Is French Tarragon Easy To Grow
It is one of the four sweet or fines herbes favored in French cooking—along with chervil, parsley, and chives.Tarragon is particularly compatible with eggs, fish and shellfish, tomatoes, chicken, and salad greens.Tarragon is perennial but is often treated as annual and started new with a fresh plant every spring.Caspian Sea, Siberia Type of plant: French tarragon is a perennial often grown as an annual.French tarragon grows from 12 to 24 inches tall; it spreads from tangled, underground rhizomes.French tarragon is a sprawling, mostly flowerless plant with aromatic leaves reminiscent of anise and mint.French tarragon grows from 12 to 24 inches tall; it spreads from tangled, underground rhizomes.Flowers: French tarragon produces sterile cloves and cannot be grown from seed.(A different plant called Russian tarragon can be grown from seed, but it is considered by most to be too bitter for culinary use.).French tarragon produces sterile cloves and cannot be grown from seed.(A different plant called Russian tarragon can be grown from seed, but it is considered by most to be too bitter for culinary use.).Best location: Plant French tarragon in full sun or partial shade.Plant French tarragon in full sun or partial shade.Outdoor planting time: French tarragon cuttings or divisions started indoors can be transplanted into the garden a week or two after the last frost in spring.Established plants can survive cold winters outdoors if protected with a thick layer of mulch.French tarragon cuttings or divisions started indoors can be transplanted into the garden a week or two after the last frost in spring.Established plants can survive cold winters outdoors if protected with a thick layer of mulch.Watering: Keep French tarragon evenly moist until plants are established.Feeding: French tarragon is a light feeder; foliar spray plants with compost tea or a seaweed extract 2 to 3 time during the growing season.French tarragon is a light feeder; foliar spray plants with compost tea or a seaweed extract 2 to 3 time during the growing season.Divide French tarragon every 3 to 4 years to keep plants growing vigorously.Divide French tarragon every 3 to 4 years to keep plants growing vigorously.French tarragon can be grown easily in a container 6 to 12 inches wide and deep.Avoid planting French tarragon where water collects or where leaves are slow to dry.When to harvest: Pick young, top leaves in early summer for best flavor.Leaves: Tarragon enhances the flavor of fish, pork, beef, lamb, poultry, pates, leeks, potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, onions, artichokes, asparagus, mushrooms, cauliflower, broccoli, beets, peas, parsley, chervil, garlic, chives, lemons, oranges, and rice.Tarragon enhances the flavor of fish, pork, beef, lamb, poultry, pates, leeks, potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, onions, artichokes, asparagus, mushrooms, cauliflower, broccoli, beets, peas, parsley, chervil, garlic, chives, lemons, oranges, and rice.Culinary companions: Tarragon is good served with carrots, green beans, peas, and asparagus.To refrigerate, wrap leaves in a paper towel and place in a plastic bag; tarragon will keep for 2 or 3 weeks.To refrigerate, wrap leaves in a paper towel and place in a plastic bag; tarragon will keep for 2 or 3 weeks.Freezing: French tarragon can be frozen in a zippered plastic bag.Prune roots back to about 2 inches and then replant in just moist planting mix.Russian tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus sativa) is coarse and bitter-tasting, not recommended for cooking
