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Can You Grow Eggplant in Florida?

US · USDA Zone 9b · zones 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b

Grows well here

Eggplant grows well here with the warm season your zone provides.

Plant zones

5a–11b

Florida last frost

mid-January

Florida first frost

late December

Days to harvest

65–80 days

When to plant Eggplants in Florida

Start indoors

Jan 1

Transplant

Jan 10

Harvest

Mar 16 – Mar 31

Dates are approximate, based on Florida's average frost dates. Your exact yard may vary by microclimate.

About Eggplant

Eggplant needs a long warm season and maximum heat — more demanding than tomatoes but highly productive in the right conditions.

Start indoors 8 weeks before last frost — eggplant needs a long head start. Needs hot conditions to set fruit. Use black plastic mulch to warm soil. Very productive once established in heat.

Full eggplant growing guide →

Gardening in Florida

Florida is largely subtropical to tropical. North Florida has mild winters; South Florida and the Keys are essentially frost-free. Year-round growing is standard statewide.