Plant Eggplant in Zone 4a

Seed-starting, transplant & harvest dates for USDA Zone 4a

Start indoors

Mar 15

Transplant

May 24

Harvest (~85d)

Aug 17

Zone 4a averages 135 frost-free days, running from a last spring frost around May 10 to a first fall frost around September 22. Eggplant needs roughly 85 days from planting out to first harvest, so it uses about 63 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 15, about 8 weeks ahead of the Zone 4a last frost. Transplants go out around May 24. Starting earlier than that in Zone 4a usually backfires: plants outgrow their cells and stall when they finally hit cold soil.

Fall planting: eggplant in Zone 4a

Eggplant has no useful fall window in Zone 4a. 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 4a 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 4a

Planting	Sow or start	In the ground	Harvest
Spring	Mar 15	May 24	Aug 17
Fall	—	—	—

Last spring frost

May 10

First fall frost

Sep 22

Growing season

135 days

Eggplant in nearby zones

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

Other crops in Zone 4a

Tomatoes in Zone 4a Peppers in Zone 4a Cucumbers in Zone 4a Lettuce in Zone 4a Zucchini in Zone 4a Carrots in Zone 4a Beans (bush) in Zone 4a Peas in Zone 4a Broccoli in Zone 4a Spinach in Zone 4a Kale in Zone 4a Onions in Zone 4a Garlic in Zone 4a Potatoes in Zone 4a Squash (winter) in Zone 4a Corn in Zone 4a Radishes in Zone 4a Beets in Zone 4a Basil in Zone 4a Cilantro in Zone 4a Parsley in Zone 4a Pumpkins in Zone 4a Sunflowers in Zone 4a

Frequently asked questions

When should I start eggplant in Zone 4a?

Start eggplant seeds indoors around Mar 15 (Zone 4a).

Can I direct sow eggplant in Zone 4a?

Eggplant is best started indoors and transplanted in Zone 4a rather than direct sown.

Can I plant eggplant in the fall in Zone 4a?