How to Grow Eggplant

Intermediate

Solanum melongena

A warm-season fruiting vegetable with glossy deep-purple skin. Needs a long growing season and full sun. Start early indoors.

Last updated: June 2026

Days to Maturity
70–90 days
typical
Per Square Foot
1
Plant Spacing
46 cm / 18"
Sun
8+ hours
Water
1.5" / 38 mm
Fertilization
heavy feeder

Growing Notes

Start indoors 8–10 weeks before last frost. Needs warm soil (>18 °C). Pick while skin is still glossy.

Varieties & Cultivars

13 cultivars in our database. Click any card to see growing details.

Asian

(4)
Ichiban
50–60 days Hybrid

thin skin; sweet mild flavour; very early

Height
18–30" (46–76 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
5.3 oz (150 g)
Support
vertical
Harvest
continuous
USDA Zones
5–11
Seed saving
difficult
Seed viability
4 years
Little Fingers
55–68 days Open-Pollinated

thin-skinned; no peeling needed

Height
18–24" (46–61 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
2.1 oz (60 g)
Support
vertical
Harvest
continuous
USDA Zones
5–11
Seed saving
moderate
Seed viability
4 years
Ping Tung Long
62–75 days Open-Pollinated

tender skin; heat tolerant

Height
30–42" (76–107 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
6.0 oz (170 g)
Support
vertical
Harvest
continuous
USDA Zones
5–11
Seed saving
moderate
Seed viability
4 years
Thai Long Green
65–80 days Open-Pollinated

holds up well in curries and stir-fries

Height
24–36" (61–91 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
4.2 oz (120 g)
Support
vertical
Harvest
continuous
USDA Zones
5–11
Seed saving
moderate
Seed viability
4 years

Early purple globe

(1)
Hanson
65–75 days Open-Pollinated

heavy yield; disease resistant; standard commercial variety; reliable performer

Height
18–24" (46–61 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
0.5 oz (14 g)
Support
none
Harvest
once
USDA Zones
4–11
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
4 years

Globe

(5)
Black Beauty
73–85 days Open-Pollinated
Height
24–30" (61–76 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
1.3 lb (570 g)
Support
vertical
Harvest
continuous
USDA Zones
5–11
Seed saving
moderate
Seed viability
4 years
Fairy Tale
50–65 days Hybrid

small 10cm white-purple striped fruit in clusters; no bitterness; thin edible skin; ideal for containers and small gardens

Height
18–24" (46–61 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
2.1 oz (60 g)
Support
vertical
Harvest
continuous
USDA Zones
5–11
Seed saving
difficult
Seed viability
4 years
Florida Market
80–90 days Open-Pollinated

heat tolerant; good for hot southern climates

Height
30–42" (76–107 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
1.1 lb (510 g)
Support
vertical
Harvest
continuous
USDA Zones
5–11
Seed saving
moderate
Seed viability
4 years
Listada de Gandia
80–90 days Open-Pollinated

creamy sweet flesh; no bitterness

Height
24–30" (61–76 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
12.0 oz (340 g)
Support
vertical
Harvest
continuous
USDA Zones
5–11
Seed saving
moderate
Seed viability
4 years
Rosa Bianca
78–90 days Open-Pollinated

Height
24–36" (61–91 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
1.0 lb (460 g)
Support
vertical
Harvest
continuous
USDA Zones
5–11
Seed saving
moderate
Seed viability
4 years

Heirloom striped green-white fruit

(1)
Peter Barber
70–80 days Open-Pollinated

non-bitter; classic American variety from 1800s; attractive appearance

Height
18–30" (46–76 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
0.4 oz (10 g)
Support
none
Harvest
once
USDA Zones
4–11
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
4 years

Long white cylindrical fruit 25-30cm

(1)
Icicle
70–80 days Open-Pollinated

thin skin; tender; good for grilling and stuffing

Height
12–18" (30–46 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
0.3 oz (8 g)
Support
none
Harvest
once
USDA Zones
4–11
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
4 years

Round white fruit 15-20cm

(1)
White Globe
70–80 days Open-Pollinated

thin skin; tender flesh; visually distinctive; good for stir-fry

Height
18–30" (46–76 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
0.4 oz (12 g)
Support
none
Harvest
once
USDA Zones
4–11
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
4 years

Companion Planting

What to grow alongside eggplant, and what to keep apart.

Plant With

Spinach : Spinach provides ground cover under eggplant
Thyme : Thyme deters flea beetles from eggplant
Pepper : Both nightshades with identical heat and sun needs
Beans : Beans fix nitrogen and repel Colorado potato beetle from eggplant
Tomato : Similar growing conditions; tomatoes deter flea beetles from eggplant
Garlic : Garlic deters flea beetles from eggplant
Lavender : Lavender repels whiteflies and attracts pollinators for eggplant fruit set
Basil : Basil repels aphids and spider mites from eggplant
Okra : Both heat-lovers with similar needs; eggplant deters flea beetles

Keep Apart

Strawberry : Eggplant shares verticillium wilt susceptibility with strawberries

Square Foot Spacing

1 per sq ft

12" apart (entire square)

View full spacing chart →

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