Tarragon is quite easy to care for if it is in the right place. It likes it dry and warm, thrives in a sunny to partially shaded location and does not tolerate waterlogging. It has a wide variety of uses in the kitchen.
The right watering
Tarragon likes it moderately moist. So it shouldn't be watered too much. He does not tolerate waterlogging at all. He also doesn't like it very much if you water him "from above", it is better to only water him at the roots as soon as the soil forms a dry layer.
Tarragon in winter
Russian tarragon is hardy down to -10 °C, but it is not particularly suitable for seasoning. French tarragon impresses with its lovely and mild aroma, but it does not tolerate frost. The best alternative for the herb garden is therefore probably the German tarragon, which is conditionally hardy and more robust than the French variant, but also has a stronger aroma.
German tarragon is cut off about a hand’s breadth from the ground in the fall and doesn’t need any special winter protection. A layer of brushwood or leaves is enough for him if the temperatures drop very low for a long time.
Good and bad neighbors
In association with other plants, the growth of many herbs can change in a positive or negative way. For example, dill is a bad neighbor for tarragon, while thyme is a good one. Lemon balm promotes the growth of many herbs, for this reason alone it should be in every herb garden.
Harvest tarragon
You can harvest tarragon from spring until the onset of frost. The aroma is particularly intense just before flowering. This is the ideal harvest time if you want to dry or freeze your tarragon to stock up for the winter. However, tarragon loses some of its flavor in both types of preservation. Tarragon tastes best freshly harvested.
The essentials in brief:
- sunny to partially shaded location
- water moderately
- Avoid waterlogging
- French tarragon: mild aroma
- German tarragon: conditionally hardy
- Russian tarragon: more of a vegetable than a spice
tips and tricks
French tarragon has a finer aroma, while German tarragon is hardy to a certain extent.
UE