When to plant eggplant in Boston
Eggplant is frost-tender, so every date keys off Boston's last spring frost of Apr 4.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Feb 18 – Mar 11
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Jun 9 – Jun 30
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Aug 18 – Sep 2
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
70 – 85 d
Boston's 220-day season leaves this much room.
Eggplant on Boston's growing year
Frost-bounded season with crops mapped onto the 12-month axis.
Frost risk Growing Harvest
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
FROST
FROST
APR 4
NOV 9
Common questions
When will eggplant be ready to harvest in Boston?
Expect to harvest from around mid August (Aug 18–Sep 2) in Boston, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 80%.
When should I start eggplant seeds indoors in Boston?
Start seeds indoors around mid February (Feb 18–Mar 11) in Boston, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 85%.
When can I transplant eggplant outdoors in Boston?
Transplant outdoors around early June (Jun 9–Jun 30) in Boston, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 86%.
How long is the growing season in Boston?
Boston has roughly 220 frost-free days, which is enough time to grow eggplant to maturity outdoors.
The rule of thumb
Sow eggplant 6–8 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out 2–3 weeks after it. Every date on this page is derived from that rule and Boston's frost dates.
Confidence 89/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.