How to Grow Tarragon

Oui Oui Oui! Tarragon is an essential herb to French cooking. This perennial herb can grow up to nearly 1 m tall; the yellow flowers in autumn are eye catching before the herb goes dormant in winter. Tarragon is very drought, cold tolerant and can be grown in pots or large tubs. The foliage can be harvested all year around. C'est magnifique!

Full sun to part shade

No extra water once established

Well drained rich soil

All climatic zones

Any time of the year

Sow during warmer months

How to grow tarragon in a garden

Step 1

Choose a spot in the garden that receives full sun to part shade. Enrich the well drained soil with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser. If the soil is clay based, add gypsum and fork in well.

Step 2

Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root-ball. Remove the shrub from the container, gently tease the roots.

Step 3

Position in hole and backfill with soil, gently firming down. Form a raised ring around the plant, creating a well so that water will go where it's needed most. Water in well.

Step 4

Mulch around the base with organic mulch like bark chips, sugarcane or pea straw, keeping it away from the trunk.

Step 5

Water deeply, twice a week, depending on weather conditions.

Step 6

Feed weekly with Yates Thrive Vegie and Herb Liquid Plant Food.

Step 7

Harvest by cutting with scissors back to the hard woody stems – this will also help encourage leafier growth.

How to grow tarragon in a pot

Step 1

Choose a pot at least 400 mm wide. Position in full sun to part shade and fill with quality potting mix, such as Yates Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter.

Step 2

Add a small amount of Yates Waterwise Water Storage Crystals to the mix. These will help hold extra moisture.

Step 3

Remove the shrub from the container, gently tease the roots.

Step 4

Position in hole and backfill with potting mix, gently firming down. Water in well.

Step 5

Mulch around the base with organic mulch like bark chips, sugarcane or pea straw, keeping it away from the trunk.

Step 6

Once planted, keep the plant well watered, but don't let the water sit in a saucer at the base of the pot.

Step 7

Feed weekly with Yates Thrive All Purpose Liquid Plant Food.

Step 8

Harvest by cutting with scissors back to the hard woody stems – this will also help encourage leafier growth.

Growing tips

Tarragon are drought tolerant, no extra watering is needed once established.
Try to establish a Tarragon hedge from cuttings and prune regularly to encourage dense growth.
You can also separate the existing shrub in winter to get a new portion to plant out.