When to plant eggplants in Texas
Texas’s average last spring frost is March 15, and the first fall frost typically arrives around November 15 — about 245 frost-free days (USDA zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a). Eggplant needs 65–85 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Texas's growing season.
Texas covers a wide range of climates, so your exact frost dates may differ from the state average by two weeks or more. For dates tuned to your town, use the calendar generator.
When to plant eggplants in Texas: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Mar 29 – Apr 15, with seeds started indoors Jan 4 – Jan 18. Wait until the soil is at least 70°F and frost is over.
Windows are ~1–2 week bands around each date. Frost dates are a statewide average from NOAA/NCEI normals; your town may differ by two weeks or more. Calendar year 2026.
How to grow eggplants in Texas, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Jan 4 – Jan 18). Sow seeds ¼ inch deep in seed-starting mix under bright light. They take 7-14 days to sprout, fastest in soil around 85°F. Harden seedlings off for a week before they go outside.
- Prepare the bed. They need at least six to eight hours of direct sun a day and loose soil at least 18 inches deep, with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. Dig in compost before planting.
- Plant out (Mar 29 – Apr 15). Space plants about 20 inches apart in rows 30 inches apart. It is killed by frost, so nothing goes outside until the danger has passed.
- Water and feed. Give it steady, even moisture, about an inch of water a week from rain or the hose.
- Watch for pests and problems. Pests: flea beetle, Colorado potato beetle, aphids, spider mite. Diseases and disorders: verticillium wilt, phomopsis blight, bacterial wilt.
- Harvest (from about Jun 9 – Jun 29). Eggplant takes 65-85 days to reach harvest. The most heat-demanding common vegetable - do not rush it into cold soil. Flea beetles hammer young plants; a row cover until flowering pays off.
Figures come from our crop data; dates use Texas’s average frost dates. More in the full eggplant growing guide.
Eggplant planting dates by USDA zone in Texas
Texas spans USDA zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a. Colder zones, usually higher or further inland, have a later last spring frost and an earlier first fall frost than the state average, so the eggplant dates shift with them.
| Zone | Last frost | First frost | Season | Start indoors | Plant eggplant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 6 | Apr 15 | Oct 15 | 185 days | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 29 – May 16 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 5 | Oct 25 | 200 days | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Apr 19 – May 6 |
| Zone 8 | Mar 20 | Nov 5 | 230 days | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | Apr 3 – Apr 20 |
| Zone 9 | Feb 20 | Nov 30 | 280 days | Dec 12 – Dec 26 | Mar 6 – Mar 23 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 30 | Dec 15 | 330 days | Nov 21 – Dec 5 | Feb 13 – Mar 2 |
Questions gardeners in Texas ask
When is the best time to plant eggplants in Texas?
Plant eggplant transplants outdoors in Texas between March 29 and April 15. That timing is set by Texas's average last spring frost of March 15; Texas spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
When should I start eggplant seeds indoors in Texas?
Start seeds indoors between January 4 and January 18, about 9 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from March 29.
What is the latest I can plant eggplants in Texas?
About September 11. Eggplants need at least 65 days to mature after transplanting, and frost around November 15 ends the season, so later plantings risk being cut short.
When will eggplants planted in Texas be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, eggplants are usually ready from about June 9 to June 29, 65-85 days after transplanting.
When is the last frost in Texas?
On average around March 15, with the first fall frost around November 15 - about 245 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.