Growing Eggplant, also Aubergine

Solanum sp. : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
      S S              
        T T T          
      P P              

(Best months for growing Eggplant in Australia - tropical regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 24°C and 32°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 60 - 75 cm apart
  • Harvest in 12-15 weeks. Cut fruit with scissors or sharp knife.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Beans, capsicum, lettuce, amaranth, thyme
  • Avoid growing close to: Potatoes

Your comments and tips

02 Sep 20, em (Australia - temperate climate)
I found that my eggplants needed a lot of water and they really appreciated a good mulch (I mostly just mulched with grass clippings) and they grew until the end of autumn.
15 Aug 20, Preethi Balamurugan (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi i live in Melbourne im growing my eggplant seedlings indoor i have got the fungoes gnat so i have move my seedlings outsides in alfersco now my seedlings leaves are curlying Up Is it normal? Can I keep my seedlings in alfresco? Thanks in advance
17 Aug 20, Anonymous (Australia - temperate climate)
i read that fungus gnat are mainly on indoor plants. Once seeds have germinated I find it best to put them out in the sun a bit. Some sun, some shade during the day. The amount of each will depend on how hot or cold it is during the day. Google fungus gnats and read the article about them on The Farmers Almanac
12 Aug 20, vannezza (Australia - temperate climate)
from flowers it will become fruit in two to three weeks time depending the temperature. the hotter the area the more it quickly become fruit.
17 May 20, Alenka Bosnic (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi it's mid May do I pull out my eggplants or can I prune them back and get them ready for Spring Summer.
18 May 20, Paul Lehmann (Australia - arid climate)
If you don't get any frosts you can leave them in the ground/pot but give them a prune back to half their size. If you have frosts you can cover them if you really like them or pull them out and plant a green manure crop to put energy back into the soil. Eggplants are hungry plants!
23 Apr 20, joanne priscilla Threlfo (Australia - temperate climate)
I planted the store bought punnett of one eggplant a bit late in January now about 2 ft high, I have one eggplant on it that hasn't grown more than 5 inches in weeks and lots of flowers - maybe lack of water and nutrient? . Do I need to prune excess leaves to promote fruit growth? and I notices a few new fruit coming on just today
24 Apr 20, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Eggplant is generally a summer grown veg, like plant in the spring to early summer. I bought seedlings of little fingers from Bunnings about mid Feb. They are about 3' high now and I have been picking them the last 10 days, had them on toast for brecky this morning. Make sure your soil is fertile and a good watering each 2 days. A nice sunny spot also. I have some of the same seedlings in gardens 10klm away and they have not produced eatable fruit yet, I fertilised them this morning to give them a kick along.
01 Apr 20, Lea Zimmer (Australia - temperate climate)
Planted in January as as stated for the temperate zone area. There is only one eggplant forming but. numerous flowers can be seen it is a strong healthy bush and it was planted from seeds it is taking a very long time to grow and produce .prior to the planting of the seeds the soil was prepared with cow manure and nutrients and left to sit for 3 months. Can anyone advise me where do these flowers will form fruit I will I only have one eggplant also does the eggplant bush produce another season or does it need to be removed after fruiting.
13 Apr 20, Another gardener (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Flowers sometimes need to be pollinated by hand to form fruit. Not enough bees around at some times of year. Just go out there with a cotton bud and transfer the pollen between flowers and you will have a bounty of fruit forming.
Showing 31 - 40 of 269 comments

I've got three Asian eggplants growing, all from the same source, one in the ground and the other two in a raised garden bed. They all get equal treatment re fertiliser and watering but the two in the raised bed produce smaller fruit that is a very pale purple and tougher while the other has long much bigger deep purple fruit that's perfect. What could the likely cause be? pH or something else?

- Phil Morton

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