This fast-growing member of the marigold family can be started indoors or by direct sowing in the garden. Learn more about how to grow Mexican tarragon in the useful guidelines below.
Latin
Tagetes lucida
Family: Asteraceae
Difficulty
Easy
Season & Zone
Season: Warm season
Exposure: Full sun
Zone: 8-10.
Timing
Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost (late February on the coast), or direct sow 2 weeks before last frost (mid-March on the coast). If starting indoors, just cover the seeds with vermiculite and provide a soil temperature of 21-25°C (70-75°F). Seeds should sprout in 4-14 days at that temperature.
Starting
The seedlings are somewhat prone to damping off. As a precaution, just cover the small seeds with vermiculite, water from below, and provide ventilation in the room. Space plants in the garden 30-45cm (12-18″) apart.
Growing
Pinch the growing tips to encourage branching. Edible flowers are borne in abundance once the summer heats up. This fast growing herb requires little care, but it does appreciate good drainage.
Harvest
Pick leaves and flowers to steep as tea or as a substitute for traditional tarragon at any time during the summer. A yellow dye can be created from the flowers of this plant. The dried plant was traditionally burned to repel insects.
More on Companion Planting.
