When to Plant Eggplant (Aubergine) in Melbourne, Cool Temperate Guide

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

Also called aubergine, brinjal.

Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
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 Cool Temperate zone, which takes in Melbourne, Hobart and Geelong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Canberra 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.

Planting Calendar for Cool Temperate

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

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

Want a nudge when it is Eggplant (Aubergine) sowing time in Melbourne?

One email a week with what is worth planting in the Cool Temperate zone right now, Eggplant (Aubergine) included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.

Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 13.1°C (optimal range: 21–32°C) ✗ Outside optimal range

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

How to Grow Eggplant (Aubergine) in Cool Temperate Australia

When to Plant

Sow indoors August. Transplant late November-December. Greenhouse or polytunnel strongly recommended. Outdoor growing is marginal.

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

Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Eggplant (Aubergine)

Recommended Varieties

  • Little Finger (fastest)
  • Fairy Tale
  • Black Beauty (risky, may not produce enough fruit)

Key Challenges

  • Insufficient heat
  • Very short season
  • Cool nights halting growth

Pro Tips

  • Greenhouse growing is strongly recommended for Melbourne-type climates
  • Small-fruited varieties (Little Finger, Fairy Tale) ripen faster
  • Every warmth trick matters: north wall, black mulch, cloche, raised bed

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 cool temperate zone this September: Ginger, Sweet Corn, Chilli Peppers and Snow Peas.

The pest most likely to find your eggplant: Bacterial Wilt.

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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 Melbourne?

No. In the Cool Temperate 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 Cool Temperate zone, Melbourne is its reference city.