How to Grow Tarragon
Artemisia dracunculus
French tarragon loves full sun, excellent drainage, and moderately fertile soil. It’s sterile, so grow from divisions or cuttings, not seed. Plant in raised beds or terracotta for winter drainage; water sparingly and avoid rich feeding. Trim in spring as new shoots emerge and harvest tips regularly for the best flavour. In cold/wet winters, protect crowns with a dry mulch or bring pots under cover. Divide every few years to renew vigour and maintain a compact clump.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Light feed in spring. Prefers poor to moderate soil — rich soil dilutes the flavour.
Watch For
- Rust
- Powdery mildew
- Root rot in wet soil
Companions
Lettuce, Aubergine, Peppers
Track your Tarragon care schedule — pruning, feeding, and seasonal tasks
Start planning freeCare Requirements
☀️ Light
Full sun, 6+ hours daily
Full sun is essential for the best flavour. At least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. A south-facing, sheltered spot is ideal in the UK.
💧 Watering
Sparingly; let soil dry between waterings
Water sparingly once established. French tarragon hates wet feet — allow the soil to dry between waterings. Reduce watering in winter.
🌱 Fertilizing
Light spring feed; rich soil reduces flavour
Light feed in spring only. Rich soil dilutes the essential oils and weakens flavour. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds.
✂️ Pruning
Cut back in autumn, divide every 3 years
Cut back to ground level in autumn. Divide clumps every 3 years in spring to maintain vigour and prevent woody centres.
🍂 Mulching
Dry mulch in autumn to prevent winter rot
Mulch crowns with dry material (straw or grit) in autumn to protect against winter wet, which kills more plants than cold.
🍎 Harvesting
Pick regularly before flowering for best flavour
Pick leaves regularly from spring to autumn. Best flavour is before flowering. Regular harvesting encourages bushy, productive growth.
Growing Tips
Start from divisions
Buy or split established plants; ‘French’ tarragon doesn’t grow true from seed.
Prioritise drainage
Use gritty, loam-based compost in terracotta and keep pots raised off saucers.
Light trims for flavour
Regular tip harvests keep plants leafy and aromatic.
Winter protection
Mulch crowns or move containers to a bright, sheltered spot to avoid winter rot.
Pests & Diseases
Pest Aphids
Identification: Clusters of green or black insects on young shoot tips; sticky honeydew; distorted growth
- Squash by hand or blast off with water
- Encourage ladybirds and hoverflies
- Avoid on edible herbs; fatty acid spray only if absolutely necessary
Pest Slugs and Snails
Identification: Irregular holes in young leaves; slime trails; shoots eaten to ground level
- Copper tape around pots
- Beer traps or hand-picking at dusk
- Grow in raised containers to reduce access
- Ferric phosphate slug pellets around emerging growth
Disease Rust Puccinia dracunculina
Symptoms: Orange-brown pustules on leaf undersides; yellow spots on upper surfaces; leaves may wither and drop
Treatment: Remove and destroy affected leaves. Cut plants back hard to encourage clean regrowth.
Prevention: Ensure good air circulation. Avoid overhead watering. Divide congested clumps.
Disease Root Rot Pythium spp.
Symptoms: Wilting despite moist soil, yellowing foliage, blackened mushy roots, plant collapse
Treatment: Remove and destroy affected plants. Improve drainage before replanting.
Prevention: Plant in very free-draining soil with added grit. Avoid overwatering. Use raised beds or containers.
Disease Powdery Mildew Erysiphe spp.
Symptoms: White powdery coating on leaves; distorted growth; reduced flavour
Treatment: Remove affected foliage. Improve air circulation.
Prevention: Space plants well. Avoid overcrowding. Water at the base.
Popular Varieties
French, Russian, Mexican
Spacing & Planting
| Plant spacing | 45 cm |
| Row spacing | 45 cm |
| Mature height | 60 cm |
| Mature spread | 30 cm |
Refers to French Tarragon, which spreads by rhizomes. Give it room to expand. Russian tarragon is larger and more vigorous.
Log Tarragon in your garden — track growth, care, and harvests year after year
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