When to Plant Tarragon Seeds

Sow Tarragon seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost of the season or sow directly outdoors when soil temperatures reach 60 to 70°F.

Where to Plant Tarragon Seeds

Plant Tarragon in loamy to sandy soils that aren’t overly rich in nutrients. Soils that drain readily are a must. Full sun (6-8 hours of sun per day) is needed for the healthiest plants, but it will tolerate partial sun (4-6 hours of sun per day) and suffer a lessened flavor as a result. Do not plant in areas where the garden is frequently watered.

How to Plant Tarragon Seeds

Tarrgaon seeds require light to germinate, so be careful not to cover them when planting. Learn more about germination light requirements here.

When planting outdoors, scatter Tarragon seeds lightly over the soil and do not bury them deeper than 1/8th of an inch; Tarragon requires sunlight to germinate seeds. As seedlings begin to grow in size, thin them out until each plant is 18-24 inches apart. When transplanting from indoors, be sure to harden seedlings for 7-10 days before placing in the garden.

How to Harvest Tarragon

Pinch off flower heads before blooming to preserve Tarragon flavor before harvesting. Leaves can be harvested in the summertime or sprigs can be cut from the newest growth (indicated by a lighter shade of green on the stalk compared to the lower end). Store both the leaves and stalks in water or freeze to keep them preserved. Harvest less often as winter approaches to give the plant more energy to survive the winter.