When to Plant French Tarragon in Alice Springs, Arid / Semi-Arid Guide
Sow July to August. Right now in September it is out of season. The next sowing month is July.
Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
This French Tarragon guide is written for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, which takes in Alice Springs, Broken Hill and Port Augusta. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
The true French tarragon prized in classical French cuisine. Critical fact: French tarragon does NOT set viable seed in Australia (or anywhere). Any 'tarragon seed' you find for sale is Russian tarragon (A. dracunculus var. inodora), which has inferior flavour. True French tarragon can ONLY be propagated by division or cuttings. It struggles in hot, humid climates and is best suited to cool-temperate and Mediterranean zones.
Planting Calendar for Arid / Semi-Arid
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | - | - | - | S | T/D | - | - | - | - |
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
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How to Grow French Tarragon in Arid / Semi-Arid Australia
When to Plant
Plant divisions Mar-May or Aug-Sep.
- Soil
- Light, well-drained soil. Sandy loam ideal. HATES wet feet, drainage is critical.
- pH Range
- 6.5-7.5
- Sunlight
- Full sun to light afternoon shade. Needs warmth but not extreme heat.
- Spacing
- 50cm apart, 60cm between rows
- Watering
- Moderate watering. Allow soil to dry between waterings. Overwatering causes root rot. More plants are killed by overwatering than underwatering.
Companion plants: Most vegetables, tarragon has few negative companions
Arid / Semi-Arid Growing Tips for French Tarragon
Recommended Varieties
- Standard French tarragon
Key Challenges
- Summer heat above 40C
- Spider mite pressure
Pro Tips
- Better success than humid zones due to dry air
- Afternoon shade essential
- Regular misting deters spider mites
Harvesting French Tarragon
When ready: Harvest leaves once stems are 15cm+ tall. Best flavour before any flowering.
How to harvest: Snip stem tips, cutting above a leaf node. This encourages branching. Harvest in morning for peak essential oil. Can cut entire plant to 10cm in mid-season for a flush of fresh growth.
Where to next
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Open the planting dashboard Join Garden BuddyCommon Questions About French Tarragon
When do you plant french tarragon in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Mar to Jul
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan, Aug to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jan, Oct to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan, Oct to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jan, Oct to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jul to Aug
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jan, Oct to Dec
Does french tarragon grow all year round in Alice Springs?
No. In the Arid / Semi-Arid zone the planting months are Jul to Aug. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, Alice Springs is its reference city.