When to Plant Eggplant in Missouri

Growing Eggplant in Missouri: Complete Guide

Eggplant (Solanum melongena) is a warm-season crop that needs a head start indoors before Missouri's last frost. Depending on your zone, Missouri gardeners start seeds indoors between January 23, 2027 (Zone 8a) and February 28, 2027 (Zone 5b), then move transplants outside once their zone's last frost has passed — the zone table above has your exact dates.

Because Missouri stretches across 6 USDA hardiness zones (5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a), planting windows can shift by as much as six to eight weeks from one end of the state to the other. Gardeners in the warmer southern zones can start earlier, while those in cooler northern zones should wait until the zone table above shows their last frost has passed.

With 70 days to maturity, Eggplant needs the indoor head start that Missouri's growing season requires. Starting indoors ensures you have strong transplants ready the moment outdoor conditions are right.

Eggplant requires full sun (6-8 hours) and regular (1 inch/week) moisture. Midwest growing seasons are compressed between late spring frosts and fall cold snaps, so timing transplants precisely pays off.

For the most precise planting dates tailored to your exact location, enter your ZIP code on our planting calendar or use the zone table above to find the schedule for your area of Missouri.