When to Plant Mexican Tarragon in Melbourne, Cool Temperate Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Melbourne), not a live sensor.
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 Mexican 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
- Oct to Dec
- Days to harvest
- about 11 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Low
- Spacing
- 40 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 6.5–7.0
Mexican tarragon, also called Mexican mint marigold, is a half hardy perennial herb 70 to 80 cm tall with anise flavoured leaves and yellow marigold flowers from late spring and in autumn (Green Harvest, The Seed...
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Cool Temperate
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep -
- Oct S
- Nov S/T/D
- Dec T/D
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
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How to Grow Mexican Tarragon in Cool Temperate Australia
- Soil
- Any well drained soil (Green Harvest).
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- 6.5-7.0
- Sunlight
- Full sun (Green Harvest, The Seed Collection).
- Spacing
- 40cm apart, 45cm between rows
- Watering
- Moderate; drought tolerant once established (The Seed Collection).
- Good companions
- Tomato
Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Mexican Tarragon
Recommended Varieties
- Tagetes lucida seed (Green Harvest, The Seed Collection)
Key Challenges
- Winter loss
Pro Tips
- Full sun, well drained soil (Green Harvest).
- Sow in late spring once soil is warm (Green Harvest).
- Cut back after flowering.
Pests and problems for Mexican Tarragon in Cool Temperate
Harvesting Mexican Tarragon
When ready: Plants 20 cm or taller, about 80 days from sowing (The Seed Collection).
How to harvest: Pinch or cut leafy tips; cut flowers for garnish.
Storing and preserving mexican tarragon
How to keep it
- Freezing. Chop into ice cube trays with water or oil. Keeps: 6 months.
- Herb vinegar. Steep sprigs in white wine vinegar 2 weeks, strain (Green Harvest). Keeps: 6 months.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Mexican Tarragon
When do you plant mexican tarragon in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Sep to Dec
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Sep to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Sep to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Oct to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Oct to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Sep to Nov
- Mediterranean (Perth): Sep to Dec
Can you grow mexican tarragon all year round in Melbourne?
No. In the Cool Temperate zone the planting months are Oct to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Mexican Tarragon in Melbourne?
You might be able to grow it here under the right conditions. The Seed Collection calls Mexican tarragon a half hardy perennial, so expect it to die back in winter and regrow, or to need replacing after a hard winter. Sow in trays in October or November and plant out in November or December, or sow direct in November and December; months are our estimate from 'late spring' (Green Harvest).
What soil temperature do Mexican Tarragon need?
Mexican Tarragon germinate best when soil temperature is between 20°C and 24°C.
How do I know when Mexican Tarragon are ready to harvest?
Plants 20 cm or taller, about 80 days from sowing (The Seed Collection).
What are the best Mexican Tarragon varieties for Melbourne?
Recommended varieties for the Cool Temperate zone include: Tagetes lucida seed (Green Harvest, The Seed Collection).
What grows well with Mexican Tarragon?
Good companion plants for Mexican Tarragon include: Tomato.
Are mexican tarragon salt tolerant?
Only a little. Mexican 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.