Repotting guide

When & how to repot French tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus)

Also called French tarragon, estragon.

About French tarragon

Artemisia dracunculus · also called French tarragon, estragon · herb

French tarragon is a perennial herb grown for narrow anise-flavoured leaves used in French cuisine. True French tarragon is sterile — must be propagated from cuttings or divisions, never seed. Russian tarragon (A. dracunculoides) is seed-grown but flavourless. Mildly toxic to pets.

French tarragon is the culinary clone of Artemisia dracunculus (Asteraceae), a species native to southern Russia and western Asia; the 'Sativa' selection is a sterile cultivar that rarely sets viable seed.

Demands sharp drainage in light, sandy to loamy soil of moderate fertility; rich or soggy ground produces lank growth and weak aroma.

Mature size: 60-90 cm tall

Sources: extension.illinois.edu, plants.ces.ncsu.edu, missouribotanicalgarden.org

How to tell french tarragon needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For french tarragon, watch for these signs:

Roots circling the bottom of the module or pot, or poking out of the drainage holes.
The seedling dries out within a day and growth has visibly stalled.
Roots are white and matted in a tight spiral when you tip the plant out.
It has outgrown its current container for the stage of the season — pot french tarragon on before it becomes hard root-bound.

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot french tarragon

Pot on seedlings as they grow; not a perennial repot. French tarragonis grown for one season, so the question is really “how often to pot on” — keep moving it up before the roots circle. Bushy herbaceous perennial.

What size pot to step french tarragon up to

Pot french tarragon on gradually — a seedling jumped straight into a huge pot sits in cold, wet, airless soil and stalls. Step up one or two sizes at a time as the roots fill each container, finishing in a large final pot or the ground. The aim is roots that never circle and never check.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot french tarragon

Pot french tarragon on through the active growing season, whenever roots fill the current container — there is no single date, just "before it becomes root-bound". Avoid potting on during a cold snap.

Step-by-step: repotting french tarragon

Pot on before it is root-bound. Check french tarragon regularly; move it up as soon as roots reach the edge of the cell or pot, not after they have circled.
Step up one or two sizes. Choose the next container up — not a giant one. Cold, wet, unused soil around a small root system stalls seedlings.
Knock it out gently. Support the stem, tip the pot, and ease the rootball out without breaking it. A little teasing of circled roots at the base is fine.
Pot into rich mix. Set it into fresh free-draining sandy loam at the same depth (tomatoes are the exception — they can go deeper to root along the stem).
Water in and grow on. Water well, keep it in good light, and resume feeding once it is established and growing again.

Aftercare

Water french tarragon in well and keep it in bright light; a freshly potted-on seedling can wilt for a day while roots settle, so do not overcompensate by drowning it. Do not fertilise for about 1 week — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for french tarragon

French tarragon wants free-draining sandy loam. Lean soil; pH 6.5-7.5. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting french tarragon — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot french tarragon?

Pot on seedlings as they grow; not a perennial repot for french tarragon. French tarragon is a seasonal crop, so you pot it on as a growing plant rather than repotting a perennial. Step seedlings up gradually into free-draining sandy loam so the roots never circle the cell, ending in a large final container. A root-bound transplant stalls and never fully recovers.

What size pot does french tarragon need?

When is the best time of year to repot french tarragon?

Can you put french tarragon straight into a much bigger pot?

No. Even a fast-growing french tarragon should only go up one pot size at a time. A vastly oversized pot holds a reservoir of wet soil the roots cannot reach, which stays cold and soggy and rots the roots — the opposite of what you wanted.

Should you fertilise french tarragon after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 1 week after repotting french tarragon. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.