They will produce as long as the soil temps remain 75 degrees or above. EP is a hot weather plant so once the air temps cool enough to drop the root zone soil temp below 70-75 the plant shuts down.

Dave

I have treated them as perennials (biennials so far but we are going to go for a third year). They do nothing (go dormant) and take space, but we saw no reason to take them out (in zone 10). In late spring they started producing again. Some of them do not make it but most do. When they produce the last fruit in the fall we prune them and try not to look at them too much, since they do look raggedy. I will try to keep them dormant in the garden in zone 9, first year for the eggplants there. I also have a few rosa biancas, a long skinny white and a medium italian purple.

Thanks, you two. I figured if anyone was doing the perennial thing, it would be you, Cabrita!
And if anyone would have the technical information, it would be you, Digdirt!

So, I'm thinking with chilly nights arriving now, it may be time to slip my container plants into black outer pots and eee if I can keep the harvest going.

They seem to like pruning, Cabrita, if the eggplant in the larger (5 gallon)container is any example. It was down to a skeleton after something ate the leaves in mid August. They have all come back, now, and I counted 14 blooms on it yesterday.

j.