When to plant eggplant in Charleston
Eggplant is frost-tender, so every date keys off Charleston's last spring frost of Feb 8.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Jan 7 – Jan 28
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Apr 13 – May 4
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Jun 22 – Jul 7
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
70 – 85 d
Charleston's 310-day season leaves this much room.
Eggplant on Charleston'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
FEB 8
DEC 15
Common questions
When will eggplant be ready to harvest in Charleston?
Expect to harvest from around late June (Jun 22–Jul 7) in Charleston, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 80%.
When should I start eggplant seeds indoors in Charleston?
Start seeds indoors around early January (Jan 7–Jan 28) in Charleston, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 85%.
When can I transplant eggplant outdoors in Charleston?
Transplant outdoors around mid April (Apr 13–May 4) in Charleston, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 86%.
How long is the growing season in Charleston?
Charleston has roughly 310 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 Charleston's frost dates.
Confidence 89/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.