White Gem

Family: Apiaceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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Crisp, sweet, and luminous as a winter moon, White Gem parsnips develop creamy-white roots with a smooth, refined finish and a tender, fine-grained bite.

At maturity, their flavor turns pleasantly honeyed and mellow, with a gentle earthiness that shines whether you lift them for fresh use or let them sweeten in cool weather. Grow White Gem for reliable, uniform roots—ideal for roasting, purees, and velvety soups, or for pickling into bright, tangy accents.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 80 DaysHabit: Taproot

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White Gem 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	Direct Sow	May 25th	Aug 13th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 15th	Aug 3rd – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Aug 3rd – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 19th	Aug 7th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Aug 3rd – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 13th	Aug 1st – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Jul 27th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 4th	Jul 23rd – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jul 20th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 25th	Jul 14th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	Jul 9th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 10th	Jun 29th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 1st	Jun 20th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 23rd	Jun 11th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 6th	May 25th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 9th	Apr 30th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 20th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 20th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 20th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 20th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 20th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 20th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 20th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 20th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	80
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Taproot
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	50
Min Soil Temp (°F)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

White Gem parsnips cook down into a smooth, almost custardlike texture without needing heavy rescue flavors—let their honeyed sweetness do the talking. Because they stay fine-grained instead of woolly, they’re especially strong for purées and silky soups where you want a clean, luminous finish rather than a rustic chew.

Best Uses

roast until deeply caramelized and edges go silky
velvet parsnip purée (milk/butter) for a smooth, spoonable texture
cool-weather soups or purées that lean sweet and thick
quick pickling for bright, tangy crunch

Flavor Profile

honeyed sweetness mellow earthiness fine-grained tenderness with a crisp bite creamy, starchy finish when cooked

Kitchen Pairings

butter cream or crème fraîche thyme nutmeg olive oil chicken stock

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the most common disease problem for Pastinaca sativa (parsley/white carrot-like root, i.e., parsnip) and how do I manage it?

Parsnips (Pastinaca sativa, Apiaceae) commonly suffer from Alternaria leaf blight, which shows up as brown to dark spots that expand on the foliage. Remove and discard infected leaves early, improve airflow by thinning crowded plants, and avoid watering the leaves by aiming water at the soil. If spots spread quickly, treat preventively with a labeled fungicide according to the product directions and stop harvesting affected tops (roots are still usable if they’re not visibly rotting).

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

During the main root-filling period (roughly midseason to maturity), keep the top 6–8 inches of soil consistently evenly moist—about 1 inch of water per week total, split across 1–2 waterings if it doesn’t rain. Let the surface dry slightly between waterings, but don’t allow the soil to fully dry out, because parsnip roots can fork and develop poor texture after drought. Mulch lightly to reduce moisture swings, especially in full sun beds.

How can I tell when my Pastinaca sativa is ready to harvest?

Harvest when the roots are thick and feel firm, typically around 80 days from sowing, with a diameter that matches the variety’s expectations (often about 1–2 inches for many home parsnip types). For best flavor, plan a harvest window after a light frost has touched the crop, because cold boosts sweetness without requiring overgrowth. If you’re unsure, gently dig one test root—if it’s substantial and intact, you’re ready to harvest the rest.