Zone 11 · Fruiting Veg Growing Guide

When to Plant Eggplant / Aubergine
in Zone 11

Heat-loving crop that needs a long warm season. Start early indoors with bottom heat — slow to germinate and slow to establish. Rewards patience with beautiful glossy fruit.

Plant outdoors
Year-round
Start indoors
Direct sow
Last Frost
~none
Days to harvest
70–85 days
Difficulty
Medium
Ready to harvest — Zone 11
Harvest window: Year-round

Planting Calendar

In Zone 11, Eggplant / Aubergine should be planted outdoors Year-round, after the average last frost date of approximately none.

True perennial in Zone 11. Afternoon shade and consistent moisture needed.

Care Guide

Sunlight
Full sun · 6–8 hrs/day
Watering
Regular
Spacing
18–24 inches
Soil
Rich, well-draining, warm
Days to maturity
70–85 days
Soil pH
5.8–6.5
plant tip · Zone 11

True perennial in Zone 11. Afternoon shade and consistent moisture needed.

Feeding Schedule

How often
every 2 weeks
Feed type
balanced then high potassium
Key timing
switch to high-potassium at first flower

Heavy feeder like peppers and tomatoes. Start with balanced feed, switch to high-potassium when flowers appear. Consistent feeding produces larger, more tender fruit.

Companion Planting for Eggplant / Aubergine

What you plant next to eggplant / aubergine makes a real difference — some plants actively help, others compete or attract pests.

Grows well with
  • Beans
  • Peppers
  • Tarragon
  • Marigolds
Keep away from
  • Fennel
  • Corn
  • Brassicas

These guides get better when growers like you contribute. If something’s wrong or you’ve learned something worth sharing, we’d love to hear it.

What needs correcting?

What should it say?

Your zone (optional)

Thanks — we'll review this and update the guide if needed.

Your growing tip for Eggplant / Aubergine

Your name (optional)

Your zone (optional)

Tips are reviewed before publishing. Accepted tips earn you a Founding Grower badge when the plant app launches.

Thanks for contributing! We'll review your tip and be in touch before launch.

Common questions

In Zone 11, direct sow eggplant / aubergine outdoors Year-round after your last frost date of approximately none. True perennial in Zone 11. Afternoon shade and consistent moisture needed.
Zone 11 has an average last spring frost of approximately none and a first fall frost around none. These dates vary by specific location — use your ZIP code in the plant app for precision based on the nearest NOAA weather station.
Good companion crops for eggplant / aubergine include Beans, Peppers, Tarragon, Marigolds. Avoid planting near Fennel, Corn, Brassicas, which can compete for nutrients or attract pests.
Eggplant / Aubergine typically takes 70–85 days from transplant or direct sow to harvest in Zone 11. Expected harvest window: Year-round.

Free app · iOS February 2028

Track your Eggplant / Aubergine in plant

Get a live traffic light for every crop in your garden — zone-aware planting calendar, real-time weather alerts, and a community of growers near you.

Be first to back on Kickstarter and lock in the founding price.

Eggplant / Aubergine in other zones
Crop Guides