Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Russian Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculoides)— schedule & NPK
Also called Russian tarragon, false tarragon, wild tarragon.
More about russian tarragon
About Russian Tarragon
Artemisia dracunculoides · also called Russian tarragon, false tarragon · herb
Russian tarragon is a vigorous, hardy perennial in the wormwood family, taller and coarser than French tarragon but far easier to grow from seed. Its narrow green leaves carry a mild, slightly bitter anise note that strengthens as plants mature. Sun-loving and drought-tolerant, it spreads readily in poor, free-draining soil where pampered French tarragon would fail.
Growth habit: Tall, upright, freely branching herbaceous perennial that spreads by rhizomes to form a vigorous, sometimes invasive clump.
Watch for — Sprawling, floppy stems: Tall growth flops, especially if over-fed or shaded. Site in full sun, keep feeding lean, and cut back hard in late autumn to renew compact growth.
What fertiliser russian tarragon actually wants — and why
Russian Tarragon is a lean, aromatic herb — the essential-oil flavour you grow it for is strongest in poor soil, so feeding it actively makes it worse.
Little or nothing. If anything, a very weak balanced feed or a thin compost top-dress — never a rich nitrogen feed, which dilutes the aromatic oils and produces soft, bland, floppy growth.
For the language behind the three numbers on the bottle — what nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium each do — see the NPK ratio explained entry. The short version for russian tarragon: match the feed to the job the plant is doing right now, not to a generic “plant food” on the shelf.
How often to feed russian tarragon, and which months
Feeding only earns its keep while the plant is in active growth and can use the nutrients — pour feed into a dormant or low-light plant and it simply builds up as root-burning salt. For russian tarragon:
Undemanding. A single light spring feed of balanced fertiliser or a thin compost mulch is enough. Excess nitrogen yields lush growth with diluted, weaker anise flavour. In practice: a spring compost top-dress at most, and otherwise leave russian tarragon unfed — lean, sharp-draining soil is exactly what concentrates its flavour.
The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when russian tarragon is resting. For the wider context on indoor feeding rhythms across the seasons, the houseplant fertiliser schedule walks through the year month by month.
What strength to mix for russian tarragon
As weak as it gets for russian tarragon, or none at all. The flavour-versus-growth trade-off runs the opposite way to leafy crops: restraint is the technique.
Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water russian tarragon first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the russian tarragon watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding russian tarragon
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for russian tarragon:
- Lush, soft, fast growth with noticeably weaker scent and flavour.
- Floppy stems, sparse essential oils, and poor cold/wet hardiness.
- Salt crust in containers and scorched leaf tips from over-feeding.
Signs you are under-feeding russian tarragon
- Rare — these herbs thrive on lean soil.
- Only on truly exhausted soil: pale, thin, very slow growth.
- A short-lived, weak plant in a long-spent container.
If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full russian tarragon care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Over-feeding is so unlikely with russian tarragon that flushing is rarely needed; if a container has had feed, a single plain-water flush and a switch to a leaner, grittier mix resets it.
Organic vs synthetic feeds for russian tarragon
Organic options
A thin spring mulch of garden compost or leaf-mould is the most these want. UK: a little garden compost; US: a light Espoma Garden-tone top-dress at most. Lean and gritty beats fed and rich every time.
Synthetic / liquid feeds
Generally none for russian tarragon. At absolute most, a very dilute balanced feed once or twice in a container; in the ground, nothing — synthetic feeds work directly against the flavour.
Brand names are examples, not endorsements, and UK and US ranges differ — check the label’s own NPK and dilution rate, since formulations change.
Fertilising russian tarragon — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does russian tarragon need?
Little or nothing. If anything, a very weak balanced feed or a thin compost top-dress — never a rich nitrogen feed, which dilutes the aromatic oils and produces soft, bland, floppy growth. Russian Tarragon is a lean, aromatic herb — the essential-oil flavour you grow it for is strongest in poor soil, so feeding it actively makes it worse.
How often should I feed russian tarragon?
Undemanding. A single light spring feed of balanced fertiliser or a thin compost mulch is enough. Excess nitrogen yields lush growth with diluted, weaker anise flavour. Undemanding. A single light spring feed of balanced fertiliser or a thin compost mulch is enough. Excess nitrogen yields lush growth with diluted, weaker anise flavour. In practice: a spring compost top-dress at most, and otherwise leave russian tarragon unfed — lean, sharp-draining soil is exactly what concentrates its flavour.
What strength of feed for russian tarragon?
As weak as it gets for russian tarragon, or none at all. The flavour-versus-growth trade-off runs the opposite way to leafy crops: restraint is the technique.
What does over-feeding russian tarragon look like?
Lush, soft, fast growth with noticeably weaker scent and flavour. Floppy stems, sparse essential oils, and poor cold/wet hardiness. Salt crust in containers and scorched leaf tips from over-feeding. Feeding russian tarragon like a leafy vegetable is the defining mistake — rich nitrogen gives you a big, soft, fast plant whose leaves are watery and bland, with weak winter-rot resistance.
Should I flush the soil of russian tarragon?
Over-feeding is so unlikely with russian tarragon that flushing is rarely needed; if a container has had feed, a single plain-water flush and a switch to a leaner, grittier mix resets it.
Keep reading
- Russian Tarragon care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water russian tarragon — the watering schedule
- The houseplant fertiliser schedule — feeding through the year
- NPK ratio explained — what the three numbers on the bottle mean
- How to fertilise basil
- How to fertilise herb garden
- How to fertilise mint
- All 3899 fertilising guides in the Growli library