When to Plant French Tarragon in Sydney, Warm Temperate Guide

Plant March to April and September to October. Right now in October you can plant.

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Planting window
Grown only from divisions or cuttings, as it rarely sets seed, and seed sold as tarragon is usually the inferior Russian type. It tends to...
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 Warm Temperate zone, which takes in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Melbourne 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.

See what grows now in your own postcode

Best Planting Window for Warm Temperate

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

P = Planting window

Grown only from divisions or cuttings, as it rarely sets seed, and seed sold as tarragon is usually the inferior Russian type. It tends to rot in humid coastal summers, so plant it in very free-draining soil or grow Mexican tarragon instead.

Want a nudge when it is French Tarragon sowing time in Sydney?

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This month in Warm Temperate

In October the Warm Temperate zone normally runs 24°C by day and 13°C overnight, with about 66 mm of rain over 7 or 8 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -1.5°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 153 postcodes, SILO.

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

How to Grow French Tarragon in Warm Temperate Australia

When to Plant

Grown only from divisions or cuttings, as it rarely sets seed, and seed sold as tarragon is usually the inferior Russian type. It tends to rot in humid coastal summers, so plant it in very free-draining soil or grow Mexican tarragon instead.

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

Warm Temperate Growing Tips for French Tarragon

Recommended Varieties

  • Standard French tarragon

Key Challenges

  • Humid summers can cause problems
  • Needs winter cold for dormancy

Pro Tips

  • Possible with excellent drainage
  • Gravel mulch around crown
  • Raised bed or pot with sandy mix

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

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

Also worth sowing in the warm temperate zone this October: Lemongrass, Beetroot, Dwarf Beans (Bush) and Eggplant (Aubergine).

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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 Warm Temperate zone, Sydney is its reference city.