I started a French Tarragon plant last spring and it did very well. I brought it in the house in a pot and it lived all winter and I was able to have fresh tarragon all winter long. The pot is back out on a protected porch now and growing like crazy. But I put it in an old plastic pot and the pot is falling apart. Is it too late to take it out and divide it and put some in a new pot? I also have oregano and marjoram in the pot and they lived all winter too and were a nice addition for pizzas and spaghetti. Will they live if I repot them now? I'm just afraid once the pot gets out in the sun it's going to completely break apart. I could start the marjoram and oregano again in the garden but it's so nice to have a pot right outside the kitchen door and I did enjoy having the herbs this winter.
Nancy
When to divide French Tarragon?
Hi Nancy,
When you put oregano outside, it will try to take over the world. You can divide it in half and put some in the garden if you have about a 25 inch circle for it alone; otherwise put it into another pot or find someone to give a start to, and put some back in the pot. Mine tried to choke out the English thyme that was in the pot with it last year. The pot is a 25 inch squat bulb planter. The start I took in for the winter is very prolific; it trys to creep into other pots on the windowsill. I gave starts to my daughter and one son. They loved it.
Marjoram will do the same when happy.
The French Tarragon will need to be split if it starts to look wilted, that means the roots are bound up.
If you want I'll take some of the French Tarragon off your hands LOL! Mine didn't make it cause kitty (Mindy) kept fighting with it. She a house-bound cat. This time when I bring in herbs for the winter I know what to do.... cut some 3 liter soda bottles and make domes (cloches) for them.
~* Robin
Robin,
Thanks for your advice. I'm going to get a new pot, maybe a little bigger than what I have. I want to use plastic again because I don't want anything to heavy to have to carry in come winter. I have a sun room with southwest exposure and do real well keeping plants over the winter. I'll divide the tarragon up and give some to my daughter. I bought the plants from Park Seeds last year and you had to buy a set of two. I gave her one and hers died but I'll give her one more chance. I'll just keep the oregano and marjoram together. They aren't real big and it may be because I use leaves from them all the time. I like having herbs in a pot close to the house. My garden isn't that far from the house but it sure is convenient to just step out back and pick what I need. I have rosemary too but I keep that in the house and it just thrives. Don't do much with it except use it but it blooms often and grows and grows. It must like where it's at. I plant my dill, cilantro, basil, sage and parsley in the garden but have a big pot with basil seeds starting now. I'd like to have some of those right off the kitchen too. Thanks again for your advice, I just didn't want anything to happen to my tarragon, I just love the taste. I'm always picking leaves and just eating them plain. Love that licorice flavor.
Nancy
hi there!
Welcome to DG. Please check your DG email; if you look at the bar on the top, it says "mail".
Click on that as I sent you an email.
a
Nancy - when you split the plant maybe you could split it in three and put one in your garden. The sun works magic on herbs and the ones grown outside do taste better than the ones grown inside. I found out the hard way. Now I'm a believer.
TwinLakesChef - any herb secrets to share?