When to plant Tarragon in Temperate Australia
Temperate zone — applies to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Newcastle and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Cool · Subtropical · Tropical · Arid.
Raise tarragon seedlings from September to November and transplant them out once the soil has warmed, sowing seed very shallowly at just 1 mm. Germination is slow and uneven, taking 10–28 days, and plants reach usable size in about 90 days. Space them 50 cm apart in rows 30–45 cm apart in a sunny, sharply drained spot. Note that true French tarragon is best grown from cuttings or divisions, so seed usually gives the milder Russian type; either way, the warm spring window suits temperate gardens in Sydney, Perth and Adelaide.
Sowing calendar — temperate zone
Green months are your sowing window: September to November.
Growing notes
Tarragon is a perennial herb that likes it warm, sunny and dry-footed, so the September to November window gets seedlings established as spring warmth builds. Sow the tiny seed on the surface with barely 1 mm of cover, keep it just moist, and be patient; germination over 10–28 days is genuinely slow and erratic.
The single biggest failure with tarragon is root rot from wet, heavy soil. It hates sitting in moisture, especially over a cool temperate winter, so plant it into free-draining ground or raised beds, and in clay soils in Melbourne or Ballarat's fringe, dig in coarse grit or grow it in a pot. Water sparingly once established; overwatering both rots the roots and dilutes the flavour.
Be aware that seed-grown tarragon is almost always Russian tarragon, which is hardier but far blander than true French tarragon. If you want the strong aniseed flavour used in cooking, buy a French tarragon plant and propagate it by division or cuttings instead of sowing seed. Space plants 50 cm apart for airflow, cut regularly to keep growth tender, and in colder pockets cut back and mulch over winter, as the plant dies down and reshoots in spring. Lift and divide established clumps every few years to keep them vigorous.
Tarragon at a glance
| Sowing depth | 1 mm |
|---|---|
| Plant spacing | 50 cm |
| Row spacing | 30-45 cm |
| Germination | 10-28 days |
| Days to maturity | 90 days |
| Frost tolerance | Half Hardy |
| Method | Plant Seedlings |
Common questions
- Why is my tarragon flavourless?
- You are almost certainly growing Russian tarragon, which is what seed produces. It is hardy but mild. For the strong aniseed flavour used in cooking, grow true French tarragon from a plant propagated by cuttings or division rather than from seed.
- How long does tarragon seed take to germinate?
- Around 10–28 days, which is slow and often uneven. Sow the seed very shallowly at about 1 mm, keep the surface just moist, and be patient rather than assuming it has failed.
- Why did my tarragon plant die over winter?
- Most likely root rot from wet, cold soil. Tarragon needs sharp drainage and hates sitting in moisture, so plant it in free-draining ground or a pot, water sparingly, and in heavy clay add grit before planting.
- How far apart should I plant tarragon?
- Space plants 50 cm apart in rows 30–45 cm apart. Good spacing keeps airflow up, which matters for a herb that resents damp conditions and can rot in crowded, humid growth.
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