Rainline Garden

When to plant eggplant in Baker City, OR

Start eggplant from seed indoors Mar 16–30, then plant the young plants in the garden in Baker City May 25 – Jun 15.

Tricky here Plant young plants (starts)

Why these dates

Baker City's typical last spring frost is May 25. Frost kills eggplant, so planting starts once frost risk drops, around May 25. Keep row cover or a frost blanket handy for the first couple of weeks, since a late frost is still possible.

High desert and mountains. Central and high eastern Oregon. Frost is possible almost any month. Use row covers, wall-o-water or cloches for warm crops, and choose short-season varieties.

Difficulty
Tricky here
Sun
Full sun; the hottest spot you have
Spacing
18 to 24 inches apart
Planting depth
Plant starts at the depth they grew in the pot
Frost
Killed by frost
First harvest
About 80 days after planting

Step by step

  1. Start seeds indoors Mar 16–30 in trays or small pots under a grow light or in your sunniest window. Or skip this step and buy young plants (starts) at a garden center.
  2. Harden off the young plants: about a week before planting, set them outside for a few hours a day, a little longer each day.
  3. Plant them in the garden May 25 – Jun 15, 18 to 24 inches apart. Plant starts at the depth they grew in the pot.
  4. Water deeply once or twice a week rather than a little every day, and mulch once the soil is warm.
  5. Harvest: Pick when the skin is glossy and springs back when pressed. Dull skin means it's overripe and seedy.

Varieties that do well here

  • Hansel (early, small fruit)
  • Fairy Tale
  • Orient Express

Watch out for

Flea beetles riddle young leaves, and cool nights stall growth. Keep row cover on until plants are growing strongly.

Needs even more heat than peppers. Small-fruited, early varieties do best west of the Cascades, helped by black plastic mulch or a warm wall. Hot eastern valleys grow them easily.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Baker City, OR?

Typically May 25. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by June 16. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Baker City Municipal Airport.

Is it too late to plant eggplant in Baker City?

The spring planting window runs through June 15. Later plantings may not have time to produce before the first fall frost, which usually arrives around September 15.

When should I start eggplant from seed indoors in Baker City?

March 16 to March 30, which is 10 to 8 weeks before the May 25 planting date. Or buy young plants at a garden center instead.

Also plant in Baker City around the same time

Planting dates for eggplant in nearby areas

Full planting calendar for Baker City · Eggplant in every city