Plant Eggplant in Zone 8b

Seed-starting, transplant & harvest dates for USDA Zone 8b

Start indoors

Jan 18

Transplant

Mar 29

Harvest (~85d)

Jun 22

Zone 8b averages 245 frost-free days, running from a last spring frost around March 15 to a first fall frost around November 15. Eggplant needs roughly 85 days from planting out to first harvest, so it uses about 35 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 Jan 18, about 8 weeks ahead of the Zone 8b last frost. Transplants go out around Mar 29. Starting earlier than that in Zone 8b usually backfires: plants outgrow their cells and stall when they finally hit cold soil. At 85 days to harvest, a 245-day Zone 8b season has room for about 2 sowings, so stagger them rather than planting everything at once.

Planting eggplant for a fall harvest in Zone 8b

Yes. Sow eggplant by July 25 in Zone 8b. That is 113 days before the average first frost, which covers the 85 days to maturity plus about two weeks for the slower growth that comes with shortening days, plus a two week margin because frost kills eggplant outright.

Eggplant needs a long warm run to finish, so a second planting is realistic only in zone 9 and warmer.

Fall sowing opens

Jul 4

Sow by (last chance)

Jul 25

Fall harvest

Oct 18

Fall dates are counted backward from the Zone 8b 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 8b

Planting	Sow or start	In the ground	Harvest
Spring	Jan 18	Mar 29	Jun 22
Fall	by Jul 25	Jul 25	Oct 18

Last spring frost

Mar 15

First fall frost

Nov 15

Growing season

245 days

Eggplant in nearby zones

Eggplant in Zone 8a (colder) Eggplant in Zone 9a (warmer) Full Eggplant grow guide Zone 8b planting calendar

Other crops in Zone 8b

Tomatoes in Zone 8b Peppers in Zone 8b Cucumbers in Zone 8b Lettuce in Zone 8b Zucchini in Zone 8b Carrots in Zone 8b Beans (bush) in Zone 8b Peas in Zone 8b Broccoli in Zone 8b Spinach in Zone 8b Kale in Zone 8b Onions in Zone 8b Garlic in Zone 8b Potatoes in Zone 8b Squash (winter) in Zone 8b Corn in Zone 8b Radishes in Zone 8b Beets in Zone 8b Basil in Zone 8b Cilantro in Zone 8b Parsley in Zone 8b Pumpkins in Zone 8b Sunflowers in Zone 8b

Frequently asked questions

When should I start eggplant in Zone 8b?

Start eggplant seeds indoors around Jan 18 (Zone 8b).

Can I direct sow eggplant in Zone 8b?

Eggplant is best started indoors and transplanted in Zone 8b rather than direct sown.

Can I plant eggplant in the fall in Zone 8b?

Will eggplant survive frost in Zone 8b?

No. Eggplant is a tender crop and a single light frost ends it, so every Zone 8b planting has to finish before the average first frost.

How many plantings of eggplant fit in a Zone 8b season?

About 2. Zone 8b averages 245 frost-free days and eggplant needs roughly 85 days plus a couple of weeks of turnaround, so sowing every 50 days keeps a supply coming.