When to plant eggplant in Tampa
Eggplant is frost-tender, so every date keys off Tampa's last spring frost.
Step 1 · Sow
Direct sow outdoors
Jan 8 – Jan 29
Sow straight into warm, workable soil.
Step 2 · Harvest
Harvest window
Mar 19 – Apr 3
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
70 – 85 d
From sowing to first pick.
Common questions
When can I sow eggplant outdoors in Tampa?
Direct-sow around early January (Jan 8–Jan 29) in Tampa, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 75%.
When will eggplant be ready to harvest in Tampa?
Expect to harvest from around mid March (Mar 19–Apr 3) in Tampa, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 69%.
How long is the growing season in Tampa?
Tampa has roughly 365 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 Tampa's frost dates.
Confidence 77/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.