When to Plant Eggplant (Aubergine) in Canberra, Cold / Highland Guide

Sow August to December. Right now in October you can sow.

Also called aubergine, brinjal.

Planting window
Raise seedlings with bottom heat from August and plant out from late November into the warmest spot, a polytunnel or black plastic. Early...
Days to harvest
about 11 weeks
Sunlight
Full sun (minimum 8 hours). More heat-demanding than tomatoes. The warmest, most sheltered position in the garden.
Water needs
Consistent deep watering 2-3 times per week. Irregular watering causes bitter fruit and...
Spacing
60cm apart, 80cm between rows
Soil pH
5.5-6.5

Published · Last reviewed · By GardenBuddy.au
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Eggplant (Aubergine) guide is written for the Cold / Highland zone, which takes in Canberra, Cooma and Bright. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Alice Springs Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Eggplant (Aubergine)

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Eggplant is a warm-season Solanaceae that requires more heat than tomatoes to thrive. Originally from India, it loves hot Australian summers. Multiple types are available: classic large purple, long Asian, small Thai, white and striped varieties. As a Solanaceae, it shares crop rotation requirements with tomatoes, capsicum and chillies.

See what grows now in your own postcode

Planting Calendar for Cold / Highland

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- - - - - - - S S S T T

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

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Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 13.6°C (optimal range: 21–32°C) ✗ Outside optimal range

Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Canberra), not a live sensor.

What this month normally looks like

In October the Cold / Highland zone normally runs 20°C by day and 7°C overnight, with about 58 mm of rain over 7 or 8 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -6.4°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 15 postcodes, SILO.

How to Grow Eggplant (Aubergine) in Cold / Highland Australia

When to Plant

Raise seedlings with bottom heat from August and plant out from late November into the warmest spot, a polytunnel or black plastic. Early varieties crop outdoors in Canberra but yields are light in colder towns.

Soil
Rich, well-drained soil with generous compost and aged manure. Slightly acidic preferred. Heavy feeders.
pH Range
5.5-6.5
Sunlight
Full sun (minimum 8 hours). More heat-demanding than tomatoes. The warmest, most sheltered position in the garden.
Spacing
60cm apart, 80cm between rows
Watering
Consistent deep watering 2-3 times per week. Irregular watering causes bitter fruit and blossom end rot. Drip irrigation ideal. Avoid wetting foliage.

Companion plants: Basil, Beans, Marigold, Thyme, Capsicum

Avoid planting near: Fennel, Other Solanaceae in same rotation bed

Grow before, grow after

Eggplant belongs with the nightshades, the fruiting crops turn of a four turn bed rotation.

Grow before it
Leafy greens and brassicas (Lettuce, Silverbeet, Broccoli)
Grow after it
Roots and alliums (Carrot, Beetroot, Onion)

Give the bed 3 turns before nightshades go back in. Tomato, capsicum, eggplant and potato share wilts and blights that live on in the soil.

Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Eggplant (Aubergine)

Recommended Varieties

  • Little Finger (if attempting at all)

Key Challenges

  • Grossly insufficient heat outdoors
  • Frost at both ends
  • Short season even under cover

Pro Tips

  • Do not attempt outdoors in highland areas. Total waste of time
  • Heated greenhouse is required for any chance of success
  • Grow capsicums or tomatoes instead. They need less heat

Harvesting Eggplant (Aubergine)

When ready: Fruit should be glossy and firm. Press gently. Flesh should spring back. Skin colour at variety-typical stage (deep purple, white, striped etc.). Dull skin and brown seeds inside indicate over-maturity. Fruit will be bitter and seedy.

How to harvest: Cut with sharp secateurs (stems are woody and thorny). Leave 2-3cm of stem. Do not pull. Wear gloves as some varieties have thorns on calyx. Harvest in morning.

Worth growing?

A 2.4 m × 1.2 m bed fits 4 plants, about $84 worth at today’s Aldi and Coles prices, checked today.

That is roughly 10 kg at $8.44 a kilo.

Draw your eggplant (aubergine) bed → No account needed.

Where to next

What eggplant costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the cold and highland zone this October: Sweet Corn, Beetroot, Celeriac and Kohlrabi.

The pest most likely to find your eggplant: Queensland Fruit Fly.

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Common Questions About Eggplant (Aubergine)

When do you plant eggplant in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Does eggplant grow all year round in Canberra?

No. In the Cold / Highland zone the planting months are Aug to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.

What else is eggplant called?

Eggplant is the usual Australian name. Overseas seed packets and recipes call it aubergine, brinjal. Same plant, same growing advice.

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Cold / Highland zone, Canberra is its reference city.