How to grow tarragon
Artemisia dracunculus · Asteraceae · Herb
When to plant tarragon: the short answer
Start seeds indoors about 8 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out about 1 week before it. Wait until the soil is at least 60°F; tarragon sprout fastest near 70°F.
Zone 5: plant out Apr 16 – May 3. Zone 7: plant out Mar 22 – Apr 8. Zone 9: plant out Feb 6 – Feb 23. See every zone.
Tarragon is a warm-season herb in the Asteraceae family, usually started indoors and set out as transplants. It wants full sun, though it tolerates a little afternoon shade in hot regions and modest, occasional watering. From sowing to first pick is about 60–90 days. It handles frost well and a light freeze often improves the flavour.
Grower’s note: Buy a French tarragon plant - seed sold as 'tarragon' is the coarse, nearly flavourless Russian kind. A hardy perennial (to about Zone 4) that demands sharp drainage; divide it every three years to keep the flavour strong.
Sowing
Sow barely covered — the seed needs light to germinate, into soil between 60–80°F — germination is quickest near 70°F. It is slow and often erratic to germinate (14–28 days). For an early crop, start seed indoors about 8 weeks before your last spring frost and grow it under bright light.
Spacing & layout
Give each plant about 18″ along the row with roughly 24″ between rows. On a square-foot grid that is 1 per square foot. Allow at least 12″ of loose, workable soil for the roots. It grows well in containers at least 12″ deep.
Fitting it to your season
Tarragon needs roughly 60–90 frost-free days to crop. Where the season is shorter than that, start it indoors and choose the earliest-maturing varieties, or grow it in a container you can move under cover on cold nights. In long, hot-summer regions it can often be planted twice — once in spring and again in mid-to-late summer for a fall harvest.
Quick facts
Growth stages: how long tarragon takes to grow
From seed to first harvest takes roughly 16-20 weeks: about 7 weeks as a seedling indoors, then 60-90 days in the garden.
When to plant tarragon
When to plant tarragon by USDA zone
Dates worked out from each zone’s typical frost dates for 2026. Find your zone on the zone map, or pick your state below for dates from its own frost dates. Zones 11 and above are frost-free, so timing there depends on heat and rain instead.
| Zone | Last / first frost | Start indoors | Sow or plant out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May 15 / Sep 15 | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | May 1 – May 18 |
| Zone 4 | May 10 / Sep 25 | Mar 8 – Mar 22 | Apr 26 – May 13 |
| Zone 5 | Apr 30 / Oct 5 | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Apr 16 – May 3 |
| Zone 6 | Apr 15 / Oct 15 | Feb 11 – Feb 25 | Apr 1 – Apr 18 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 5 / Oct 25 | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Mar 22 – Apr 8 |
| Zone 8 | Mar 20 / Nov 5 | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | Mar 6 – Mar 23 |
| Zone 9 | Feb 20 / Nov 30 | Dec 19 – Jan 2 | Feb 6 – Feb 23 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 30 / Dec 15 | Nov 28 – Dec 12 | Jan 16 – Feb 2 |
Compare with the other herbs: when to plant herbs, by zone.
Companions
Tomato, Eggplant
No strong antagonists recorded.
Common problems
Pests: aphids, spider mite.
Diseases & disorders: root rot, rust, powdery mildew.
Same family (Asteraceae)
Rotate these so they don’t follow each other in the same bed year to year.
Questions gardeners ask
When should I plant tarragon?
Start seeds indoors about 8 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out about 1 week before it. Wait until the soil is at least 60°F. The table on this page gives dates for each USDA zone, and the planting calendar gives dates for your own state or ZIP code.
How long does tarragon take to grow?
About 60-90 days from transplanting to the first harvest, or roughly 16-20 weeks from sowing the seed indoors. Seeds germinate in 14-28 days.
How much sun does tarragon need?
It needs six or more hours of sun for the best growth, though four to six hours in partial shade is enough.
What soil pH does tarragon need?
A soil pH between 6.5 and 7.5. Test before adding lime or sulfur - see the soil pH and testing guide.
How far apart should I plant tarragon?
Space plants about 18 inches apart in rows 24 inches apart, or 1 per square foot in a square-foot bed. Sow seeds about ⅛ inch deep.
Can I grow tarragon in a container?
Yes. Use a container at least 12 inches deep with drainage holes and a good potting mix, and water more often than you would in the ground.
Figures are typical home-garden ranges from Cooperative Extension planting guides, cross-checked against multiple state sources. Your variety and conditions will vary.