Best time to plant eggplant in Australia
Solanum melongena
Also called aubergine, brinjal
Eggplant, also called aubergine or brinjal, is a nightshade relative of tomato and potato. Its fruit, botanically a berry and most often purple, is usually cooked, with spongy flesh that soaks up oil and flavours. The skin and seeds are edible as well.
On a shared plot: suits a plot
Finishes in a season and stays within its space, so it suits most plots.
When to sow
| Zone | Months | How well checked |
|---|---|---|
| Temperate | Sep to Feb | Broadly matches local guides, with some differences |
| Subtropical | Aug to Mar | Matches local guides |
| Tropical | All year | Broadly matches local guides, with some differences |
| Arid | Aug to Jan | Broadly matches local guides, with some differences |
Your local conditions can shift any months shown here, so treat them as a guide.
Growing details
- How to start
- Sow directly or raise seedlings
- Sowing depth
- 5mm
- Plant spacing
- 30cm
- Row spacing
- 60cm
- Height
- 50cm
- Germination
- Soil 24-32°C
- Time to harvest
- 60 days
- Frost
- Frost tender
- Sun
- Full sun
- Life cycle
- perennial, grown as an annual in cool climates
These are typical figures, and varieties differ. Your seed packet takes priority.