Eggplant crop profile: sowing, temperatures, and harvest
OrtoClima crop rules for Eggplant.
Eggplant crop profile
Reference profile for starting eggplant, checking temperature thresholds, and estimating harvest timing.
Crop summary
- Starting method: transplanting
- Direct-sowing soil threshold: 16 C
- Transplant soil threshold: 16 C
- Night minimum: 12 C
- Frost buffer: 21 days
- Heat stop: 32 C
- Harvest range: 70-100 days
- Indoor lead: 56 days
How to start it
Eggplant is mainly started from seedlings. Transplanting is useful when soil is stable at 16 C or warmer.
For eggplant, start seedlings indoors about 56 days before transplanting.
Temperature thresholds
The operating thresholds are: direct-sowing soil at least 16 C; transplant soil at least 16 C; night minimum around 12 C.
The frost buffer requires waiting 21 days after the cautious date.
The heat stop is set at 32 C: avoid new starts in the hottest phases.
Harvest timing
The estimated harvest for eggplant usually falls after 70-100 days. For a transplant crop, the practical count starts from setting seedlings out.
This is a practical average: local climate, variety, exposure, and water management can move the first and last harvest dates.
Seasonal notes
- Autumn is not a standard window: keep the cycle in the warmer or more stable part of the year.
- The positive frost buffer moves starting dates after the cautious last-frost date.
FAQ
Should eggplant start from seed or transplant?
The recommended starting method is transplanting. The main thresholds are direct-sowing soil 16 C, transplant soil 16 C, and night minimum 12 C.
How long does eggplant take to harvest?
The indicative harvest range is 70-100 days. The local page can move these dates according to the municipality and climate.
What climate limits does eggplant have?
The frost buffer is 21 days and the heat stop is 32 C. These values describe the crop's general needs; municipality pages adapt them to local climate.
Does eggplant use indoor seed starting?
Yes. Start seedlings indoors about 56 days before transplanting.