The lush, ripe fruit of the eggplant plants is one of our favorite late summer treats. The Solanum melongena is a warm-season vegetable from the Solanaceae family.

But are eggplants perennial? Can this black beauty endure the last frost and survive the next growing season so you can enjoy eggplant fruits all year round?

Eggplants are perennial plants, but they are more often grown as an annual crop. They cannot survive the winter in cooler areas like most of the United States.

Plant eggplant seeds in mid to late spring after the danger of frost has passed and nighttime temperatures do not dip below freezing.

Eggplants require fertile, well-drained soil full of organic matter, with a soil pH of between 5.5 and 7.5. The soil temperature must be 60 °F to germinate.

Flea beetles and Colorado potato beetles are the common pests of eggplants. Use insecticidal soap or row covers to control infestations.

Avoid fungal diseases like powdery mildew by planting at recommended density and prune suckers. Practice crop rotation to prevent verticillium wilt.