Plant Eggplant in Zone 6a

Seed-starting, transplant & harvest dates for USDA Zone 6a

Start indoors

Feb 23

Transplant

May 4

Harvest (~85d)

Jul 28

Zone 6a averages 176 frost-free days, running from a last spring frost around April 20 to a first fall frost around October 13. Eggplant needs roughly 85 days from planting out to first harvest, so it uses about 48 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 Feb 23, about 8 weeks ahead of the Zone 6a last frost. Transplants go out around May 4. Starting earlier than that in Zone 6a usually backfires: plants outgrow their cells and stall when they finally hit cold soil.

Fall planting: eggplant in Zone 6a

Eggplant has no useful fall window in Zone 6a. 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 6a 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 6a

Planting	Sow or start	In the ground	Harvest
Spring	Feb 23	May 4	Jul 28
Fall	—	—	—

Last spring frost

Apr 20

First fall frost

Oct 13

Growing season

176 days

Eggplant in nearby zones

Eggplant in Zone 5b (colder) Eggplant in Zone 6b (warmer) Full Eggplant grow guide Zone 6a planting calendar

Other crops in Zone 6a

Tomatoes in Zone 6a Peppers in Zone 6a Cucumbers in Zone 6a Lettuce in Zone 6a Zucchini in Zone 6a Carrots in Zone 6a Beans (bush) in Zone 6a Peas in Zone 6a Broccoli in Zone 6a Spinach in Zone 6a Kale in Zone 6a Onions in Zone 6a Garlic in Zone 6a Potatoes in Zone 6a Squash (winter) in Zone 6a Corn in Zone 6a Radishes in Zone 6a Beets in Zone 6a Basil in Zone 6a Cilantro in Zone 6a Parsley in Zone 6a Pumpkins in Zone 6a Sunflowers in Zone 6a

Frequently asked questions

When should I start eggplant in Zone 6a?

Start eggplant seeds indoors around Feb 23 (Zone 6a).

Can I direct sow eggplant in Zone 6a?

Eggplant is best started indoors and transplanted in Zone 6a rather than direct sown.

Can I plant eggplant in the fall in Zone 6a?