Can you grow eggplant year-round?
Written by
Kiana Okafor
Reviewed by
Prof. Charles Hartman, Ph.D.With winter protection methods in USDA zones 9b-12a, we can achieve year-round, continuous eggplant production. Since containers are mobile, you can move them indoors or provide temporary protection during cold snaps, which extends your growing season. With just a couple of direction techniques, I successfully overwinter productive plants for three growing seasons on my patio in Florida.
Post-harvest pruning prepares for fruitful overwintering. In the fall, after the last fruits have been harvested, I cut the stems down to about 6 inches. This will direct plant energy to the root system. I use rubbing alcohol to sterilize my pruning shears before each cut, thereby avoiding the propagation of disease at this sensitive time.
Temperature Thresholds
- Begin protection below 50°F (10°C)
- Move containers indoors under 40°F (4°C)
- Use thermometer for precision monitoring
Moisture Management
- Reduce watering frequency by 50%
- Avoid soggy soil to prevent root rot
- Check soil weekly during dormancy
Spring Reactivation
- Gradually increase water at 55°F (13°C)
- Apply balanced fertilizer at first new growth
- Prune dead wood before new shoots emerge
Insulation strategies lead to either survival or death. After pruning, apply 4 inches of mulch around the base of the plants. Straw or shredded leaves work best. Cover plants with frost cloth, pinned to a frame, when the temperature approaches freezing. Using this method, my plants survived nights with temperatures as low as 28°F.
Container mobility is key when facing unanticipated cold fronts. Keep your plants on wheeled plant stands so they can be relocated quickly to garages or underneath eaves. My rolling plant caddies saved the day on a couple of occasions when they were needed to go overnight in the cold temperatures. Established plants developed strong root systems and produced more each subsequent year.
Year-round cultivation maximizes the return on your investment with a continuous harvest. Start with healthy transplants and employ these protection methods. Use our gardening community hashtag to share your overwintering success and to be featured.
Read the full article: How to Grow Eggplant in Containers
