Beautiful warm-season crop with glossy purple fruit and ornamental flowers. Heat-loving plant that pairs well with Mediterranean cooking. Needs warm soil and consistent care.
Planting calendar
Start seeds indoors
8 weeks before your last spring frost.
Direct sow / transplant
4 weeks after your last spring frost.
Needs very warm soil (70°F+); use black plastic mulch to warm soil faster
Spacing & harvest
Plant spacing: 18-24 inches
Row spacing: 30-36 inches
Days to harvest: 65-80 days
Ready when: Glossy, firm skin that springs back when pressed; dull skin indicates overripeness
Fennel — Inhibits growth of most nightshade family plants
Get eggplant planting dates for your exact zone
Lawn Guardian turns this guidance into a schedule timed to your USDA zone and this week's actual weather — and adapts every time you log what you've done.