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Can You Grow Eggplant in Texas?

US · USDA Zone 8a · zones 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

Grows well here

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

Plant zones

5a–11b

Texas last frost

mid-February

Texas first frost

early December

Days to harvest

65–80 days

When to plant Eggplants in Texas

Start indoors

Jan 1

Transplant

Feb 15

Harvest

Apr 21 – May 6

Dates are approximate, based on Texas'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 Texas

Texas spans more climate zones than any state except California — from Zone 6 in the Texas Panhandle to Zone 9b in the Rio Grande Valley. Most Texans garden in Zone 7-8 with hot long summers.