Date: 11:29 pm  Fri Apr 12, 1996       Number : 53 of 100
From: Galen Starwalker                 Base   : [PODS] Herbal Tips & Tricks
To  : All                              Refer #: None
Subj: Culinary Herbs 10                Replies: None
Stat: Sent                             Origin : 12 Apr 96  00:51:00


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2.11 Tarragon
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Latin name: Artemisia dracunculus.
 
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2.11.1  Growing tarragon
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From: southsky@maui.net (Rick Giese)
... can't grow tarragon in East Texas...
Texas in summer is probably too hot for French Tarragon.  You might
  experiment with a fall planting.  French Tarragon is the preferred
  type for cooking, and will not grow from seed.
 
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From: Lawrence.H.Smith@williams.edu (Lawrence H Smith):
French Tarragon may not be frost hardy in Finland, but in milder
climes, particularly with a bit of mulch, it should be. It can also be
potted for the winter. It likes full sun (though again, I'm not in
Texas, so I can't say fo there). Give it any sort of reasonable soil
(it's not overly picky). The major growing tip is to divide it
frequently (every 2-3 years), or it becomes rootbound.  So keep giving
plants away to your friends once you have enough for your own use...
 
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2.11.2 Harvesting tarragon
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From: Lawrence.H.Smith@williams.edu (Lawrence H Smith):
While it's growing, the best bet is to just harvest fresh whatever you
need for today by picking off leaves or tips of branches with multiple
leaves.
For collecting a lot (drying, vinegar, etc) you can cut back all the
branches by about 2/3rds, whereupon you should leave them for 8 weeks
before doing so again, supposedly. Personally, I only do a major
cutback of this sort when clearing out before frost, so the time
between cuttings is just what some book said, not experience.
 
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--- DB 1.58/003790
 * Origin: The Rain Forest * Denver,CO * (93:9083/4)