vegetable · Solanaceae

Eggplant

Solanum melongena

A long-season heat lover that benefits from indoor starting and performs well in a large warm container.

Difficulty3 / 5
Cold toleranceVery tender
Space per plant~1.00 ft²
ContainerYes
Supportoptional
Household planning

How many eggplant plants?

A normal fresh-eating goal with the catalog loss buffer. Preservation needs and appetite can raise the count.

1 adult1–32 typical plants
2 adults2–53 typical plants
4 adults3–105 typical plants
Adjust household, appetite, preserving, and loss →
Season timing

When does it go in?

Typical first actionUsually transplanted
Maturity range50–80 days
Harvest window35–70 days
Latest planting buffer100 days before fall frost

Dates are frost-relative planning windows. Soil temperature, current weather, plant condition, and cultivar instructions can move them.

Calculate dates from my frost date →
Space and harvest

What does one plant ask for?

In-row spacing14–24 in
Between rows24–36 in
Yield range0.75–3 pounds
Yield confidencelow

Yield ranges assume a surviving plant and still vary with cultivar, soil, sun, weather, pests, watering, and harvest habits.

Container fit

A container can work.

3minimum gallons per plant
5recommended gallons per plant
12″minimum useful depth
Size a container for several plants →