I've tried to propagate French Tarragon from the cut herb sold in
supermarkets, but when I've got it to root, it's never survived. It's
been really hard to find growing plants, but I finally found chunky
ones for sale in 2-l pots at Webb's of Wychbold this week. £4.99:
ouch! but job done. Or was it? The leaves have little aroma, and the
taste is wrong: is somebody out there supplying GCs with Russian
Tarragon labelled as French?

I've just emailed Webb's about it; but I'd welcome any knowledge or
experience from urg.

--
Mike.

"Mike Lyle" wrote in message
...
I've tried to propagate French Tarragon from the cut herb sold in
supermarkets, but when I've got it to root, it's never survived. It's
been really hard to find growing plants, but I finally found chunky
ones for sale in 2-l pots at Webb's of Wychbold this week. £4.99:
ouch! but job done. Or was it? The leaves have little aroma, and the
taste is wrong: is somebody out there supplying GCs with Russian
Tarragon labelled as French?

I've just emailed Webb's about it; but I'd welcome any knowledge or
experience from urg.

--
Mike.

My moneys on someone micro propping it because its hard to produce, quite
often the scent is altered in that process (don't ask me why as it shouldn't
be) another group of plants to wary of are scented leaved pelargonium's, a
number in the trade that have been bulked up by micro propping are scentless


--
Charlie, Gardening in Cornwall
Holders of National Collections of Clematis viticella
and Lapageria rosea cvs
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk

On Fri, 29 Jul 2011 13:43:26 +0100, "Charlie Pridham"
wrote:


"Mike Lyle" wrote in message
.. .
I've tried to propagate French Tarragon from the cut herb sold in
supermarkets, but when I've got it to root, it's never survived. It's
been really hard to find growing plants, but I finally found chunky
ones for sale in 2-l pots at Webb's of Wychbold this week. £4.99:
ouch! but job done. Or was it? The leaves have little aroma, and the
taste is wrong: is somebody out there supplying GCs with Russian
Tarragon labelled as French?

I've just emailed Webb's about it; but I'd welcome any knowledge or
experience from urg.

--
Mike.

My moneys on someone micro propping it because its hard to produce, quite
often the scent is altered in that process (don't ask me why as it shouldn't
be) another group of plants to wary of are scented leaved pelargonium's, a
number in the trade that have been bulked up by micro propping are scentless

I'm sorry I haven't previously thanked you for that interesting and
potentially valuable information, Charlie; but I was waiting to see
what Webb's said, innocently expecting they'd reply promptly.

Well, I still haven't had even an acknowledgement of my message from
Webbs of Wychbold, and have just sent them a copy. I'm preparing to
get shirty if I don't get any sense out of them: this plant is not fit
for the purpose.

--
Mike.

On Mon, 8 Aug 2011 16:30:35 +0100, Sacha wrote:

On 2011-08-08 14:33:41 +0100, Mike Lyle said:

On Fri, 29 Jul 2011 13:43:26 +0100, "Charlie Pridham"
wrote:


"Mike Lyle" wrote in message
...
I've tried to propagate French Tarragon from the cut herb sold in
supermarkets, but when I've got it to root, it's never survived. It's
been really hard to find growing plants, but I finally found chunky
ones for sale in 2-l pots at Webb's of Wychbold this week. £4.99:
ouch! but job done. Or was it? The leaves have little aroma, and the
taste is wrong: is somebody out there supplying GCs with Russian
Tarragon labelled as French?

I've just emailed Webb's about it; but I'd welcome any knowledge or
experience from urg.

--
Mike.

My moneys on someone micro propping it because its hard to produce, quite
often the scent is altered in that process (don't ask me why as it shouldn't
be) another group of plants to wary of are scented leaved pelargonium's, a
number in the trade that have been bulked up by micro propping are scentless

I'm sorry I haven't previously thanked you for that interesting and
potentially valuable information, Charlie; but I was waiting to see
what Webb's said, innocently expecting they'd reply promptly.

Well, I still haven't had even an acknowledgement of my message from
Webbs of Wychbold, and have just sent them a copy. I'm preparing to
get shirty if I don't get any sense out of them: this plant is not fit
for the purpose.

It's absolutely amazing but quite a lot of experienced cooks don't know
the difference. Maybe they don't, or their buyer doesn't?

I fear as much: I'm not, of course, a fan of the garden centre concept
-- but a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.

I was so chuffed to have found it at all that it didn't occur to me
that it might be a wrong 'un. A faint surprise, rather than outright
suspicion, dawned on me as I noticed that the car wasn't full of the
smell on the way home. Then I tasted it, and knew.

In a better world, I'd hope they'd send me one of the real thing; but
I suppose the best I can hope for is a refund...and at this rate I may
have to go to Trading Standards to get that.

--
Mike.

