Eggplant
What Plant Yet? knows about eggplant, and where each number comes from. For today's answer, pick your town.
Planting numbers
- Frost category
- Very tender Source: Colorado State University Extension
- Plant outdoors
- 2 weeks after typical last frost Given for very tender crops as a group. Source: Colorado State University Extension
- Start seeds indoors
- 8 weeks before planting out Source: Colorado State University Extension
- Plant out when nights stay above
- 50°F Source: University of Minnesota Extension
- Cover at or below
- 32°F Given for very tender crops as a group. Source: Utah State University Extension
- Grows once daytime temperatures reach
- 60°F Source: Colorado State University Extension
- Days to harvest
- 60 Source: Colorado State University Extension
Growing tips
- Along the Front Range, sow indoors in early April and transplant to the garden around June 1. (Colorado State University Extension)
- Hot caps or cloches shield transplants from wind and frost and allow earlier planting. (Colorado State University Extension)
- Cut fruit off with hand pruners rather than pulling, to avoid damaging the plant. (Colorado State University Extension)
- Pick fruit young; older fruit with mature seeds can be tough. (Colorado State University Extension)
- Keep soil evenly moist to prevent blossom-end rot. (Colorado State University Extension)
How the answer uses this
The planting window opens 2 weeks after typical last frost in your town and stays open while a planting still has 60 days to mature before the typical first fall frost. Inside the window the answer is Plant when the coldest of the next 7 nights stays above 50°F. Cover tonight shows when tonight's low is 32°F or colder while eggplant is normally in the ground.
Sources
- Colorado State University Extension — checked Nov 11, 2026
- Colorado State University Extension — checked Nov 11, 2026
- University of Minnesota Extension — checked Nov 11, 2026
- Utah State University Extension — checked Nov 11, 2026
- Colorado State University Extension — checked Nov 11, 2026
Guidance only. Extension advice is written for typical conditions; your soil, variety and microclimate matter.