Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) is conditionally hardy. This requires important precautions in the bed and pot so that the herb plant sprout fresh after the winter. Read these tips on how to overwinter tarragon correctly.
Russian tarragon has good winter hardiness
Overwintering tarragon in the bed - tips
French tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus var. sativa) planted in the bed cannot withstand temperatures below - 5° Celsius. Russian tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus var. inodora) is tougher and can withstand temperatures as low as -10° Celsius. Simple protective measures arm the herbal plant against the bitter frost. That is how it goes:
- Cut tarragon in late autumn
- Shorten wilted shoots to a few centimetres
- Grasp the herb shoots in bunches with one hand and cut with a herb sickle
After pruning, cover the root disc with a thick layer of fall leaves. So that the autumn wind does not blow the leaves, lay needle sticks over them.
Overwintering tarragon in a pot - 2 options
In pot culture, the winter hardiness of tarragon reaches its limits faster than in herb beds. Frosty temperatures make the root ball behind the thin vessel walls vulnerable. This also applies when tarragon is on the herb ladder in a sunny, warm balcony niche. There are two options to choose from for a successful hibernation:
Herb pot in winter coat
- Cut off all shoots down to ground level before the onset of winter
- Cover shoot stubs and substrate with leaves, straw or bark mulch
- Place the pot on a block of wood (optionally styrofoam) in a wind-protected location
- Cover the container with bubble wrap or winter fleece
Put the tarragon in the pot
By carrying tarragon indoors after pruning, you play it safe. In the dark, cool basement, a windowless garage or in an unheated pantry, the herbal plant rests until next spring. In the bright, warm kitchen, on the other hand, tarragon in a pot is out of place.
Indoors and outdoors, winter care is reduced to occasional watering in small sips so that the root ball does not dry out completely. Tarragon is not fertilized in winter.
tips
It is an advantage if you plant tarragon and chives side by side in the herb spiral. Both herb plants are hardy and move in after the first frost. The precautions recommended here for winter storage can be done in a two-pack to save time.