I believe they can be perennial in zones 9 or 10. I'm not familiar with the zone for Long Island.

Peppers, okra, and eggplants are formally perennials. Maybe tomatoes. No frost tolerance, however. For a light freeze, you could try to protect them. Heavy freeze? Forget it. I think you prune them to the lowest new growth in the fall.

If they're in pots, yes, they'll overwinter inside, if given sun.

I have not done this, but I know of others who have.

My Gretel eggplants from last summer went gangbusters on me this summer! I refreshed the potting mix, feed them regularly, and pick the fruits very often. The sooner you pick them fruits, the sooner it throws off new blooms.

Also, my "Pot Black" eggplants (perfect for containers) continue to produce. I pulled what I thought was my last harvest this past weekend, and today, the plants are full of blooms again!

Linda.

My Gretel eggplants from last summer went gangbusters on me this summer! I refreshed the potting mix, feed them regularly, and pick the fruits very often. The sooner you pick them fruits, the sooner it throws off new blooms.

Also, my "Pot Black" eggplants (perfect for containers) continue to produce. I pulled what I thought was my last harvest this past weekend, and today, the plants are full of blooms again!

Linda.

{{!gwi}}

That's actually an important point, that for eggplants, you need to pick them to start more fruit. With a small plant, trying to grow a fruit, the plant won't increase in size, nor will it generally flower again, until you pick that fruit. Then, BLAM! the plant starts growing fast, and lots of flowers appear.