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Taking care of your plants
Tarragon

Full sun.

Jul–Sep depending on sowing time.

Mar–May outdoors after risk of frost.

40–60cm height; 30–50cm spread.

OVERVIEW

A perennial herb with an aniseed flavour. Grow in sun and well-drained soil, and pick little and often to keep plants bushy. Classic in French cooking, sauces and chicken dishes.

  • Vegetable type: Tarragon
  • Key characteristic: Anise-flavoured herb for French-style sauces.
  • Hardiness: Hardy (tolerates normal UK winter conditions).

PLANTING ADVICE  

Grow in fertile, well-drained soil or compost. Suitable for both ground and pots.

  • Outdoor cultivation

Grow outdoors in a sunny, well-drained position.

  • Greenhouse cultivation

Not usually required for greenhouse cultivation.

 CARE & HARVEST

Keep soil moist and weed free. Harvest little and often to keep plants bushy and productive. Remove flower stems where leafy growth is preferred. Trim back lightly after flowering to maintain shape.

  • Watering: Water sparingly once established, as these herbs prefer drier conditions.
  • Feeding: Feed lightly with a general-purpose fertiliser during active growth; avoid overfeeding.
  • Cutting and prunning: Trim lightly after flowering to keep plants compact and encourage fresh growth.
  • Harvesting: Snip leaves regularly, ideally before flowering, for the strongest flavour.
  • Pest and diseases: Generally trouble free, but check for aphids and mildew in humid conditions.

Verve recommends

Harvest little and often to keep plants productive and performing at their best.