How to Grow Millionaire
Solanum melongena 'Millionaire'
Millionaire eggplants are popular warm-season favorites prized for their high yield and excellent disease tolerance. Gardeners grow this hybrid variety for its robust vigor and ability to produce abundant fruit in shorter growing seasons.
📷 Wikipedia: EggplantStarting Millionaire: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Millionaire is not usually started indoors.
Do not transplant; wait until all danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures are warm before moving seedlings outdoors or direct sowing.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare rich, well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. As a warm-season crop, start seeds indoors only after the last frost date or direct sow outdoors once the soil is fully warm. Plant seeds one inch deep; they typically germinate within seven to fourteen days.
Space plants eighteen to twenty-four inches apart in full sun. Provide consistent moisture as these crops have high water needs, watering regularly to prevent fruit cracking. Apply mulch around the base to retain soil temperature and add fertilizer during the growing season to support heavy production.
Watch for flea beetles, aphids, spider mites, and thrips; use insecticidal soap or neem oil for control. Prevent verticillium wilt, bacterial wilt, and tobacco mosaic virus by rotating crops and using disease-resistant varieties like this hybrid. Harvest fruits sixty-five to seventy-five days after sowing when they reach deep purple color.
When to Plant Millionaire
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | May | — | September – August |
| Zone 2 | April – May | — | September |
| Zone 3 | April | — | August – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | — | August – October |
| Zone 5 | March | — | August – October |
| Zone 6 | March | — | July – September |
| Zone 7 | February – March | — | July – September |
| Zone 8 | February | — | June – August |
| Zone 9 | January | — | May – July |
| Zone 10 | January | — | May – July |
| Zone 11 | January | — | April – June |
| Zone 12 | January | — | April – June |
| Zone 13 | January | — | April – June |
Companion Plants for Millionaire
✓ Good companions
Repels aphids, whiteflies, and flea beetles while potentially improving eggplant flavor
Attracts pollinators and beneficial insects while potentially improving growth
Natural insect repellent that deters flea beetles and mosquitoes
Deters nematodes, aphids, and other pests with strong scent compounds
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, draws pests away
Repels spider mites and aphids while attracting beneficial insects
Share similar growing requirements and pest resistance strategies
Compatible nightshade family members with similar soil and care needs
✗ Keep away from
Releases juglone toxin that stunts growth and can kill eggplants
Attracts corn earworm which also feeds on eggplant fruits
Allelopathic compounds inhibit growth of most vegetable crops including eggplant
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
