Plant Eggplant in Zone 3b

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

Start indoors

Mar 18

Transplant

May 27

Harvest (~85d)

Aug 20

Zone 3b averages 128 frost-free days, running from a last spring frost around May 13 to a first fall frost around September 18. Eggplant needs roughly 85 days from planting out to first harvest, so it uses about 66 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 18, about 8 weeks ahead of the Zone 3b last frost. Transplants go out around May 27. Starting earlier than that in Zone 3b usually backfires: plants outgrow their cells and stall when they finally hit cold soil.

Fall planting: eggplant in Zone 3b

Eggplant has no useful fall window in Zone 3b. 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 3b 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 3b

Planting	Sow or start	In the ground	Harvest
Spring	Mar 18	May 27	Aug 20
Fall	—	—	—

Last spring frost

May 13

First fall frost

Sep 18

Growing season

128 days

Eggplant in nearby zones

Eggplant in Zone 3a (colder) Eggplant in Zone 4a (warmer) Full Eggplant grow guide Zone 3b planting calendar

Other crops in Zone 3b

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

Frequently asked questions

When should I start eggplant in Zone 3b?

Start eggplant seeds indoors around Mar 18 (Zone 3b).

Can I direct sow eggplant in Zone 3b?

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

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