Eggplant
Solanum melongena
Varieties We Bring In
Last received Sep 18, 2026.
We bring this in seasonally, so what is on the lot changes week to week. A received date shows when it last came in, not that it is here today.
Call (904) 471-0440 to confirm this plant and size before you make the trip.
About Eggplant
Eggplant (Solanum melongena) is a warm-season vegetable in the nightshade family, native to South and Southeast Asia, grown for its smooth, glossy fruits in shades of deep purple, white, green, and striped forms. It produces attractive lavender flowers and fruits ranging from small and round to long and elongated depending on variety. Starting at $2.29.
Plant details
- Bloom Season
- Spring, Summer
- Flower Color
- Purple
- Growth Rate
- Fast
- Foliage
- Annual
- Soil
- Sandy, Loam, Well-drained
Best planting months
Seasonal care
Bloom season. New foliage emerges. Good planting window.
Bloom season. Higher water demand in summer heat.
Foliage may begin to change or drop.
Dormant — drops foliage.
Care essentials
Eggplant requires full sun — a minimum of 8 hours daily — for maximum fruit set; insufficient light results in poor flowering and low yields.
Water consistently and deeply to maintain even soil moisture; irregular watering causes bitter fruit and blossom drop — mulch around plants to conserve moisture and moderate NE Florida's sandy, fast-draining soils.
Plant in fertile, well-drained sandy or loam soil amended with compost; apply a balanced vegetable fertilizer at planting and side-dress with nitrogen mid-season — NE Florida plantings go in late January through March or in August for a fall crop.
Similar needs
Cucumber
Shares 5 of the same needs: full sun, high water, sandy, zone 9a hardiness, and pollinator-friendly.
Heliotrope
Shares 5 of the same needs: full sun, high water, loam, zone 9a hardiness, and pollinator-friendly.
SunPatiens
Shares 5 of the same needs: full sun, high water, loam, zone 9a hardiness, and pollinator-friendly.
Cabbage
Shares 4 of the same needs: full sun, high water, sandy, and zone 9a hardiness.
American Hornbeam
Shares 5 of the same needs: full sun, high water, sandy, zone 9a hardiness, and pollinator-friendly.
Angel's Trumpet
Shares 5 of the same needs: full sun, high water, sandy, zone 9a hardiness, and pollinator-friendly.
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Common questions
Is Eggplant a good plant for St. Augustine?
Eggplant is a annual for Zone 9b coastal Florida gardens, reaching 2-4 feet × 2-3 feet.
Care information verified from
Last reviewed February 2026. Our care guidance comes from trusted horticulture sources and decades of helping St. Augustine gardeners. Conditions here can vary dramatically from one area to the next, so come ask us and we'll tailor it to your yard.