Plant Eggplant in Zone 4b

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

Start indoors

Mar 10

Transplant

May 19

Harvest (~85d)

Aug 12

Zone 4b averages 146 frost-free days, running from a last spring frost around May 5 to a first fall frost around September 28. Eggplant needs roughly 85 days from planting out to first harvest, so it uses about 58 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 10, about 8 weeks ahead of the Zone 4b last frost. Transplants go out around May 19. Starting earlier than that in Zone 4b usually backfires: plants outgrow their cells and stall when they finally hit cold soil.

Fall planting: eggplant in Zone 4b

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

Planting	Sow or start	In the ground	Harvest
Spring	Mar 10	May 19	Aug 12
Fall	—	—	—

Last spring frost

May 5

First fall frost

Sep 28

Growing season

146 days

Eggplant in nearby zones

Eggplant in Zone 4a (colder) Eggplant in Zone 5a (warmer) Full Eggplant grow guide Zone 4b planting calendar

Other crops in Zone 4b

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

Frequently asked questions

When should I start eggplant in Zone 4b?

Start eggplant seeds indoors around Mar 10 (Zone 4b).

Can I direct sow eggplant in Zone 4b?

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

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