How to grow Eggplant in New Zealand
Eggplant, or aubergine, loves heat and needs a long, warm season, so in New Zealand it does best started indoors in late winter and planted into the warmest, sunniest spot once the soil has warmed. Once established it produces glossy fruit for months. In cooler regions a glasshouse, tunnel house or sheltered sunny wall makes the difference between a few fruit and a good crop.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Eggplant (Aubergine) in New Zealand
At a glance
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| Northland | September to December | |
| Auckland | September to December | |
| Waikato & Bay of Plenty | September to December | |
| Central North Island | November and December | Cold plateau nights slow it down; a tunnel house or cloche gives far better crops. |
| Wellington & Lower North Island | October to December | |
| Nelson & Marlborough | October to December | |
| Canterbury | November and December | |
| Otago & Southland | November and December | |
| Central Otago | December |
Where to plant
Plant eggplants in the warmest, sunniest spot you have, sheltered from strong winds, in rich, well-drained soil. They stop growing in cold weather and are killed by frost. A glasshouse or a spot against a sunny wall gives the most reliable crop outside the warm north.
- Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty: start seed indoors from August and plant out from September to December once the soil warms.
- Wellington and Nelson and Marlborough: plant out from October to December.
- Central North Island: cold plateau nights slow it down. Plant in November or December, and a tunnel house or cloche gives far better crops.
- Canterbury and Otago and Southland: plant out in November or December, ideally under cover.
- Central Otago: plant out in December, with protection early and late in the season.
Choosing a variety
- Black Beauty: large, glossy, teardrop-shaped dark purple fruit on bushy plants.
- Long Purple: slim, elongated fruit, tender and quick to mature.
- Thai Green Egg: small, round green and white fruit, 4 to 5 cm across, prolific over a long summer and a favourite in Asian cooking.
- Small-fruited types such as Lebanese and White Star suit pots.
How to plant
- Sow seed about 6 mm deep in trays of seed raising mix from August to November, in a warm spot or on a heat pad.
- Keep moist and warm; seedlings appear in 7 to 14 days.
- When seedlings are 7 to 10 cm tall and frosts are over, harden them off and plant out 60 cm apart.
- Water in and mulch with pea or lucerne straw.
- Put in a stake, as plants need support once fruit sets.
Watering and feeding
Water regularly and keep the soil consistently moist, which also reduces blossom end rot. Mulch around the root zone.
Feed every couple of weeks with a liquid fertiliser for tomatoes or fruiting vegetables once flowering starts.
Pruning and care through the year
- Stake plants and tie them in as the fruit develops.
- Pick fruit regularly to encourage more flowers and fruit.
- Cover young plants with fine insect mesh where tomato-potato psyllid is a problem.
- Rotate eggplants with other tomato family crops, avoiding beds where tomatoes, potatoes or capsicums grew recently.
Harvesting
Pick fruit when the skin is smooth and shiny and the flesh gives slightly to a gentle press, from about 14 weeks after sowing. Fruit that has gone dull is overripe and seedy. Cut with secateurs, leaving about 2 cm of stem.
Eggplants keep up to four days at room temperature; the fridge shortens their life. Cooked eggplant freezes well.
Growing in pots
Eggplants are happy in pots at least 30 to 40 cm wide and deep, in full sun, which also lets you move them to the warmest spot. Choose a smaller-fruited variety, stake the plant and water and feed regularly.
Using it
Grill, roast, bake or stir-fry eggplant, or use it in moussaka, curries, ratatouille and baba ghanoush.
Companion planting
Eggplants share a warm, sunny bed well with other summer crops.
Good companions
- Beans Beans add nitrogen and grow alongside without crowding.
- Marigold Brings beneficial insects to the bed.
- Thyme A low herb for the edge of the bed that flowers for bees.
- Capsicum Likes the same warm conditions, though rotate the bed afterwards as they are relatives.
Keep apart
Avoid planting these close to eggplant.
- Fennel Fennel is a poor neighbour for most vegetables.
Pests and diseases
Tomato-potato psyllid, whitefly and aphids are the main eggplant pests in New Zealand.
Pests to watch for
- Tomato potato psyllid Yellowing, purpling and cupped leaves, stunted plants and poor fruit set, with tiny jumping insects. Cover with fine mesh.
- Whitefly Small white insects that fly up when disturbed, with yellow or mottled leaves.
- Aphids Clusters of small insects under leaves and on new growth.
- Thrips Discoloured, deformed leaves.
- Spider mite Fine stippling and webbing on leaves in hot, dry weather, especially under cover.
Diseases to watch for
- Verticillium wilt Leaves wilting and yellowing, often on one side, with brown streaks inside the stem. Rotate crops.
- Blossom end rot Sunken patches at the base of the fruit, from uneven watering.
- Phomopsis blight Sunken, pale brown spots with rings on the fruit, and spots on leaves, in warm, wet weather. Remove affected fruit.
Common questions
When do I plant eggplant in New Zealand?
Start seed indoors from August, then plant out once the soil is warm and frosts are over: from September in the north, October in Wellington and Nelson, and November or December in cooler regions.
Why are my eggplant flowers dropping?
Cold nights, heat stress or dry soil can make eggplants drop flowers. Grow them in the warmest spot or under cover and keep the soil evenly moist.
When is eggplant ready to pick?
When the skin is smooth and glossy and the flesh gives slightly when pressed. Dull skin means it is overripe.
Can I grow eggplant in a pot?
Yes, in a pot at least 30 to 40 cm wide, which can be moved to the warmest spot. Small-fruited varieties are best.
Do eggplants need staking?
Yes, once fruit sets, the plants can topple or snap. Stake them at planting and tie them in as they grow.
Sources we checked: Yates NZ: How to grow eggplant; Yates NZ: Common problems of eggplant; Kings Seeds: Organic Eggplant Black Beauty; Kings Seeds: Eggplant Thai Green Egg F1.