Gardening Tips

Tarragon is one of the more difficult plants to grow indoors but it can be done if care is taken not to over water the plant, and if three or four hours of direct sun are available. The botanical name of Tarragon is Artemisia Dracunculus, and one should check to make sure they are getting this variety. Another tarragon is offered for sale, known sometimes as Russian Tarragon, which is inferior to the flavor of Artemisia Dracunculus.

The superior variety is most often referred to as French Tarragon. This variety can not be started from seed due to the fact that the plant does not make seeds. Propagation is by cuttings or division of the plants.

The plant will spread quite freely in the garden after it is well-established, so it should not be difficult to find the seeding plants available. They develop large root systems and indoors, it might be necessary to move the plant to a larger container two or three times a year. One way to know when it is time to re-pot is to check the drainage hole for signs of root growth.

If you see roots making their away through the hole, move the plant to larger deeper container. The container must have good drainage since over-watering means sure death for plant. Use a potting mix containing equal parts soil, sand, and peat moss, with one-half cup of small gravel added to the mixture.

Tarragon is hardly plant and will take the winter where temperatures seldom fall below ten degrees. It is mature at one or two feet but can be maintained at ten inches for container growing. It has smooth, shiny leaves that are slim, about two inches long and pointed.

The stems are slender and twisting with sparse leaves along each side. The growth habit is bush-like but the leaves and side growth make it a graceful and very pretty plant. It is used extensively for making Tarragon vinegar and is important ingredient for many French dishes.

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If you desire, you can check basic garden understanding as well.