunlight

Eggplants are unabashed sun worshippers. If you don’t give them at least 6 to 8 hours of daily sunlight, you can expect leggy growth, weak plants, delayed maturity (if any), and lousy fruit development. Plant your eggplants in the sunniest section of your garden, away from the shadows of trees or structures that might deny them their solar feast.

Climate

These heat-loving prima donnas have no patience for chilly conditions. Eggplants thrive when daytime temperatures hover between 70 to 85°F and nights stay above 60°F. Anything lower, and they’ll sulk, refusing to grow or set fruit.

They dramatically perish at the merest hint of frost. For homesteaders in northern regions, be prepared with row covers for unexpected temperature dips!

Homesteaders blessed with long, hot summers will find eggplants become almost embarrassingly productive. They pump out fruits recklessly until autumn’s first chill signals their grand finale.

Soil + Fertilizer

Eggplants want rich, well-draining soil with a slightly acidic pH between 5.8 and 6.5. Before planting, amend your garden bed soil with a few inches of well-rotted cattle or chicken manure compost worked into the top 12 inches.

Once fruits begin to set, transition to a phosphorus and potassium-rich formula with reduced nitrogen. The reduced nitrogen helps to encourage fruiting rather than excessive foliage.

For an added boost, offer your eggplants fish emulsion or compost tea every 2 to 3 weeks during peak growing season.

Watering

Consistency is the watchword when irrigating eggplants. These thirsty vegetables require steady moisture. They need around 1 to 2 inches of water weekly delivered deeply rather than frequently.

Balance is also key. Drought stress results in bitter eggplant fruits and dropped blossoms. But waterlogged conditions invite root rot and fungal diseases to your eggplant garden party.

The best approach for eggplants is drip irrigation. Doing so helps keep eggplant foliage dry while maintaining consistent soil moisture.

Harvesting

Eggplant fruits are ready when their skin is glossy and taut and has a slight give when gently pressed. Look for perfectly ripe fruit that’s not quite firm or soft.

Eggplant size can also be deceiving! Smaller fruits often deliver superior flavor and fewer seeds. Many gardeners swear that slightly underripe eggplants have a better, less bitter taste and a firmer texture than overripe ones, which can become mushy and seedy.

Use sharp pruners or knives to cut fruits with a short stem attached. Never pull or twist, which damages both fruit and plant.

Harvest frequently to encourage continued production. Nothing motivates an eggplant like having its fruits admired and collected! Try to harvest your eggplant crop in the morning when the fruits are hydrated and crisp.

Eggplant Planting And Growing Schedule

Fancy colorful eggplants on the wooden picnic table.

Here are the critical dates all eggplant growers should know.

April

Indoor seed starting time for most regions (8 to 10 weeks before last frost). While you can technically plant eggplant seeds directly in your garden when the weather warms, starting them indoors gives you a significant head start, especially if you’re from a colder growing zone. Seeds require consistent 75 to 85°F temperatures to germinate properly. Heat mats can help if your seed-starting sanctuary is a tad chilly.

May

Hardening off and transplanting month once soil temperatures reach a consistent 60°F. Don’t rush this transition! Gradually introduce eggplant seedlings to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days. Plant out with protection from late frosts using cloches, wall-o-water, or row covers.

June

Growth acceleration period. Apply the season’s first side-dressing of balanced organic fertilizer or compost tea as your eggplants reach 12 inches tall. Install support systems for taller varieties. Tomato cages, sturdy individual stakes, and Florida weave systems work well. Monitor closely for flea beetles and eggplant’s arch-nemesis, the potato beetle!

July

The first harvest begins! Early-maturing varieties reward vigilant gardeners with their initial fruits. Don’t let your eggplants get too dry in the summer warmth. During heat waves, provide afternoon shade if temperatures exceed 95°F. (Even these heat lovers have limits!)

August

Peak production month when your eggplant plants transform into fruit-bearing machines. Harvest frequently (every 2 to 3 days) to maintain momentum. Remove any overripe or malformed eggplant fruits immediately! They drain energy from future production. Apply one final light feeding and continue deep watering through any dry spells.

September

Season wind-down for northern growers. As temperatures cool, growth slows. Remove any new flowers that won’t have time to develop before frost. Consider extending your eggplant growing season with row covers when nights dip below 55°F. Southern gardeners continue harvesting until the first frost prediction, then execute the final harvest of all remaining fruits, regardless of size.

Choosing The Best Eggplant Varieties And Cultivars

Many gardeners feel surprised when they discover that there’s more than one eggplant cultivar! Here are some of our favorites.

Globe Eggplant

The classic Globe eggplant is a lovely, deep purple, pendulous beauty most famous for Mediterranean cuisine. These substantial fruits can often weigh 1 to 3 pounds each. They offer thick, meaty flesh perfect for iconic dishes like eggplant parmesan and moussaka. Their relatively low seed-to-flesh ratio makes them ideal for easy home-cooked meals.

Size: Medium to large (6 to 9 inches long, 4 to 6 inches wide).
Appearance: Deep purple, glossy, pear-shaped or oval.
Taste: Rich, slightly bitter.
Days Until Harvest: 65 to 85 days.
USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 11.

Globe eggplants might take a long time to grow. But they make up for it with their impressive yields.

Rosa Bianca Eggplant

The Rosa Bianca eggplant is as beautiful and unique as it is delicious! It has a rotund form and enchanting lavender-white skin swirled with subtle violet strokes. It’s like something from a Renaissance still-life painting. This Italian treasure also offers flesh of unparalleled creaminess and a remarkable absence of bitterness. It’s delicious and doesn’t need salting before cooking.

