Eggplant
5
3Will it grow where I live?
Eggplant is only hardy to zone 8, so outdoors year-round it needs the mildest spots in Central Europe – wine-growing regions, the Rhine valley, coasts, Lake Constance, Ticino – or a container overwintered under cover. Most of the British Isles and the Pacific coast of North America qualify. It also needs warm summers – in Central Europe that means wine-growing regions, cities or a sheltered south-facing wall.
Or check it for your location right here:
Profile
- Family
- Solanaceae
- Habit
- perennial
- Height
- 1.2 m
- Spread
- 1.5 m
- Growth
- medium
- Lifespan
- 3 years
- First yield
- after 1 year
- Yield per plant
- up to 2 kg a year
- Hardiness
- zone 8–13
- Shade tolerance
- full sun
- Soil
- Sand, Silt, Loam
- Soil moisture
- dry – moist
- pH
- 5.5 – 7.5
Flowering & harvest
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit harvest |
Uses
Frequently asked questions
Eggplant: how big does it get?
Eggplant (Solanum melongena) grows as a perennial and reaches roughly 1.2 m in height when mature, with a spread of about 1.5 m. Growth is medium.
Eggplant: what site does it need?
Eggplant tolerates full sun. Suitable soils are Sand, Silt, Loam. Soil moisture should be in the range dry – moist. The pH may lie between 5.5 and 7.5.
Eggplant: is it hardy?
Eggplant is listed as hardy in zone 8–13 and survives normal winters outdoors there.
Eggplant: will it grow in Central Europe?
Eggplant is only hardy to zone 8, so outdoors year-round it needs the mildest spots in Central Europe – wine-growing regions, the Rhine valley, coasts, Lake Constance, Ticino – or a container overwintered under cover. Most of the British Isles and the Pacific coast of North America qualify. It also needs warm summers – in Central Europe that means wine-growing regions, cities or a sheltered south-facing wall.
Eggplant: when is it harvested?
In a temperate northern-hemisphere climate the fruit ripens from August to October.
Eggplant: when does it start cropping, and how much?
Eggplant crops in its first year. A mature plant gives up to 2 kg a year. Figures assume a good site; variety, soil and climate shift them considerably.
Eggplant: is it poisonous?
No toxicity is recorded for Eggplant. With wild plants, never rely on a database alone — only on a confident identification.
Eggplant: what is it used for?
Rated on a scale up to 10: Edible 5/10, Medicinal 3/10.
Plan this plant into your own garden
Permaplans plans your garden to scale on the map — with a site check, harvest calendar and over 1,000 plants. Free for iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows & Linux.
Will this plant grow where you live? → Check your site
Community experience
No first-hand reports for this plant yet.
Growing it? Write in the app what works for you – your post will show up here.
💬 Get the app and join in