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Plant Eggplant in Zone 3a

Seed-starting, transplant & harvest dates for USDA Zone 3a

Start indoors
Mar 20
Transplant
May 29
Harvest (~85d)
Aug 22

Zone 3a averages 123 frost-free days, running from a last spring frost around May 15 to a first fall frost around September 15. Eggplant needs roughly 85 days from planting out to first harvest, so it uses about 69 percent of that window. Eggplant is a tender crop, which is what decides where in the window it belongs.

Because eggplant needs a head start, sow seed indoors around Mar 20, about 8 weeks ahead of the Zone 3a last frost. Transplants go out around May 29. Starting earlier than that in Zone 3a usually backfires: plants outgrow their cells and stall when they finally hit cold soil.

Fall planting: eggplant in Zone 3a

Eggplant has no useful fall window in Zone 3a. Eggplant needs a long warm run to finish, so a second planting is realistic only in zone 9 and warmer.

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 3a 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 3a

Planting Sow or start In the ground Harvest
Spring Mar 20 May 29 Aug 22
Fall — — —
Last spring frost
May 15
First fall frost
Sep 15
Growing season
123 days

Eggplant in nearby zones

Eggplant in Zone 3b (warmer) Full Eggplant grow guide Zone 3a planting calendar

Further reading on eggplant

Other crops in Zone 3a

Tomatoes in Zone 3a Peppers in Zone 3a Cucumbers in Zone 3a Lettuce in Zone 3a Zucchini in Zone 3a Carrots in Zone 3a Beans (bush) in Zone 3a Peas in Zone 3a Broccoli in Zone 3a Spinach in Zone 3a Kale in Zone 3a Onions in Zone 3a Garlic in Zone 3a Potatoes in Zone 3a Squash (winter) in Zone 3a Corn in Zone 3a Radishes in Zone 3a Beets in Zone 3a Basil in Zone 3a Cilantro in Zone 3a Parsley in Zone 3a Pumpkins in Zone 3a Sunflowers in Zone 3a

Frequently asked questions

When should I start eggplant in Zone 3a?

Start eggplant seeds indoors around Mar 20 (Zone 3a).

Can I direct sow eggplant in Zone 3a?

Eggplant is best started indoors and transplanted in Zone 3a rather than direct sown.

Can I plant eggplant in the fall in Zone 3a?

Eggplant has no useful fall window in Zone 3a. Eggplant needs a long warm run to finish, so a second planting is realistic only in zone 9 and warmer.

Will eggplant survive frost in Zone 3a?

No. Eggplant is a tender crop and a single light frost ends it, so every Zone 3a planting has to finish before the average first frost.