tarragonArtemisia dracunculus

tarragon

tarragon

1. Oligosporus dracunculus
2. Draconia dracunculus
3. Artemisia dracunculoides
4. Artemisia redowskyi
5. Artemisia glauca

1. estragon
2. dragon's wort

1. French tarragon
2. Russian tarragon

1. Estragonliebstöckel

1. Dragoner

1. Culinary tarragon

1. taragon

1. NameEstragon

   Languageen

   Shared with

   1. Waiting for Godot character

   Clarification

   The plant species tarragon

1. tarragon
2. herb
3. culinary herbs

1. Tracheophyta
2. Angiosperms
3. Eudicots
4. Asterids

Daisy family

1. Artemisia absinthium
2. Artemisia vulgaris

1. leaves
2. shoot tips

Tarragon is the jewel of fine French cuisine. While Russian tarragon impresses with its robustness and size, it is the French type that shines in sauces like Béarnaise with its delicate anise aroma. In the garden, it prefers warm, sheltered spots and rewards regular division every few years with vigorous growth.

1. Taskcleanup

   Label

   Spring cleanup

   Prioritylow

   Months

   1. 3

   Notes

   Remove old plant parts to make room for new growth.

1. Taskprotection

   Label

   Winter protection

   Prioritymedium

   Months

   1. 10
   2. 11

   Notes

   Cover root area with compost or leaves.

Full sun to partial shade

Warm, sheltered

Sandy-loam, humus-rich

Moderate, allow topsoil to dry out

Mature compost

March/April

Avoid planting near other Asteraceae; grows well with chives.

1. Legumes
2. Potatoes
3. Brassicas

1. Light feeders
2. Lettuces
3. Radishes

Avoid planting after other Asteraceae to prevent soil-borne diseases.

1. Sucking insects
2. Mining larvae

1. Rust fungi
2. Powdery mildew

1. Avoidance of waterlogging
2. Regular division every 3-4 years for vitality
3. Airy positioning to prevent fungal diseases

Leaf discolorations are often the first sign of rust infestation or nutrient imbalance.

1. Slugtarragon-rust

   Severitymedium

   Conditions

   1. Damp weather
   2. Dense planting

   Affected parts

   1. Leaves
   2. Stems

   Prevention

   1. Maintain spacing
   2. Water only from below

   Organic control

   1. Cut infested shoots to ground level
   2. Horsetail extract

1. Symptom

   Yellow spots on leaves

   Possible causes

   1. puccinia_artemisiicola
   2. nitrogen_deficiency

   First checks

   1. Check leaf underside for pustules
   2. Check soil moisture

1. Early spring sprouting
2. Vegetative growth phase
3. Bud formation
4. Flowering period
5. Seed maturation (Russian tarragon only)
6. Dieback of aerial parts in autumn

French tarragon rarely flowers and does not produce viable seeds in Central Europe.

1. 7
2. 8
3. 9

Yellow-green

Inconspicuous capitula in panicles

1. 5
2. 6
3. 7
4. 8
5. 9
6. 10

June to August

1. Leaves
2. Shoot tips

Continuous harvesting of individual shoot tips encourages branching.

1. Shoots have reached a length of 20-30 cm
2. Just before flowering for maximum aroma
3. Leaves are vibrant green and firm

Use fresh or dry quickly at low temperatures (< 35°C).

1. Freezing
2. Drying
3. Infusing in vinegar or oil

Freezing or infusing in vinegar preserves the aroma better than drying.

Short to medium term

Fresh in the fridge approx. 1 week; dried approx. 1 year; frozen approx. 6 months.

1. Tarragon vinegar
2. Tarragon oil
3. Herb butter
4. Pesto

1. Essential oil production

Anise-like, slightly sweet, aromatic-bitter

1. Sauce Béarnaise
2. Poultry dishes
3. Fish
4. Mustard sauces
5. Pickling cucumbers

Flavor develops during cooking, but it should not be exposed to extreme heat for too long.

1. Leaves
2. Young shoots

1. Woody stems

Contains estragole; safe in culinary amounts, but avoid excessive consumption during pregnancy.

Excellent for salads and cold sauces.

Fine seed

Cut umbels when they become brown and dry (Russian tarragon only).

French tarragon is sterile; propagation is strictly vegetative via division or cuttings.

For Russian tarragon, watch for cross-pollination with wild forms.

Although tarragon is botanically a perennial herb, the base of the shoots lignifies during the season. Annual pruning is essential for vitality.

Due to wind pollination and inconspicuous flowers, tarragon offers little nectar for insects; however, it occasionally serves as a host plant for specialized caterpillars.

Time for pruning and dividing old plants.

Main harvest time and aroma preservation.

Preparation for winter by mulching.

Dormancy; check winter protection during frost.