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About Eggplant

Eggplant is a heat-loving nightshade. Fruit sets poorly below 70°F nights. Leaves and unripe green fruit contain solanine — eat only ripe fruit. Ratatouille, the classic stew, is French (Provençal), not Italian.

When to Plant

Start indoors 8–10 weeks before last frost. Transplant when days are warm and soil is at least 70°F, 2–3 weeks after last frost.

How to Plant

Sow ¼ inch deep at 80–85°F. Transplant 18–24 inches apart, rows 30–36 inches (not 1 plant per square foot). Stake or cage. Black mulch helps in cool climates. Side-dress with compost at first flowers.

When to Harvest

Cut (don’t pull) when skin is glossy and fruit still slightly firm. Dull skin = overripe and seedy. Use a knife or pruners; stems are spiny on some types.