When to plant eggplant in Cincinnati
Eggplant is frost-tender, so every date keys off Cincinnati's last spring frost of Apr 13.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Mar 9 – Mar 30
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Jun 1 – Jun 22
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Aug 10 – Aug 25
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
70 – 85 d
Cincinnati's 194-day season leaves this much room.
Eggplant on Cincinnati'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 13
OCT 22
Common questions
When will eggplant be ready to harvest in Cincinnati?
Expect to harvest from around early August (Aug 10–Aug 25) in Cincinnati, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 79%.
When should I start eggplant seeds indoors in Cincinnati?
Start seeds indoors around early March (Mar 9–Mar 30) in Cincinnati, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 84%.
When can I transplant eggplant outdoors in Cincinnati?
Transplant outdoors around early June (Jun 1–Jun 22) in Cincinnati, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 85%.
How long is the growing season in Cincinnati?
Cincinnati has roughly 194 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 Cincinnati's frost dates.
Confidence 88/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.