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Plant Eggplant in Zone 13a

Seed-starting, transplant & harvest dates for USDA Zone 13a

Direct sow
Feb 1
Harvest (~85d)
Apr 27

Zone 13a is effectively frost-free, so the Zone 13a calendar for eggplant is set by heat, not cold. There is no last frost to count backward from and no first frost to beat, which means the question is not whether eggplant will finish but whether it will sit through the hottest stretch of the year. Eggplant is a tender crop needing about 85 days from sowing to harvest.

Planting eggplant for a fall harvest in Zone 13a

Zone 13a has no meaningful frost, so the fall and winter months are the easiest time of year to grow eggplant here. Sow from about October 1 onward.

Eggplant needs a long warm run to finish, so a second planting is realistic only in zone 9 and warmer.

Fall dates are counted backward from the Zone 13a average first frost, not forward from a sowing date. See the fall planting calendar by zone for the full method.

Spring vs fall eggplant in Zone 13a

Planting Sow or start In the ground Harvest
Spring Feb 1 Feb 1 Apr 27
Fall Oct onward Oct onward Winter
Last spring frost
Frost-free
First fall frost
Frost-free
Growing season
365 days

Eggplant in nearby zones

Eggplant in Zone 12b (colder) Eggplant in Zone 13b (warmer) Full Eggplant grow guide Zone 13a planting calendar

Further reading on eggplant

Other crops in Zone 13a

Tomatoes in Zone 13a Peppers in Zone 13a Cucumbers in Zone 13a Lettuce in Zone 13a Zucchini in Zone 13a Carrots in Zone 13a Beans (bush) in Zone 13a Peas in Zone 13a Broccoli in Zone 13a Spinach in Zone 13a Kale in Zone 13a Onions in Zone 13a Garlic in Zone 13a Potatoes in Zone 13a Squash (winter) in Zone 13a Corn in Zone 13a Radishes in Zone 13a Beets in Zone 13a Basil in Zone 13a Cilantro in Zone 13a Parsley in Zone 13a Pumpkins in Zone 13a Sunflowers in Zone 13a

Frequently asked questions

When should I start eggplant in Zone 13a?

Direct sow outdoors around Feb 1.

Can I direct sow eggplant in Zone 13a?

Yes, direct sow around Feb 1.

Can I plant eggplant in the fall in Zone 13a?

Zone 13a has no meaningful frost, so the fall and winter months are the easiest time of year to grow eggplant here. Sow from about October 1 onward.

Will eggplant survive frost in Zone 13a?

No. Eggplant is a tender crop and a single light frost ends it, so every Zone 13a planting has to finish before the average first frost (Zone 13a rarely sees one).