fruiting
EdibleEggplant / Aubergine
Solanum melongena
Considered non-toxic to cats and dogs (source: ASPCA (fruit not listed; foliage is a nightshade — keep away from pets)).
A sunny south-facing window with 6+ hours, or a grow light.
Keep evenly moist — water when the top inch of soil is dry.
Needs a little consistency, but nothing fancy.
Eggplant is a warmth-loving nightshade that needs strong light and patience, rewarding it with glossy fruit. Choose a compact or dwarf variety for containers. Like its tomato relatives, the foliage is toxic, so keep it away from pets.
About Eggplant / Aubergine
Eggplant (Solanum melongena), also called aubergine, is a heat-loving nightshade first cultivated in South and East Asia. It is a relative of the tomato and pepper, and it shares their need for warmth, strong light, and a bit of patience. A compact or dwarf variety fits a large pot of around 11 litres, which makes it workable in a rental as long as you can offer a hot, bright corner or a strong grow light through a long season.
Keep it warm and give it the brightest light you have, then expect to wait. Fruit takes 70 to 100 days, and the plant needs staking once the glossy aubergines weigh the branches down. Indoors you can tap the flowers to help them set. One caution: like other nightshades the foliage is toxic to pets, so site it where cats and dogs cannot graze on the leaves.
What it’s like to grow
Eggplant is rated moderate mainly because it sulks in cool rooms and dim light. Flowers that drop without forming fruit almost always mean it is too cold or not bright enough. Fine webbing and stippled, fading leaves signal spider mites, which thrive in dry indoor air, so a little humidity helps. Its water needs are moderate, so let the surface dry slightly between drinks. This is a plant for someone with real warmth and light to give, and with pets, that toxic foliage needs to stay out of reach.
What to expect
First harvest in about 70–100 days. It asks for a little consistency, but nothing fancy. No sunny window? It also does fine under a clip-on grow light.
See what you’ll need to get started ↓Companions
Tips
- Keep it warm and give the brightest light you have or a strong grow light.
- Choose a compact ‘patio’ variety and stake it as fruit develops.
- Tap or gently shake flowers to help them set fruit indoors.
Common problems
- Flower drop in cool temperatures or low light.
- Spider mites in dry indoor air.
Common questions
Is Eggplant / Aubergine toxic to cats and dogs?
Eggplant / Aubergine is non-toxic to cats and dogs, which makes it a safe pick if you have pets. Source: ASPCA (fruit not listed; foliage is a nightshade — keep away from pets).
How much light does Eggplant / Aubergine need?
Eggplant / Aubergine wants bright light — a south-facing window with six or more hours of sun, or a grow light to make up for it.
How often should I water Eggplant / Aubergine?
Water Eggplant / Aubergine when the top inch of soil feels dry, then let it drain. Aim for evenly moist, not soggy.
What temperature does Eggplant / Aubergine need?
Eggplant / Aubergine is happiest around 21–30 °C. It tolerates brief dips to about 13 °C, but cold drafts and sudden chills set it back.
How long does Eggplant / Aubergine take to grow?
Expect a first harvest about 70–100 days from sowing under good conditions. A compact variety can ripen several fruits over a long warm season with strong light.
Can I grow Eggplant / Aubergine without a sunny window?
Yes. Eggplant / Aubergine does well under an affordable clip-on grow light, so a bright window isn't essential.
How big does Eggplant / Aubergine get?
A bushy plant ~0.5–0.7 m tall; grow one self-fertile plant per large pot.
How do I propagate Eggplant / Aubergine?
Start seed warm indoors; needs strong light and steady warmth to set fruit.
What pests affect Eggplant / Aubergine?
Watch for spider mites, aphids, whitefly and thrips. Check new growth and the undersides of leaves often, and treat early with a rinse or insecticidal soap before they spread.
Is Eggplant / Aubergine easy to grow?
Eggplant / Aubergine is moderately easy. It asks for some consistency with light and water, but nothing advanced.
Gear for Eggplant / Aubergine
Gear suggestions to get you started — general picks, not paid placements.
Pet-toxicity from the ASPCA. Care details are general guidance, not professional or veterinary advice; only eat plants you can positively identify as the edible plant and part described. Photo: Ecobrown, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (CC0). Care info last updated 2026-06-02.