Tarragon - Artemisia dracunculus
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.