A kind friend once gave me a gourmet treat: savory shortbread cookies with tarragon. It was an unlikely combination to me, but what a delightful taste! These were not cookies to have with a cup of tea, but cookies to enjoy with a flavorful slice of roast beef and a pile of mashed potatoes with gravy: a new-wave substitute for Yorkshire pudding.
We often see tarragon in packages in the produce aisle at the grocery store; have you ever given it a try? It has a fairly mild, aromatic "green" flavor: very fresh and hinting at a licorice flavor. I did some reading about tarragon and this is what I learned. It is a kitchen essential for the gourmet cook, well-suited to fish, chicken and eggs. If you are a fan of French cooking, tarragon is one of the main herbs in the French kitchen. And if ever you decide to use some fresh tarragon in your cooking, use a slight hand, because the flavor of fresh is more intense than dried.
For us gardeners, it's interesting to note that tarragon belongs to the Artemisia family, a perennial that is related to wormwood. It is known as the "dragon herb" because the roots are very twisted, and this feature made people believe that it could cure snakebites. It hails from all over the Northern hemisphere and Asia. There are two main varieties: the Russian tarragon, which is a good, sturdy plant that likes poor soil, is not particular about water, and doesn't need a whole lot of attention. Sounds like the perfect plant! Then there's its high-brow relative, French tarragon, which prefers fussier attention to location and care.
Tarragon grows at approximately a metre in height, with branching stems and glossy, slender leaves. It is important to note that Russian tarragon can be grown from seed indoors and then transplanted out into our gardens; the French tarragon must be grown from cuttings. Purists will say that there is no comparison between the French and the Russian tarragon, but in my homework, I read that the Russian tarragon can be very tasty if it is picked when it is young.
And here's one more little factoid: tarragon is a good companion plant in the garden, because its aroma is repugnant to pests. All in all, it's worth a try if you want to expand your herb repertoire this spring.
The first meeting of 2012 of the Yorkton and District Horticultural Society takes place on Wednesday, February 15 in the Sunshine Room at SIGN, North Street in Yorkton. We hope you can join us. I can't begin to tell you about all the benefits of gardening: fresh air, exercise, and the joy of watching something grow. I also can't begin to tell you of the benefits of belonging to a horticultural society: nice people who share the same interests as you; a chance to learn more about your particular gardening interest; and a chance to learn about so many garden-related things. Plus there are fascinating speakers, road trips, projects... all in all, it's just a great group, and we'd love for you to be part of it.
You don't have to be a member to come to the meetings, so mark February 15 down on your calendar and plant to attend! Till next time, have a wonderful week!
