Tarragon ~

Tomstrees · February 21, 2006

I've herad this one is hard to grow ;
and is on my "to grow" herb list for 2006 ~
Any one else giving this one a try ? ~ Tom

**nctomatoman** · February 21, 2006

Well, it is tricky in that the only flavorful variety is French Tarragon, which cannot be started from seed. Russian Tarragon, which is easy from seed, does not hold a candle to the French cultivar. In PA I managed to keep a nice plant alive throughout the season; it seems to struggle with our heat and humidity down here.

Tomstrees · February 21, 2006

Not sure which one I have - its a Ferry Morse seed packet from Lowes ~ I'm going to give it a try ~ Tom

**nctomatoman** · February 21, 2006

It is likely Russian Tarragon. Give it a try...but don't go making any Bernaise Sauce with it!

Tomstrees · February 21, 2006

lol Craig ~ ratts !

Cecilia_MD7a · February 22, 2006

I too had heard that French tarragon was tricky to grow and not reliably hardy here on the edge of Zone 7. I haven't found this to be the case - it's reliably perennial for me, although it dies back to the ground each winter.

This time of year I suffer from tarragon withdrawal waiting for my plant to start up again.

Tomstrees · February 22, 2006

I'm glad I'm not the only one that likes it that much Cecilia !!! I'm just gonna have to work with the Russian variety ~ Tom

Adenn1 · February 24, 2006

I grew tarragon two years ago in a container...not sure what variety it was as I probably got it at Home Depot or a local nursery. I did not do much to it other than water and add some balanced fertilizer once in a while. It seemed to do pretty well with minimal attention.

I used it sparingly while it was growing...added it to a few home made dressings. At the end of the season I dried the plant and now have a good amount of dried tarragon in a jar...enough to last several years! I have been meaning to find more recipes that call for it...

Cecilia_MD7a · February 24, 2006

Adenn1, I've found tarragon to be wonderful in any recipe that uses eggs. I add it to my omelets all the time. It's also good on chicken and fish.

JohnF · February 24, 2006

I bought a small plant of French Tarragon from a nursery several years ago. It has grown without problems and survives Maine winters without protection.

bizzarbazzar · June 27, 2007

I started a small plant from a cutting that received (french tarragon) and it made it through the cold Montana winter wonderfully. It is larger than I planned for being in montana and is growing into the mint plants. Oh well I think it looks pretty there. Ill post pics in a bit too

chilhuacle · February 24, 2006

We grow French Tarragon and it really does grow like a weed. Just have to give it some water occasionally. It usually survives the winter but one time a few years back we lost it. Now I dig up a piece every year and put it in a 1 gallon pot and stick it in the garage.

Tomstrees · February 24, 2006

I guess I'm going to have to procure a cutting from the "good stuff" - but I'll grow out the russian one in the meantime ~ Tom

Grub · February 26, 2006

Got a plant that's sprawling and healthy right now. Very handy herb.

Take a tip: low-fat sauce for hot salmon fillet and other fish:

1 x tub of low fat yoghurt
Two tbs of Dijon mustard
Tbs of tarragon vinegar (homemade is good

Squeeze of lemon juice
Big handful of finely chopped tarragon
Chopped capers
Ground pepper.

Mix together and dump a heaped spoonful over hot salmon, snapper, mahi mahi or other fish.

Serve w/ baby boiled potatoes and a green. Mmmm.

bcday · February 26, 2006

Someone on another forum took cuttings of the tarragon sprigs that come in the little plastic package from the produce aisle at the grocery store. Worked fine, and she said it turned out to be the real French tarragon. I think I'll try that too.

February 21, 2006	#1
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	Tarragon ~ I've herad this one is hard to grow ; and is on my "to grow" herb list for 2006 ~ Any one else giving this one a try ? ~ Tom __________________ My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~ H. Fred Ale

February 21, 2006	#2
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	Well, it is tricky in that the only flavorful variety is French Tarragon, which cannot be started from seed. Russian Tarragon, which is easy from seed, does not hold a candle to the French cultivar. In PA I managed to keep a nice plant alive throughout the season; it seems to struggle with our heat and humidity down here. __________________ Craig

February 21, 2006	#3
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	Not sure which one I have - its a Ferry Morse seed packet from Lowes ~ I'm going to give it a try ~ Tom __________________ My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~ H. Fred Ale

February 21, 2006	#4
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	It is likely Russian Tarragon. Give it a try...but don't go making any Bernaise Sauce with it! __________________ Craig

February 21, 2006	#5
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	lol Craig ~ ratts ! __________________ My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~ H. Fred Ale

February 22, 2006	#6
Cecilia_MD7a MAGTAG™ Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 400	I too had heard that French tarragon was tricky to grow and not reliably hardy here on the edge of Zone 7. I haven't found this to be the case - it's reliably perennial for me, although it dies back to the ground each winter. This time of year I suffer from tarragon withdrawal waiting for my plant to start up again.

February 24, 2006	#8
Adenn1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Philly Posts: 559	I grew tarragon two years ago in a container...not sure what variety it was as I probably got it at Home Depot or a local nursery. I did not do much to it other than water and add some balanced fertilizer once in a while. It seemed to do pretty well with minimal attention. I used it sparingly while it was growing...added it to a few home made dressings. At the end of the season I dried the plant and now have a good amount of dried tarragon in a jar...enough to last several years! I have been meaning to find more recipes that call for it...

February 24, 2006	#10
JohnF Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bangor, Maine Posts: 66	I bought a small plant of French Tarragon from a nursery several years ago. It has grown without problems and survives Maine winters without protection.

June 27, 2007	#11
bizzarbazzar Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Butte, MT Posts: 811	I started a small plant from a cutting that received (french tarragon) and it made it through the cold Montana winter wonderfully. It is larger than I planned for being in montana and is growing into the mint plants. Oh well I think it looks pretty there. Ill post pics in a bit too

February 24, 2006	#12
chilhuacle Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Concord CA z9b, just west of Tomatoville Posts: 415	We grow French Tarragon and it really does grow like a weed. Just have to give it some water occasionally. It usually survives the winter but one time a few years back we lost it. Now I dig up a piece every year and put it in a 1 gallon pot and stick it in the garage.

February 26, 2006	#14
Grub Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 2,722	Tarragon Got a plant that's sprawling and healthy right now. Very handy herb. Take a tip: low-fat sauce for hot salmon fillet and other fish: 1 x tub of low fat yoghurt Two tbs of Dijon mustard Tbs of tarragon vinegar (homemade is good Squeeze of lemon juice Big handful of finely chopped tarragon Chopped capers Ground pepper. Mix together and dump a heaped spoonful over hot salmon, snapper, mahi mahi or other fish. Serve w/ baby boiled potatoes and a green. Mmmm.

February 26, 2006	#15
bcday Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NY z5 Posts: 1,205	Someone on another forum took cuttings of the tarragon sprigs that come in the little plastic package from the produce aisle at the grocery store. Worked fine, and she said it turned out to be the real French tarragon. I think I'll try that too.