Plant Eggplant in Zone 6b

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

Start indoors

Feb 18

Transplant

Apr 29

Harvest (~85d)

Jul 23

Zone 6b averages 186 frost-free days, running from a last spring frost around April 15 to a first fall frost around October 18. Eggplant needs roughly 85 days from planting out to first harvest, so it uses about 46 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 18, about 8 weeks ahead of the Zone 6b last frost. Transplants go out around Apr 29. Starting earlier than that in Zone 6b usually backfires: plants outgrow their cells and stall when they finally hit cold soil.

Fall planting: eggplant in Zone 6b

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

Planting	Sow or start	In the ground	Harvest
Spring	Feb 18	Apr 29	Jul 23
Fall	—	—	—

Last spring frost

Apr 15

First fall frost

Oct 18

Growing season

186 days

Eggplant in nearby zones

Eggplant in Zone 6a (colder) Eggplant in Zone 7a (warmer) Full Eggplant grow guide Zone 6b planting calendar

Other crops in Zone 6b

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

Frequently asked questions

When should I start eggplant in Zone 6b?

Start eggplant seeds indoors around Feb 18 (Zone 6b).

Can I direct sow eggplant in Zone 6b?

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

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