Size: Medium (4 to 6 inches long).
Appearance: Lavender with white streaks, round to bulbous.
Taste: Mild, creamy, less bitter.
Days Until Harvest: 75 to 90 days.
USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 11.

Rosa Bianca rewards patience with fruits that roast to silky perfection. The yummy flavor transforms marvelously into epic eggplant spreads and sauces you can use for nearly any appetizer, sandwich, or pasta dish.

Little Fingers Eggplant

Little Fingers eggplant delivers clustered bouquets of slender, bite-sized fruits. These diminutive dark purple gems mature remarkably early and often take only 60 to 65 days. Their tender skin requires no peeling. And the sweet, non-bitter flesh contains few seeds. They’re perfect for quick-cooking methods like stir-frying or grilling whole.

Size: Small (3 to 6 inches long, slender).
Appearance: Dark purple to black, glossy, finger-sized.
Taste: Mild, sweet.
Days Until Harvest: 60 to 70 days.
USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 11.

Container gardeners particularly treasure this variety for its restrained habit. The plant only grows 2 or 3 feet tall and can thrive in limited spaces. Little Fingers’ precocious nature also means northern growers can expect substantial harvests even in shorter growing seasons.

Japanese Eggplant

The elegant Japanese eggplant has slender, elongated forms and glossy skin that range from vibrant purple to striated lavender hues. Varieties like ‘Ichiban’ and ‘Millionaire’ demonstrate remarkable heat tolerance. They continue to set fruit even during summer’s most oppressive periods when other eggplants might stop producing.

Size: Long and slender (6 to 10 inches long, 1 to 2 inches wide).
Appearance: Deep purple to nearly black, glossy.
Taste: Sweet, tender.
Days Until Harvest: 60 to 75 days.
USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 11.

These epic eggplants have thin skin, tender flesh, and few seeds. Their quick-cooking flesh also absorbs marinades and sauces with impressive efficiency. Season them with garlic-chili oil, miso, or soy sauce to upgrade your next BBQ or homestead feast.

Thai Eggplant

Beautiful Thai green eggplants on a wooden cutting board.

The Thai eggplant introduces a whimsical charm to the vegetable garden. It’s most famous for its golf ball-sized, round fruits that appear in clusters like ornamental baubles among the foliage. Their slightly bitter, seedy interior provides the perfect base for traditional Southeast Asian curries and stir-fries, where they absorb complex spices while maintaining texture during cooking.

Size: Small (1 to 2 inches in diameter).
Appearance: Round, green (sometimes purple or white).
Taste: Slightly bitter, crunchy.
Days Until Harvest: 70 to 90 days.
USDA Growing Zones: 9 to 11.

Thai eggplants aren’t the easiest crop for beginners. But they’re undeniably delicious and also have ornamental qualities. They’re one of the few garden plants seamlessly transitioning between vegetable garden and decorative border!

Common Problems With Eggplants In The Garden

Damaged eggplant leaves eaten by insects likely beetles.

Growing eggplants can be surprisingly tricky! If you encounter trouble, it’s likely due to one of these common eggplant-growing mistakes.

1. Temperature And Timing

Your eggplants will throw a horticultural tantrum when planted prematurely. Commit the cardinal sin of introducing seedlings to the soil below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, and you’ll sow sulking plants that refuse to grow for weeks – if they even survive!

These tropical-minded vegetables demand warm soil and an entire season of heat ahead of them. An eggplant rushed into the ground is like a fine wine served too early. It’s a tragic waste of potential.

Southern exposure is non-negotiable for these sun worshippers. Compromising on this point by tucking them into partial shade is a mistake made only once in a gardening career. (Lol.)

When improperly sited, sun-deprived eggplants respond with yellowing leaves, stunted growth, and fruit sets that are reluctant at best.

2. Eggplant Pests – Especially Beetles!

Flea beetles and Colorado potato beetles love eggplants more than anything. The issue is that they chew small holes in leaves and weaken the plant. Severe infestations can kill young eggplant seedlings outright!

To combat beetles, use eggplant row covers early in the season. Row covers help physically block pests from reaching plants. Remove covers when plants flower.

Neem oil spray works well for existing infestations. Apply weekly during peak beetle season. You should also manually patrol your garden in the morning. Do you see any pesky flea beetles? Flush them off with a garden hose or pluck them manually while wearing garden gloves. It’s time-consuming – but far superior to introducing synthetic pesticides to your organic garden!

3. Lack Of Support

Multiple eggplants dangling from the branches in the garden.

Eggplant stems are sometimes embarrassingly inadequate when laden with heavy, mid-summer fruit! If the eggplants get too heavy, you might have split stems and ground-touching fruits that invite rot to set in.

The solution is easy. Install support before it seems necessary! Sturdy stakes or tomato cages with additional ties as fruits develop prevent the undignified sprawl that can damage your plant or threaten your fruit.

Conclusion

Basket stuffed with ripe and delicious purple eggplants.

You’re now prepared to cultivate these epic garden aristocrats with confidence and flair! We admit that eggplants are slightly trickier than garden crops like beans, butternut squash, or herbs. But remember that eggplants reward attention to detail with glossy, abundant fruits. They also elevate your cooking and impress your family!

What about you?

Are you going to grow eggplants this year?
Will you grow globe eggplants? Or a unique, fancy cultivar?
What’s your favorite eggplant recipe? (Ours is eggplant parmesan!)

Thanks for reading.

Have a great day!