I'm contemplating trying to grow french tarragon. Anybody grown it? Do's and Don'ts?

I had a big clump of French Tarragon a few years ago...it grew well for years and just suddenly died. I am trying again with a new plant..it has only been planted for about 6 weeks and is doing well. I bet it would do well for you in Oregon...

Yeah, I grew it in zone 6b/7a in TN, lightly amended clay soil with a few hours of shade in summer. It was perennial, mine even set seed, which I've read is pretty unusual, but I didn't get any seedlings.

I planted mine in 75% shade and it lasted late Autumn to late Winter/Spring. Then pooped out. Not surprising in this heat.

I usually have this plant in my herb bed , it usually stays about 3-4 years then dies out .
It can be propagated by cuttings,I normally do this in the spring when I want to share with friends. It is a bit finicky for me and I get a 50% rate on cuttings.
I don't care much for anise / lickerish flavor so it doesn't get used much.

Susie, I wonder if we could "over-summer" it via cuttings.

Sheryl ... I was JUST thinking the same thing!! Summer Winds on Tatum and Bell gets a good supply in during Fall as I remember. I may check them out on Friday. May be a good time (or last time) to start cutting until November.

Also, RE: starting cuttings. I read in an article at SFGate.com a few weeks ago that the very best time to take cuttings is VERY early morning. Apparently some sort of juices are flowing in the plant that stimulates new roots sprouting.

Susie , that is a good thing to know
sounds like a ''tip'' to me (hint hint)

Cinda,
I'll research to see if it's true. I'm sure it is but I need to confirm. Will post when I get a pic of a cutting. Good idea!

Ha - I was at Summerwinds just today - knowing that I was going to hate myself for buying anything (that I would actually have to plant and maintain through this summer) but completely unable to resist a Rosemary, a 6 pk of portulaca and a 6 pk of Victoria Blue salvia. Whaddya think my chances of any of it actually surviving?

Might have luck with the portulaca. At least it has a slim chance of "coming back" in Fall if it fails in Summer. Salvia, maybe. Rosemary, probably.

When I buy plants I ALWAYS soak them in their containers THEN plant the ground (newly dug holes filled with water). Gives them a chance in hades.

Isn't it sad here in Phoenix. We want so badly to mesh with the "Spring" planting calendar... when our spring is gone in Feb/Mar. The nursery plants have been nurtured in San Diego, trucked for 8 hrs to our nurseries, hydrated, sold and die in June. Just because we want a pretty garden. How can this be? J/K

OMG, too true!