I think tarragon likes well drained soil which is why it is better in pots for me. It is growing in average bagged potting soil. I have the best luck with it waiting until the plants in the nursery are rather big. Very often they are very small (like one stem) and they never get going. Mine never survive the winter so I grow as an annual. It has been a mild winter so maybe I will be happily surprised this year.
I just read that French tarragon is sold from root cutting rather than from seed. I wonder if that is why I sometimes have problems with younger plants. Perhaps they did not root properly before I planted them.
I gave up on cilantro long ago. That and dill elude me.