On Fri, 29 Jul 2011 13:43:26 +0100, "Charlie Pridham"
wrote:


"Mike Lyle" wrote in message
.. .
I've tried to propagate French Tarragon from the cut herb sold in
supermarkets, but when I've got it to root, it's never survived. It's
been really hard to find growing plants, but I finally found chunky
ones for sale in 2-l pots at Webb's of Wychbold this week. £4.99:
ouch! but job done. Or was it? The leaves have little aroma, and the
taste is wrong: is somebody out there supplying GCs with Russian
Tarragon labelled as French?

I've just emailed Webb's about it; but I'd welcome any knowledge or
experience from urg.

--
Mike.

My moneys on someone micro propping it because its hard to produce, quite
often the scent is altered in that process (don't ask me why as it shouldn't
be) another group of plants to wary of are scented leaved pelargonium's, a
number in the trade that have been bulked up by micro propping are scentless

I've had a response, saying the stock is only from tip cuttings. I'm
thinking about the next move: I may keep it and see if it develops its
aroma under garden conditions...

--
Mike.

"Mike Lyle" wrote ...

"Charlie Pridham"wrote:

"Mike Lyle" wrote
I've tried to propagate French Tarragon from the cut herb sold in
supermarkets, but when I've got it to root, it's never survived. It's
been really hard to find growing plants, but I finally found chunky
ones for sale in 2-l pots at Webb's of Wychbold this week. £4.99:
ouch! but job done. Or was it? The leaves have little aroma, and the
taste is wrong: is somebody out there supplying GCs with Russian
Tarragon labelled as French?

I've just emailed Webb's about it; but I'd welcome any knowledge or
experience from urg.

--
Mike.

My moneys on someone micro propping it because its hard to produce, quite
often the scent is altered in that process (don't ask me why as it
shouldn't
be) another group of plants to wary of are scented leaved pelargonium's, a
number in the trade that have been bulked up by micro propping are
scentless

I've had a response, saying the stock is only from tip cuttings. I'm
thinking about the next move: I may keep it and see if it develops its
aroma under garden conditions...


It could be like other forced plants, spray carnations in the florists for
example, where the forcing removes the smell and growing under garden
conditions brings it all back.

-- Regards
Bob Hobden
W.of London. UK

On Thu, 11 Aug 2011 22:54:30 +0100, "Bob Hobden"
wrote:

"Mike Lyle" wrote ...

"Charlie Pridham"wrote:

"Mike Lyle" wrote
I've tried to propagate French Tarragon from the cut herb sold in
supermarkets, but when I've got it to root, it's never survived. It's
been really hard to find growing plants, but I finally found chunky
ones for sale in 2-l pots at Webb's of Wychbold this week. £4.99:
ouch! but job done. Or was it? The leaves have little aroma, and the
taste is wrong: is somebody out there supplying GCs with Russian
Tarragon labelled as French?

I've just emailed Webb's about it; but I'd welcome any knowledge or
experience from urg.

--
Mike.

My moneys on someone micro propping it because its hard to produce, quite
often the scent is altered in that process (don't ask me why as it
shouldn't
be) another group of plants to wary of are scented leaved pelargonium's, a
number in the trade that have been bulked up by micro propping are
scentless

I've had a response, saying the stock is only from tip cuttings. I'm
thinking about the next move: I may keep it and see if it develops its
aroma under garden conditions...


It could be like other forced plants, spray carnations in the florists for
example, where the forcing removes the smell and growing under garden
conditions brings it all back.

Yes, I was wondering about that. I'll probably give it a go, since
it's so hard to find the damn things. I'll be mightily hacked off if
it doesn't work, though: I've only got a small and slightly tricky
garden, with no room for many passengers.

--
Mike.

On Fri, 12 Aug 2011 13:01:25 +0100, Mike Lyle
wrote:

On Thu, 11 Aug 2011 22:54:30 +0100, "Bob Hobden"
wrote:

"Mike Lyle" wrote ...

"Charlie Pridham"wrote:

"Mike Lyle" wrote
I've tried to propagate French Tarragon from the cut herb sold in
supermarkets, but when I've got it to root, it's never survived. It's
been really hard to find growing plants, but I finally found chunky
ones for sale in 2-l pots at Webb's of Wychbold this week. £4.99:
ouch! but job done. Or was it? The leaves have little aroma, and the
taste is wrong: is somebody out there supplying GCs with Russian
Tarragon labelled as French?

I've just emailed Webb's about it; but I'd welcome any knowledge or
experience from urg.
Snip

Yes, I was wondering about that. I'll probably give it a go, since
it's so hard to find the damn things. I'll be mightily hacked off if
it doesn't work, though: I've only got a small and slightly tricky
garden, with no room for many passengers.

There is quite a bit of information at:
http://www.jekkasherbfarm.com/FrenchTarragonHerb.asp

and it is in stock there.

I don't have any special interest or knowledge of herbs, but Jekka
McVicar seems to be the 'expert' most often mentioned when herbs are
being discussed.


Gardening on Wilts/Somerset border
on slightly alkaline clay.