Home › Eggplant › Grow in Iowa

Can You Grow Eggplant in Iowa?

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

Grows well here

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

Plant zones

5a–11b

Iowa last frost

mid-April

Iowa first frost

mid-October

Days to harvest

65–80 days

When to plant Eggplants in Iowa

Start indoors

Feb 17

Transplant

Apr 15

Harvest

Jun 19 – Jul 4

Dates are approximate, based on Iowa'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 Iowa

Iowa has a humid continental climate with cold winters and warm summers. Most of the state is Zone 5a-5b. Excellent for cool-season crops and hardy fruits.