When to Plant Eggplant in Canberra, Cold / Highland Guide
Also called aubergine, brinjal.
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Canberra), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Cold / Highland
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.
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This Eggplant 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.
- Planting window
- Aug to Dec
- Days to harvest
- about 11 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Regular
- Spacing
- 60 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 5.5–6.5
- Shop price
- $8.90/kg at one shop
Eggplant is a warm-season Solanaceae that requires more heat than tomatoes to thrive. Originally from India, it loves hot Australian summers.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Cold / Highland
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug S
- Sep S
- Oct S
- Nov T
- Dec T
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Cold / Highland zone right now, Eggplant included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Eggplant in Cold / Highland Australia
- Soil
- Rich, well-drained soil with generous compost and aged manure. Slightly acidic preferred. Heavy feeders.
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- 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.
- Good companions
- Dwarf Beans, Lettuce, Basil, Marigold, Capsicum
- Keep away from
- Fennel, Galangal, Guava, Mustard greens (Listed under 'keep apart from' for mustard greens; no reason is given.), Potato, Strawberry (share Verticillium wilt), Walnut (juglone sensitive)
- 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
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
Pests and problems for Eggplant in Cold / Highland
- Bacterial Wilt Watch
- Queensland Fruit Fly Watch
- Early Blight Crop rotation (3 year minimum with non-Solanaceae). Mulch to prevent soil splash. Remove lower leaves below first fruit truss. Stake and... Watch
- Tomato Potato Psyllid Watch
- Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus Initial symptoms appear on young growth: bronze or coppery discolouration with tiny dark flecks on expanding leaves, giving a metallic... Watch
- Green Vegetable Bug Watch
Harvesting Eggplant
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.
Storing and preserving eggplant
How to keep it
- Freezing (Cooked). Slice eggplant 1cm thick. Grill, roast or pan-fry until soft and golden. Cool completely. Lay on tray to flash-freeze. Transfer to freezer bags. Use in pasta, curry, moussaka from frozen. Do NOT freeze raw. The texture becomes spongy and unpleasant. Keeps: 12 months.
- Dehydrating. Slice 5mm thick. Optional: lightly salt and stand 20 minutes, pat dry. Arrange on dehydrator trays. Dry at 60C for 8-14 hours until leathery or crispy. Store in airtight jars. Rehydrate in warm water or oil before use. Keeps: 12 months.
- Baba Ganoush (Freeze). Char whole eggplant over gas flame or under grill until skin is blackened and flesh is completely soft. Peel. Mash with tahini, lemon juice, garlic, salt. Portion and freeze flat in bags. Keeps: 6 months frozen.
- Pickled (Middle Eastern Style). Slice small eggplants lengthwise. Salt and press 2 hours to remove bitter liquid. Stuff with garlic, walnuts, chilli. Pack into jars. Cover with white vinegar. Seal and process in water bath 15 minutes. Keeps: 12 months.
What eggplant costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
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- Soil and weather from your nearest station
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Common Questions About Eggplant
When do you plant eggplant in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Feb to Jul
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan to Mar, Aug to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Aug to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Aug to Sep, Nov to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Aug to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jan to Feb, Jul to Dec
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jul to Dec
Can you grow eggplant 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.
When should I plant Eggplant in Canberra?
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.
What soil temperature do Eggplant need?
Eggplant germinate best when soil temperature is between 21°C and 32°C.
How do I know when Eggplant are ready to harvest?
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.
What are the best Eggplant varieties for Canberra?
Recommended varieties for the Cold / Highland zone include: Little Finger (if attempting at all).
What grows well with Eggplant?
Good companion plants for Eggplant include: Dwarf Beans, Lettuce, Basil, Marigold, Capsicum.
Are eggplant salt tolerant?
Only a little. Eggplant are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it 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.