Alabaster

Family: Apiaceae Root Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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Silky and luminous, Alabaster celeriac forms a smooth, ivory “bulb” with a clean, bright celery aroma and a sweet, mellow bite.

The flesh stays tender and crisp with a fine, even texture, making it especially satisfying for roasting, fresh slicing, and creamy sauces where its delicate flavor shines. A steady 120-day journey rewards home gardeners with a refined, garden-to-plate centerpiece that stores well and stays flavorful.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 120 DaysHabit: Upright

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Alabaster Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 3a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 3b	Mar 10th	May 12th	Sep 9th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 6th	May 8th	Sep 5th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 4th	May 6th	Sep 3rd – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Feb 27th	May 1st	Aug 29th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Feb 23rd	Apr 27th	Aug 25th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Feb 20th	Apr 24th	Aug 22nd – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Feb 14th	Apr 18th	Aug 16th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Feb 9th	Apr 13th	Aug 11th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Jan 30th	Apr 3rd	Aug 1st – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Jan 21st	Mar 25th	Jul 23rd – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Jan 12th	Mar 16th	Jul 14th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Dec 26th	Feb 27th	Jun 27th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 1st	Feb 2nd	Jun 2nd – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Jan 29th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Jan 29th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Jan 29th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Jan 29th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Jan 29th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Jan 29th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Jan 29th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Jan 29th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	120
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Alabaster celeriac is engineered for the moment you want that celery brightness without the bitterness—its smooth, even flesh roasts and purées into a velvety texture that won’t turn grainy. It’s the kind of root that makes a simple butter-lemon sauce feel luxurious, because the crunch and aroma stay clean on the palate.

Best Uses

roasting thick slabs until bronzed and caramel-sweet at the edges
shaving raw into salads where it stays crisp under vinaigrette
puréeing into silky gratin-style sides or creamy soups
turning into fries or mash where it holds structure without getting woolly

Flavor Profile

bright celery aroma sweet, mellow bite tender-crisp, fine-grained texture silky roastability with a clean finish

Kitchen Pairings

butter parmesan lemon thyme mustard heavy cream

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I prevent and treat downy mildew on Alabaster (120-day) plants?

Downy mildew shows up as yellowing patches on the top of leaves with gray-purple growth on the underside, often after humid weather. Remove and discard badly affected leaves, avoid wetting foliage, and thin plants so air moves through the canopy. If it’s spreading, start a labeled fungicide for downy mildew as soon as symptoms appear and repeat according to the label; don’t wait for full leaf collapse.

How often should I water Alabaster during the main growing phase?

During the 120-day growth period, keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy—aim for top 1–2 inches to dry slightly between waterings. In typical summer conditions, this usually means watering about 1–2 times per week, but increase frequency if beds dry out faster or you’re in hot, windy weather. Use a deep watering that reaches the root zone, since frequent light watering encourages shallow roots and stress.

When is Alabaster ready to harvest?

Harvest when plants reach the full 120-day maturity window and the heads/structure is fully formed and firm, with color characteristic of the variety. For best eating quality, pick when it’s mature but before it starts to soften or split; if you see leaves beginning to decline rapidly, harvest promptly. If unsure, check the base/center firmness—if it still feels loose or underdeveloped, wait a few more days and recheck.