When to Plant French tarragon in Melbourne, Cool Temperate Guide
What this month normally looks like in Cool Temperate
In October the Cool Temperate zone normally runs 19°C by day and 8°C overnight, with about 67 mm of rain over 9 or 10 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -3.0°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 28 postcodes, SILO.
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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.
- Planting window
- Sep to Nov
- Days to harvest
- 60 days
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Spacing
- 50 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 6.5–7.5
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.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Cool Temperate
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep P
- Oct P
- Nov P
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Sets no viable seed, so plant divisions or rooted cuttings in spring. Dies back in late autumn and shoots again in early spring. Seed sold as tarragon is the coarser Russian type.
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How to Grow French tarragon in Cool Temperate Australia
- Soil
- Light, well-drained soil. Sandy loam ideal. HATES wet feet, drainage is critical.
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- 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.
- Good companions
- Capsicum, Eggplant, Artichokes
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
Pests and problems for French tarragon in Cool Temperate
- Fungal Infection Moderate
- Downy Mildew Space plants well. Avoid overhead watering. Grow in airy positions. Watch
- Root Rot / Crown Rot Excellent drainage is THE critical requirement. Raised beds, sandy soil, gravel mulch. Never overwater. In humid zones, grow in terracotta... Watch
- Slugs Slugs can damage emerging spring shoots Watch
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.
Storing and preserving french tarragon
How to keep it
- Freezing. Strip leaves from stems. Freeze whole leaves flat on trays, then transfer to bags. Or chop and freeze in oil cubes. Freezing retains tarragon flavour far better than drying. Keeps: 6-9 months frozen.
- Drying (inferior). Hang small bunches in dark, dry, airy place for 1-2 weeks. Strip leaves and store. Note: tarragon loses most of its flavour when dried. Freezing or vinegar is strongly preferred. Keeps: 6 months.
- Tarragon vinegar. Pack fresh tarragon sprigs into sterilised bottle. Heat white wine vinegar to just below boiling, pour over herbs. Seal and store 2-4 weeks. Strain and rebottle. Classic French condiment. Keeps: 12+ months.
- Herb butter. Blend 250g softened butter with 3 tbsp chopped tarragon, squeeze of lemon, pinch of salt. Roll in cling wrap. Magnificent on chicken and fish. Keeps: 2 weeks refrigerated, 3 months frozen.
What french tarragon costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
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Common 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): not recommended
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Mar to May, Aug to Sep
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Mar to Apr, Sep to Oct
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Sep to Nov
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Sep to Nov
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Mar to Apr, Aug to Sep
- Mediterranean (Perth): Mar to May, Aug to Oct
When should I plant French tarragon in Melbourne?
Sets no viable seed, so plant divisions or rooted cuttings in spring. Dies back in late autumn and shoots again in early spring. Seed sold as tarragon is the coarser Russian type.
How do I know when French tarragon are ready to harvest?
Harvest leaves once stems are 15cm+ tall. Best flavour before any flowering.
What are the best French tarragon varieties for Melbourne?
Recommended varieties for the Cool Temperate zone include: Standard French tarragon.
What grows well with French tarragon?
Good companion plants for French tarragon include: Capsicum, Eggplant, Artichokes.
Are french tarragon salt tolerant?
Only a little. French tarragon are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it 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.