Tender and True

Family: Apiaceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Tender and True to a garden.

Sweetly fragrant from the first pull, “Tender and True” parsnips develop a creamy, warm ivory core with a fine, velvety texture that stays tender even as roots mature to full size.

Their flavor leans gently nutty and honeyed, making them especially satisfying for roasting, purees, and silky soups, while their crisp bite also shines in fresh preparations and quick pickles. A cool-season favorite for gardeners who want reliable, uniform roots at about 110 days—straightforward to grow, rewarding to harvest.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 110 DaysHabit: Taproot

Botanical illustration of Tender and True

Location not set yet

Enter your ZIP for local crop dates

Tender and True 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	Direct Sow	May 19th	Sep 6th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Sep 2nd – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 13th	Aug 31st – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Aug 26th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 4th	Aug 22nd – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Aug 19th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 25th	Aug 13th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	Aug 8th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 10th	Jul 29th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 1st	Jul 20th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 23rd	Jul 11th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 6th	Jun 24th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 9th	May 30th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Jan 19th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Jan 19th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Jan 19th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Jan 19th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Jan 19th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Jan 19th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Jan 19th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Jan 19th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	110
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Taproot
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Surface
Germination Temp (°F)	50
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

This variety’s big win is that velvety, creamy core—so even as the roots size up, it still purées cleanly instead of getting fibrous. Roast it until bronzed, then let butter and thyme do the heavy lifting; the honeyed fragrance carries through every spoonful.

Best Uses

butter-roasted wedges that caramelize at the edges without turning woody
silky parsnip puree (stirs into mash like a smooth, fragrant base)
warm, blended soups where it behaves like a natural thickener
quick refrigerator pickles for a snappy, sweet-tart crunch

Flavor Profile

gentle nutty sweetness honeyed, fragrant aromatics creamy, velvety core texture mild earthy finish with a crisp bite when fresh

Kitchen Pairings

butter garlic thyme black pepper honey Greek yogurt

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease issue commonly affects Pastinaca sativa (parsnip), and how can I control it?

A frequent problem is carrot/parsnip root rot caused by waterlogged soil and poor drainage, often showing as rotting roots and wilting tops. Keep beds well-drained and avoid heavy, soggy soil, then thin seedlings early so plants dry faster after rain. If you see rotting plants, remove them promptly to reduce spread and don’t replant parsnips in the same spot the next season.

How often should I water Pastinaca sativa during the main growing phase?

From establishment through bulking (mid-summer to fall), water deeply about 1–2 times per week to keep the top several inches evenly moist, not wet. If the soil dries too hard between waterings, roots can become woody and split; aim for steady moisture rather than short, frequent splashes. Mulch lightly to moderate swings, and reduce watering slightly in the last couple of weeks before harvest if the soil stays naturally damp.

How do I tell when Pastinaca sativa is ready to harvest?

Harvest when roots are full-sized and the tops are still reasonably healthy—typically around 110 days from sowing for your timing. Look for roots that are at least 1–1.5 inches (2.5–4 cm) thick at the crown and feel firm when gently lifted. You can also let parsnips sit in the ground after maturity for better sweetness, but harvest before the ground becomes hard-frozen or waterlogged.