Damon Mcknight
Tarragon is an essential herb in French cooking, adding a delicious, mellow aniseed flavour to dishes. French tarragon is one of the trickiest herbs to grow but is very rewarding. It rarely flowers and never sets viable seeds. It thrives in a well-drained, slightly gritty, pH-neutral or slightly acidic soil, with sunlight for about half the day and reasonable watering in dry weather. It is best to grow French tarragon in a pot to prevent it from being dug up in winter when it dies down. It is also important to tip prune regularly to encourage dense growth.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of tarragon | French tarragon |
| Growth from seeds | Cannot be grown from seeds |
| Growth from cuttings | Can be grown from cuttings |
| Soil type | Well-drained, slightly gritty, pH neutral or slightly acidic |
| Sunlight | Morning sun and afternoon shade, or 5-6 hours of sunlight |
| Watering | Reasonable watering in dry weather, daily watering in summer |
| Fertilizer | Premium potting mix, controlled-release fertilizer in early autumn |
| Pruning | Regular tip pruning |
| Harvesting | Pick young leaves for the best flavor |
| Compatible plants | Aubergine (eggplant), capsicum (peppers) |
| Climate | Not suitable for tropical or sub-tropical regions, frost tender |
| Pot size | 30 cm wide and 30 cm deep |
| Protection in winter | Cover roots with straw or mulch |
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What You'll Learn
French tarragon is best grown from cuttings, not seeds
French tarragon is a delicious herb with a mellow aniseed flavour that should be in every garden. However, it is one of the trickiest herbs to grow. It rarely flowers and never sets viable seeds, so it is best propagated by cuttings or root division. If you buy seeds, they will most likely be Russian tarragon, which has an inferior flavour and is not a good substitute for French tarragon.
French tarragon can be propagated by root division in early spring, or by taking cuttings in summer. If taking cuttings, try to take the longest cutting you can and strip off all but the top one or two inches of leaves. Then, keep the whole stem submerged in water, or dip the cut end into rooting hormone and then plant in warm, moist potting soil. Keep the new cutting consistently misted.
French tarragon is best grown in a pot, as it dies down completely in winter and can be easily lost in the garden. It needs well-drained, slightly gritty, fertile soil with a neutral pH or slightly acidic pH. It also needs a sunny, sheltered position and should be watered regularly but not overwatered.
French tarragon is relatively trouble-free but can be susceptible to powdery mildew, which can occur when the plant is stressed due to a lack of water. It is also not suitable for tropical or sub-tropical regions, as it generally succumbs to fungal diseases in warm, humid regions.
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It thrives in a pot with premium potting mix
French tarragon is a delicious herb with a mellow aniseed flavour and bright green leaves. It is one of the trickiest herbs to grow, but also one of the most rewarding. It thrives in a pot with premium potting mix, which provides the ideal environment for this delicate herb. Here are some tips to successfully grow French tarragon in Australia:
First, it is important to choose the right pot and growing medium. Select a pot that is about 30 cm wide and deep, ensuring it has good drainage holes. Fill the pot with premium potting mix, which provides the ideal balance of nutrients and drainage for tarragon's delicate roots. This mix will also help retain moisture without becoming waterlogged, which is crucial for tarragon's preference for slightly moist soil.
When planting, place your tarragon in a spot that receives morning sun and afternoon shade. This balance of sunlight and shade is essential for its growth. Water your tarragon daily during the hot summer months, but be careful not to overwater it. Allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings.
As your tarragon grows, remember to tip prune regularly to encourage dense growth. In its first year, you may not need additional fertiliser, but come early autumn, you can add a controlled-release fertiliser to give your plant a boost.
During the winter, your tarragon will likely die down and disappear. At this point, cut off the stalks and put the pot aside, refraining from watering. When spring arrives, new growth will emerge, and you can begin the process anew, ensuring your tarragon thrives in its pot with premium potting mix.
