How To Grow Tarragon

French Tarragon

Tarragon is a wonderful culinary herb, but remember the one you want is the French Tarragon.

Fresh tarragon (see picture right) is an essential addition to many dishes and  plants, and it can be grown in the herb garden from seedlings. The French variety can’t readily be grown from seed, so why is this variety the best one?

Tarragon Varieties.

With 4 types of this herb offered for sale Spanish, Mexican, Russian and the one you are looking for is the fourth type.

French Tarragon, with its finer leaves, and  the real peppery or aniseed  ‘Tarragon’ taste  is the best, so why is it so difficult to find.

This is a variety that rarely flowers, and therefore does not set seeds, it has to be propagated by cuttings, so its a little more difficult to grow in bulk. However once you have it in the garden it is easy to grow and it is happy in a container.

How to Grow French Tarragon Plants

We grow our plants in a container, they have been long lived and require little care other than some added fertiliser each year. We only use the leaves, however the plants are divided every few years.

You can also grow this culinary plant in the herb garden, it is well behaved and will not spread quickly or become a problem.

Tarragon needs a moist but very well drained soil, we suggest growing in a pot with plenty of gravel in the bottom.

Make sure drainage is good, especially in winter, and protect from frosts. regular watering with seaweed fertilizer seems to be adequate as a fertilise.

Plants will reach around 40 cm in height and spread to around 40cm as they form a clump.

You will need a well drained soil and a position in part shade, morning sun afternoon dappled shade is ideal.

A cool winter when the plant is dormancy and in summer the shade in the afternoon and before of overwatering.

• Position
  Good morning sun in summer with afternoon dappled shade.
• Soil
  Humus rich, well drained. Dig in compost and aged cow manure before planting.
• Fertiliser
  Dig some slow release ornic fertiliser before planting.
  Use a liquid seaweed and fish emulsion fertiliser every 3 weeks form spring through summer.
  We use some Gro -Max General purpose microbe and rock mineral fertiliser once a year.
• General Care
  Cut back old foliage in late winter to spring.

How to Propagate Tarragon

The best way to multiply your French Tarragon is by root division. Divide every 3 – 4 years in early spring and plant in refreshed soil.

Root division is best time done in early spring, as the plant starts new growth.

The French variety is always propagated form cuttings or by division and sold as tubestock.

Tarragon Kitchen Uses

This is a herb that is widely used with chicken and fish. It is also used in sauces, to make tarragon butter and it also pairs well with mushrooms and eggs.

The best taste is when the herb is picked and used immediately, and this is why yo would want to grow your own French Tarragon.

Tarragon Plants (ask for the French variety) are often available in spring from the following nurseries.

---