When to Plant French Tarragon in Melbourne, Cool Temperate Guide
Sow October to January. Right now in September it is out of season. The next sowing month is October.
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 Cool Temperate zone, which takes in Melbourne, Hobart and Geelong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Canberra Alice Springs 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 Cool Temperate
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S/T/D | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | S/T/D | S/T/D | S/T/D |
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
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How to Grow French Tarragon in Cool Temperate Australia
When to Plant
Plant divisions in spring (Sep-Nov). Dies back in winter, regrows in spring.
- 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
Cool Temperate Growing Tips for French Tarragon
Recommended Varieties
- Standard French tarragon
Key Challenges
- Needs protection from severe frost
- Slugs can damage emerging spring shoots
Pro Tips
- Ideal zone for French tarragon
- Mulch crown lightly in winter to protect from hard frosts
- Divide every 3 years in spring to maintain vigour
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 Melbourne?
No. In the Cool Temperate zone the planting months are Jan, Oct to Dec. 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 Cool Temperate zone, Melbourne is its reference city.