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Requires well-drained, slightly acidic soil
French tarragon is one of the trickiest herbs to grow, but also one of the most rewarding. It has a smooth, narrow bright green leaf on stalks that grow from a spreading rootstock. It rarely flowers and never sets viable seeds.
French tarragon requires well-drained, slightly gritty, slightly acidic soil. The soil should be pH neutral or slightly acidic, and the plant should receive sunlight for about half the day. It is drought-tolerant, so no extra watering is needed once established, but it does require reasonable water in dry weather. It is best to plant French tarragon in a pot that is about 30cm wide and 30cm deep, and it can even be a little smaller as this herb likes to grow in a snug pot. The pot probably only needs watering every second day except through the heat of summer when it will need daily watering. If planted in premium potting mix, it probably won’t need any more fertilising until early autumn when some controlled-release fertiliser can be added.
French tarragon is a true herbaceous perennial and disappears completely in winter, often being late to reappear in spring. In very cold regions with heavy frosts, the roots may need to be protected in winter with a layer of straw. Every two to three years, dig up the whole plant in spring and replant some pieces into fresh soil with well-rotted manure and compost added, otherwise, its serpentine roots will eventually choke the plant.
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Needs sunlight for half the day
French tarragon is one of the trickiest herbs to grow, but also one of the most rewarding. It has a smooth, narrow bright green leaf that grows on stalks from a spreading rootstock. It rarely flowers and never sets viable seeds.
French tarragon needs a well-drained, slightly gritty soil that is pH neutral or slightly acidic, and sunlight for about half the day. It also needs reasonable watering in dry weather. It is drought and cold-tolerant, but in very cold regions with heavy frosts, the roots may need to be protected in winter with a layer of straw. It is best to grow French tarragon in a pot, as it dies down completely in winter and can be accidentally dug up if it is in the ground. A pot that is about 30cm wide and 30cm deep is suitable, and it will probably only need watering every second day except through the heat of summer when it will need daily watering.
In warm and humid regions, French tarragon generally succumbs to fungal diseases, so it is not suitable for tropical or even many subtropical regions. If you live in a marginal area, you can try keeping the foliage as dry as possible by growing it in a pot in an open, airy position, avoiding wetting the leaves when watering, and mulching the root zone with pebbles to help create a dry environment.
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Protect the roots in cold regions with a layer of straw
Tarragon is a delicious herb with a mellow aniseed flavour that can be a wonderful addition to your garden. French tarragon is one of the trickiest herbs to grow but is also one of the most rewarding. It is not frost hardy and can be killed by cold winters, so it is important to protect the roots in cold regions.
In very cold regions with heavy frosts, it is recommended to protect the roots of the tarragon plant with a layer of straw in winter. This will help to insulate the roots and keep them warm, preventing damage from the cold temperatures. Straw is a good choice of mulch because it is lightweight, effective, and inexpensive. You can also use other materials such as bark chippings, grit, or garden compost. Make sure to cover the root zone adequately, applying a thick layer of mulch.
To further protect your tarragon plant from the cold, it is advisable to grow it in a container so that it can be easily moved to a frost-free location, such as a greenhouse, during the colder months. This will ensure that your plant stays healthy and survives the winter.
Additionally, it is important to note that tarragon should be planted in well-drained, gritty soil with a pH that is neutral or slightly acidic. It thrives in a sunny position with morning sun and afternoon shade, and regular watering is necessary during dry weather. By following these tips, you can successfully grow tarragon in cold regions and enjoy its delightful flavour all year round.
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Frequently asked questions
French tarragon is one of the trickiest herbs to grow but it can thrive in a well-drained, slightly gritty soil that is pH neutral or slightly acidic. It needs sunlight for about half of the day and reasonable watering in dry weather. It is best to grow it in a pot to prevent it from dying in winter.
The best time to plant tarragon is during early spring. The soil temperature should be between 10°C and 25°C.
Tarragon needs to be watered regularly, especially during the summer. Water it daily during the heat of summer and every second day otherwise.
Harvest tarragon by cutting with scissors back to the hard woody stems. Pick the leaves when young for the best flavour.
