When do you all start eggplants?

[peebee]

I know there is a place for discussing all things eggplant, but I wanted to post where most people look. I know that pepper seeds should be sowed before tomatoes, but what is the general rule about eggplants? I usually do them a bit after tomatoes but I'm wondering if I really should do them at the same time as peppers.
When do you start?

[Gardeneer]

Eggplant are like peppers. They like warm soil and air temperatures than tomatoes. In other words you plant them after planting tomatoes. So I think you are doing the right thing, sow eggplants after tomatoes. They can grow big fat leaves .

[Nitusa]

I usually start mine around the end of February. Eggplant is the first "summer" plant I'll start. About a week later, peppers and a week after that, tomatoes.

[Aubergine]

I start my peppers and eggplants early february and plant them out end of mai.

Tomatoes I start early march and plant out early mai.

[ScottinAtlanta]

I start right now. They are slower than tomatoes.

[Nattybo!]

I start my eggplants and mild peppers the last week of January (superhots get started a week or 2 before that). Tomatoes get started mid February. Everything gets planted out the first week of April.

[OmahaJB]

Started a few seeds of Mitoyo yesterday.

[roper2008]

I find eggplants grow slower than tomatoes also.

[Father'sDaughter]

I start mine at the same time I start my peppers, which is about three weeks before I start tomatoes. After they germinate, my seedlings live under lights in my basement and the peppers and eggplants grow very slowly at the cooler temperature down there. They typically go out to the garden about a week after the tomatoes.

[barbamWY]

I start mine 8 weeks before planting out

[KarenO]

for me, at the same time as peppers.
KarenO

[green_go]

Same as pappers

[MissS]

I start mine 2 weeks before the tomatoes.

[Deborah]

I wish eggplant didn't taste like metal to me. But it does as do cooked tomatoes. Not sauce, just cooked, such as inside a grilled cheese sandwich. Sigh...

[Gardeneer]

Originally Posted by Deborah

I wish eggplant didn't taste like metal to me. But it does as do cooked tomatoes. Not sauce, just cooked, such as inside a grilled cheese sandwich. Sigh...

Eggplant needs to be cooked. The best way (IMO) is pan frying. Baking is another way.
Then layers slices in a casserole dish with tomato sauce ( Italian style )and cheese. It is called EGGPLANT PARMESAN. One of the tasty Italian dishes. I would never ever cook eggplant in water.

Gardeneer