Tarragon Growing Guide
Tarragon At a Glance
Difficulty
Moderate
Category
Herb
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Frost Tolerance
Frost Hardy
Cold Hardiness
Survives to -25°C
Plant Family
Asteraceae
Growing Season
Warm Season
Plant Lifecycle
Perennial
How to Start It
★ Recommended for beginners
Take a 10–15 cm softwood cutting from a French tarragon plant in early summer, strip the lower leaves, and root it in damp, gritty mix. The most reliable way to get the real flavour.
Seed sold as 'tarragon' is almost always Russian tarragon, which is hardier but nearly flavourless. For the true anise flavour you want French tarragon, started from a cutting or division.
When To Start
Tarragon needs warmth. Wait until your last frost has passed and the soil has warmed before sowing.
We do not have exact sowing dates for this one yet.
When should you plant Tarragon?
Your planting dates depend on your local climate. Sign up and add your location to unlock personalized dates.
Your Tarragon Planting Window
Start planting
May 15, 2026
Last chance
Sep 10, 2026
Your Tarragon Calendar
Set your location to turn these into exact dates and reminders.
Plant tarragon out (after frost)
2 weeks after your last frost
Trim tarragon to keep it bushy
60 days after your last frost· every year
Divide tarragon clumps every few years (early spring)
1 week before your last frost· every year· optional
The Journey Ahead
Tarragon's Lifecycle
Seedling
Mature Plant
Seed Production
Step 2
Planting & Sprouting
Growing Tips
- 1Give French tarragon sharp drainage and full sun; it sulks in wet, heavy soil.
- 2Cut it back hard in late autumn, and divide the clump every 3 years or so to keep the flavour strong.
Seedling Phase
Step 3
Growth & Maturity
60 cm
Mature Height
45 cm
Mature Width
Pests to Watch For
Diseases to Watch For
Mature Plant
Step 4
Harvesting
When to Pick
Snip sprigs anytime through the season; flavour is best before it flowers
How to Harvest
- 1Cut whole sprigs from the top of the plant as you need them, taking no more than a third at once so it keeps bushing out.
- 2Use it fresh — the flavour fades quickly when dried.
Step 5
Saving Seeds
Seed Production
Ready to grow this?
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This page is free and stays free. An account adds the one thing a guide cannot do on its own: your own frost dates, so it tells you the weeks to sow tarragon where you live.
