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Can You Grow Eggplant in Illinois?

US · USDA Zone 5b · zones 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a

Grows well here

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

Plant zones

5a–11b

Illinois last frost

early April

Illinois first frost

late October

Days to harvest

65–80 days

When to plant Eggplants in Illinois

Start indoors

Feb 9

Transplant

Apr 7

Harvest

Jun 11 – Jun 26

Dates are approximate, based on Illinois'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 Illinois

Illinois has a humid continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. Chicago is Zone 5b-6a; southern Illinois is warmer at Zone 6-7. Classic Midwest growing region.