When to Plant French Tarragon in Melbourne, Cool Temperate Guide

Plant September to November. Right now in October you can plant.

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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...
Days to harvest
60 days
Sunlight
Full sun to light afternoon shade. Needs warmth but not extreme heat.
Water needs
Moderate watering. Allow soil to dry between waterings. Overwatering causes root rot...
Spacing
50cm apart, 60cm between rows
Soil pH
6.5-7.5

Published · Last reviewed · By GardenBuddy.au
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.

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Best Planting Window for Cool Temperate

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- - - - - - - - P P P -

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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This month 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.

The full twelve months are on the Cool Temperate zone page.

How to Grow French Tarragon in Cool Temperate Australia

When to Plant

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.

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.

Common French Tarragon Pests in Cool Temperate Zones

Fungal Infection, risk: LOW (score: 37/100)

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Where to next

What french tarragon costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the cool temperate zone this October: Radish, Sweet Corn, Beetroot and Chilli Peppers.

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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:

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.