When to plant eggplant in Rochester
Eggplant is frost-tender, so every date keys off Rochester's last spring frost of Apr 29.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Mar 19 – Apr 9
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
Rochester's 173-day season leaves this much room.
Eggplant on Rochester'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 29
OCT 24
Common questions
When will eggplant be ready to harvest in Rochester?
Expect to harvest from around mid August (Aug 18–Sep 2) in Rochester, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 80%.
When should I start eggplant seeds indoors in Rochester?
Start seeds indoors around mid March (Mar 19–Apr 9) in Rochester, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 85%.
When can I transplant eggplant outdoors in Rochester?
Transplant outdoors around early June (Jun 9–Jun 30) in Rochester, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 86%.
How long is the growing season in Rochester?
Rochester has roughly 173 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 Rochester's frost dates.
Confidence 89/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.