fruit · transplant
Eggplant: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating eggplant a few times a week needs about 5 plants in ~23 sq ft, worth about $75 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$2.50/lb retail, an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 2 | ~9 sq ft | ~3 | ~$30 |
| 2 people | 3 | ~14 sq ft | ~4 | ~$45 |
| 4 people | 5 | ~23 sq ft | ~7 | ~$75 |
| 6 people | 8 | ~36 sq ft | ~10 | ~$120 |
Spacing
18" in row · 36" between rows
Sow depth
0.25"
Days to harvest
65 from transplant (100 from seed)
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Jun 5 – Jun 28 | — |
| Zone 4 | May 31 – Jul 8 | — |
| Zone 5 | May 21 – Jul 7 | — |
| Zone 6 | May 11 – Jun 27 | — |
| Zone 7 | Apr 26 – Jun 12 | — |
| Zone 8 | Apr 15 – Jun 1 | — |
| Zone 9 | Mar 13 – Apr 29 | — |
| Zone 10 | Feb 21 – Apr 9 | — |
Know when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
Skin glossy and taut, flesh springs back when pressed. Cut, don't pull, the stem is woody.
Don't wait: Dull skin means over-mature: brown seeds and bitter flesh.
Yield
About 6 lbs per plant over ~8 productive weeks (~6 lb).
Watch for
Tomato hornworm · Flea beetles · Early blight · Phomopsis blight · Verticillium wilt, the pest guide covers organic fixes for each, and Pest Radar shows what gardeners near you are reporting right now.
Neighbors
Plays well with bush bean.
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
25 kcal · 3 g fiber · 2.2 mg vitamin C · 229 mg potassium
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code, not just your zone, in about 60 seconds.
Eggplant planting questions
How many eggplant plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 2 plants per person. A family of 4 needs about 5 plants, which takes around 23 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does eggplant need?+
Space plants 18" apart in the row with 36" between rows. Sow 0.25" deep. Start indoors, transplant out.
When should I plant eggplant?+
It depends on your frost dates. Spring sowing is keyed to your last spring frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing eggplant worth it?+
At about $2.50/lb retail and ~6 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $75 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.