Russian Tarragon Seeds
If you have struggled to keep French Tarragon alive through a wet British winter, Russian Tarragon is your answer. While it lacks the intense aniseed punch of its French cousin, it makes up for it with incredible vigour and resilience. It produces an abundance of mild, aromatic leaves that are perfect for adding texture and fresh green flavour to salads, egg dishes, and vinegars.
This is a plant for the practical gardener. It grows tall, bushy, and lush, thriving in poor soils and surviving freezing temperatures that would kill other Mediterranean herbs. It is an excellent "cut-and-come-again" source of greenery that returns faithfully every spring.
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🌿 French vs. Russian: What's the difference?
It is important to know what you are growing:
- 🇫🇷 French Tarragon: Strong liquorice flavour, but sterile (cannot be grown from seed) and tender (dies in frost).
- 🇷🇺 Russian Tarragon (This Packet): Milder flavour, but grows easily from seed and is fully hardy (survives winter). It is used more as a green vegetable/garnish than a potent spice.
🌱 Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow
This is one of the easiest herbs to start from seed.
Germination:
Sow indoors from March to May. Scatter seeds on the surface of compost and cover very lightly. Keep warm (15-20°C). Germination takes 14-21 days.
Where to Sow:
It tolerates sun or partial shade. It is not fussy about soil and actually prefers dry, poor conditions. Rich soil makes it grow very tall and floppy.
Care While Growing:
Once established, it needs almost no water. Harvest the leaves young for the best flavour (older leaves can be bitter). Cut the whole plant back to the ground in autumn; it will shoot up again in spring.
📋 Plant Specifications
| Latin Name | Artemisia dracunculus |
| Common Name | Russian Tarragon |
| Hardiness | H7 (Very Hardy - survives extreme cold) |
| Light Required | Full Sun / Part Shade ⛅ |
| Height | ↕️ 60cm - 90cm (Tall) |
| Spread | ↔️ 45cm |
| Spacing | 🌱 40cm apart |
| Great for | 🥗 Salads & Vinegars 💪 Difficult Sites 🐝 Pollinators 🧱 Dry Banks |
| Seed Count | Approx. 300 seeds per packet |
My Recommended Garden Companions
Russian Tarragon is big and leafy, so pair it with other robust plants:
- 🍃 Peppermint: The Herb Garden Giants. Both Mint and Russian Tarragon are vigorous, leafy spreaders. They can hold their own against each other in a "wild herb" corner where delicate plants would get smothered.
- 🌼 Calendula 'Art Shades': Colour Pop. The bright orange of Calendula looks fantastic against the fresh, bright green foliage of the Tarragon, creating a productive and beautiful vegetable patch.
⚠️ Size Warning
Russian Tarragon is vigorous! Unlike the delicate French type, this can grow into a large, shrubby mound. Give it plenty of space or be prepared to chop it back in summer.
🏆 Officially Recognised Excellence
While not as potent as French Tarragon, this variety is prized for its hardiness. It will survive wet, freezing British winters that kill most other Mediterranean herbs.
- Regular price
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£2.00 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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£2.00
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