Plant Eggplant in Zone 5a

Seed-starting, transplant & harvest dates for USDA Zone 5a

Start indoors

Mar 5

Transplant

May 14

Harvest (~85d)

Aug 7

Zone 5a averages 156 frost-free days, running from a last spring frost around April 30 to a first fall frost around October 3. Eggplant needs roughly 85 days from planting out to first harvest, so it uses about 54 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 5, about 8 weeks ahead of the Zone 5a last frost. Transplants go out around May 14. Starting earlier than that in Zone 5a usually backfires: plants outgrow their cells and stall when they finally hit cold soil.

Fall planting: eggplant in Zone 5a

Eggplant has no useful fall window in Zone 5a. 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 5a 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 5a

Planting	Sow or start	In the ground	Harvest
Spring	Mar 5	May 14	Aug 7
Fall	—	—	—

Last spring frost

Apr 30

First fall frost

Oct 3

Growing season

156 days

Eggplant in nearby zones

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

Other crops in Zone 5a

Tomatoes in Zone 5a Peppers in Zone 5a Cucumbers in Zone 5a Lettuce in Zone 5a Zucchini in Zone 5a Carrots in Zone 5a Beans (bush) in Zone 5a Peas in Zone 5a Broccoli in Zone 5a Spinach in Zone 5a Kale in Zone 5a Onions in Zone 5a Garlic in Zone 5a Potatoes in Zone 5a Squash (winter) in Zone 5a Corn in Zone 5a Radishes in Zone 5a Beets in Zone 5a Basil in Zone 5a Cilantro in Zone 5a Parsley in Zone 5a Pumpkins in Zone 5a Sunflowers in Zone 5a

Frequently asked questions

When should I start eggplant in Zone 5a?

Start eggplant seeds indoors around Mar 5 (Zone 5a).

Can I direct sow eggplant in Zone 5a?

Eggplant is best started indoors and transplanted in Zone 5a rather than direct sown.

Can I plant eggplant in the fall in Zone 5a?