I have a friend that grows them every year.

They require similar growing conditions to peppers (to whch they are related) and tomatoes. Growing in containers (so the soil heats up quickly) and with reflected heat (a sun-filled patio area) should produce similar results. The smaller, narrower Asian or Japanese eggplants have a shorter harvest period and do not require quite the same heat intensity as their European cousins.

Thanks to everyone who chimed in. My MIL is up here from the South (I miss the early warm up in spring)and likes to cook fried eggplant. I will consider growing it. Is it too late to start seeds?

I think it is a little late to start from seed. Another trick for warmth: surround with wire fencing, wrap wire with plastic sheeting, place water filled dark wine bottles or dark plastic one liter soda bottles with water inside the cage to absorb heat during the day and radiate back at night. jwww

check out Japanese eggplant, they seem to do better here. I've grown them without any problems. They're slender rather than rounded, taste great. It's late for seeds but you should be able to find plants.

I grow eggplants every year no problem.Put them in a protected area the warmest and sunniest place.I will be starting from seeds indoor sometimes in May..

I grew big, beautiful eggplant last year. They were in front of a white fence, so it reflected the heat. I am planting a couple of different kinds this year. The container gardening or surrounding with plastic are both great suggestions to get the needed heat. You can't plant eggplant outside here until about mid-June, so you have plenty of time to start seed indoors even now.