Tarragon in USDA Zone 13 is a cool-season herb that finds the tropics difficult, and honesty is the right starting point. Winter lows stay above 60°F and the zone is frost-free year-round, so there is no cold to worry about — the problem is heat and humidity. Tarragon comes from temperate regions, where it grows in mild summers and rests in cold winters, and in Zone 13 warmth it grows fast, flowers early and fades quickly. Grown in the coolest months, roughly November through February, with steady water and a little shade, it gives a useful harvest of liquorice-scented leaves. Grown in the hot season, it struggles from the start.
French tarragon is the culinary type, with the true anise flavour that suits chicken, fish, eggs and sauces, and it is usually grown from cuttings or divisions rather than seed, because seed-grown plants are often the milder Russian type. If you buy a plant, check the label: French tarragon is the one you want for the kitchen.
Zone 13 at a glance
USDA Zone 13 is the hottest zone in the system, with average winter lows above 60°F, covering tropical places such as Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Guam. It is frost-free all year, so there is no last spring frost and no first autumn frost to plan around. Zone 13 has no frost dates to work from, so plant by heat and by the wet and dry seasons instead. These are zone averages, not promises for any one garden — check your local extension service.
| Detail | Zone 13 guidance |
|---|---|
| Winter low | Above 60°F |
| Frost | Frost-free year-round (no last or first frost dates) |
| Days to germination | 10–14 days |
| Days to maturity | 60–90 days |
| Sowing | both |
| Planting window | Coolest months, roughly November–February; struggles in tropical heat |
| Harvest | 60–90 days after sowing; pick leaves before heat finishes the plant |
| Sun | full sun |
| Soil pH | 6.0–7.5 |
| Spacing | 18–24 inches |
| Water needs | low |
| Cold tolerance | hardy |
When to plant tarragon in Zone 13
Plant tarragon only in the coolest months, roughly November through February, so the 60–90 days to maturity fall in the mildest weather. A November planting is ready to start picking in January, and a well-watered plant in light shade can keep producing for a while beyond the cool season, but do not expect it to last through the hot months — tarragon in Zone 13 is a cool-season crop, not a perennial. Sow a second small batch a few weeks after the first to spread the harvest. The planting calendar hub shows the Zone 13 year, and December in Zone 13 is the heart of the tarragon window.
Starting tarragon in Zone 13
Start tarragon from a young bought plant or a cutting rather than seed if you want the true French flavour: seed germinates in 10–14 days, but seed-grown plants are usually Russian tarragon, which is milder and less useful in the kitchen. Take cuttings from a known French plant in the cool season and root them in a free-draining mix, or divide an established clump. Set the young plant out in its final spot, water it in well, and give it light shade in the hottest part of the day. A pot is a good home in the tropics, because you control the drainage and can move the plant to the coolest, shadiest spot you have when the heat builds.
Soil, spacing, sun and water
Tarragon grows best in full sun in cooler zones, but in Zone 13 a spot with morning sun and afternoon shade gives a longer harvest before the heat finishes the plant. It likes light, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0–7.5, and it does not need rich soil — too much fertiliser makes soft growth that rots in humid air. Dig in a little well-rotted compost, and test the soil through your local extension service rather than guessing. Space plants 18–24 inches apart so air can move between them, using the plant spacing calculator to plan. Tarragon needs low water once established: water young plants until they root, then water only when the soil is dry, and water at the base in the morning so the leaves stay dry. Wet leaves in humid air invite disease.
Companion planting
Good companions for tarragon include tomatoes, peppers, marigolds and cabbage, and tarragon is a popular companion plant in its own right, partly because its scent is said to confuse some pests. Chives share the same cool-season herb bed, and parsley grows in the same cool window alongside it.
Pests and problems
The common pests to watch for with tarragon are aphids, slugs and thrips. Inspect the leaves regularly, wash aphids off with a gentle jet of water, and pick slugs by hand in the evening. The pest identifier helper can help if you are unsure what you are seeing. In Zone 13, heat and humidity are the bigger threats: wet foliage invites disease, and a plant that is overwatered rots from the roots. Sharp drainage, wide spacing for airflow, morning watering at the base and light shade are the defences, and even with all of them a Zone 13 tarragon plant has a short season. Plan for that, and enjoy the leaves while they last.
Harvest and storage
Harvest tarragon by snipping sprigs from the tips, starting about 60–90 days after planting, and pick in the morning, when the oils are strongest. Take a little at a time and never strip the plant bare, since a plant that is picked regularly stays leafy longer. Use the leaves fresh the same day for the best flavour — tarragon is the classic herb for chicken, fish, eggs and sauces, and its anise scent is strongest when fresh. For storage, tarragon freezes better than it dries: chop the leaves and freeze them in ice-cube trays with a little oil, or make a tarragon vinegar. When the plant fades in the heat, let it go and start a fresh plant next cool season, taking cuttings from the best plant before it finishes if you can. Marjoram is the other tender Mediterranean herb that shares the same cool-season rhythm in Zone 13.
Frequently asked questions
When should I plant tarragon in Zone 13?
Only in the coolest months, roughly November through February. A November planting is ready to start picking in about 60–90 days.
Which tarragon should I grow in Zone 13?
French tarragon, bought as a plant or grown from a cutting.
What soil and spacing does tarragon need in Zone 13?
Morning sun and afternoon shade, light well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0–7.5, spaced 18–24 inches apart.
How do I store tarragon?
Freeze it rather than drying it. Chop the leaves and freeze them in ice-cube trays with a little oil, or make tarragon vinegar.