When to Plant French tarragon in Brisbane, Subtropical Guide
What this month normally looks like in Subtropical
In October the Subtropical zone normally runs 27°C by day and 15°C overnight, with about 77 mm of rain over 7 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -0.2°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 33 postcodes, SILO.
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This French tarragon guide is written for the Subtropical zone, which takes in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Mar to May, Aug to Sep
- 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 Subtropical
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar P
- Apr P
- May P
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug P
- Sep P
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
P = Planting window
French tarragon sets no seed, so plant divisions in the driest, best-drained spot. It often rots in the humid summer, so treat it as short-lived or grow Mexican tarragon (Tagetes lucida) instead. Plant in March to May or August to September.
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How to Grow French tarragon in Subtropical 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
Subtropical Growing Tips for French tarragon
Recommended Varieties
- Standard French tarragon, marginal success only
Key Challenges
- Humidity causes fungal diseases
- Wet summers kill plants
- Difficult to maintain long-term
Pro Tips
- Grow in large terracotta pot with very sandy mix
- Elevate pot on feet for drainage
- Move under cover during wet season
Pests and problems for French tarragon in Subtropical
- 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
- Humidity causes fungal diseases Humidity causes fungal diseases 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 Brisbane?
French tarragon sets no seed, so plant divisions in the driest, best-drained spot. It often rots in the humid summer, so treat it as short-lived or grow Mexican tarragon (Tagetes lucida) instead. Plant in March to May or August to September.
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 Brisbane?
Recommended varieties for the Subtropical zone include: Standard French tarragon, marginal success only.
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 Subtropical zone, Brisbane is its reference city.