When to Plant Eggplant in Los Alamitos, California (90721)

Location

Los Alamitos, California

ZIP Code

90721

USDA Zone

10a

Last Frost

Sunday, January 25, 2026

📅 Your 2026 Planting Dates

Start Seeds Indoors

Sunday, November 30, 2025

Transplant Outdoors

Sunday, February 8, 2026

Based on last frost Sunday, January 25, 2026 · Zone 10a

Pro tip: Start Eggplant seeds indoors 8 weeks before your last frost date, then transplant outdoors around Sunday, February 8, 2026.

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🌿 Plant Details

Scientific Name Solanum melongena

Days to Maturity 70 days

Mature Height 24-36"

Spread 24"

Type Bush

Fruit Size Medium (4-8 inches)

☀️ Growing Requirements

☀️

Sun

Full Sun (6-8 hours)

💧

Water

Regular (1 inch/week)

↔️

Spacing

24" apart

🌱

Planting Depth

0.25" deep

Seeds typically germinate in 7-14 days

Ready to Plant Eggplant in Los Alamitos?

Get your seeds now so they're ready by Sunday, November 30, 2025.

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🤝 Good Companions

BeanPepperSpinachThyme

⚠️ Avoid Planting Near

Fennel

🤝

Full Companion Planting Guide for Eggplant

See which plants help Eggplant thrive, which to keep away, and raised bed layout tips →

🛠️ Supplies You'll Need

🌱 Seed Starting Trays 🪴 Seed Starting Mix 💡 Grow Lights 🌡️ Heat Mat 🪵 Raised Garden Bed 🌍 Vegetable Garden Soil 🛠️ Hand Trowel Set 🚿 Watering Can

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Common Eggplant Varieties

Popular cultivars to look for at your local nursery or seed supplier.

Black Beauty

classic 73d

The classic large-fruited purple-black eggplant; standard variety since 1902.

Fairy Tale

mini 65d

Small, lavender-striped mini eggplants with very tender, sweet flesh; no bitterness.

Ichiban

japanese 61d

Long, slender Japanese eggplant with mild, delicate flavor and thin skin.

Listada de Gandia

heirloom 75d

Striking Italian heirloom with white-and-purple striped skin; mild, creamy flavor.

Common Eggplant Problems

What to watch for — and how to fix it before it spreads.

🐛

Pests

Flea Beetle

Tiny beetles create dozens of small holes in leaves; seedlings can be badly set back.

Fix:

Use row covers; apply kaolin clay; strong healthy transplants recover better — don't rush transplanting.

Colorado Potato Beetle

Adults and orange larvae defoliate eggplant rapidly; they prefer eggplant even over potatoes.

Fix:

Handpick adults and egg masses daily; apply spinosad; rotate crops and till after harvest.

Spider Mites

Thrive in hot, dry conditions; cause stippled, yellowing leaves and fine webbing.

Fix:

Keep plants well-watered; spray neem oil or insecticidal soap on leaf undersides.

🍂

Diseases

Verticillium Wilt

Soil-borne fungus causing yellowing, wilting, and gradual plant death in mid-season.

Fix:

Plant resistant varieties; rotate crops; solarize soil before planting in problem beds.

Phomopsis Blight

Fruit rot and stem lesions; fruit develops brown, sunken areas that spread rapidly.

Fix:

Apply copper fungicide; harvest promptly; avoid overhead irrigation.

💡

Common Mistakes

Transplanting too early

Eggplant is extremely cold-sensitive; chilling injury causes long-term stunting even without frost.

Fix:

Wait until nighttime temps are reliably above 60°F and soil is at least 65°F before transplanting.

Letting fruit become overripe

Overripe eggplant becomes seedy, bitter, and spongy; the skin loses its sheen when past peak.

Fix:

Harvest when skin is glossy and fruit gives slightly to pressure; cut with pruning shears, never twist.

🌾 Seed Saving Guide

🟢 Easy

✅ Open-pollinated — seeds grow true to parent

When to Harvest Seed

Leave fruit on the plant well past edible stage — it will turn yellow-brown and overripen.

Processing

Cut overripe fruit, scoop seeds into water, let viable seeds sink, rinse and dry flat.

Seed Viability

Up to 4 years when stored cool, dark, and dry.

Pro Tip

Eggplant can cross-pollinate between varieties. Isolate by 300 feet for pure seed saving.

🪴

Raised Bed Planting Guides

A 4×8 bed fits 8 plants of Eggplant. See plant counts, spacing grids, and companion pairings for every bed size →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Eggplant in Los Alamitos, California? +

In Los Alamitos (Zone 10a), start Eggplant seeds indoors around Sunday, November 30, 2025 and transplant outdoors around Sunday, February 8, 2026.

What is the last frost date for Los Alamitos, California? +

The average last spring frost date for Los Alamitos, California (ZIP 90721) is around Sunday, January 25, 2026. This is based on NOAA climate normals for USDA Zone 10a.

How long does Eggplant take to grow? +

Eggplant typically matures in about 70 days from transplanting. In Los Alamitos, that means you can expect harvest around Sunday, February 8, 2026 plus 70 days.

Should I start Eggplant indoors or direct sow in California? +

Eggplant should be started indoors 8 weeks before your last frost date. In Los Alamitos, that means starting around Sunday, November 30, 2025.

📚 More Eggplant Planting Guides

🗺️

Eggplant in California

Zone-by-zone breakdown · Full state guide

→ 🌡️

Zone 10a Eggplant Guide

All cities in your zone · Avg dates

→

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Growing Eggplant in Zone 10a

Eggplant (Solanum melongena) is a popular garden vegetable. In Los Alamitos, California, which is in USDA Hardiness Zone 10a, you should start seeds indoors around Sunday, November 30, 2025.

Your average last frost date is Sunday, January 25, 2026. Plan to transplant your Eggplant seedlings outdoors around Sunday, February 8, 2026, about 2 weeks after your last frost date.