Rhubarb leaves

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Rhubarb leaves
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Slim

Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Posts: 6612
Location: New England (In the US of A)

Posted: Fri Jul 15, 16 11:37 am Post subject:
Because of the toxicity? I think that all of the toxins would be broken down in the composting process. They're organic molecules made by the plant, not something like a heavy metal that would carry through into your garden soil. (Even if the oxalic acid made it to your garden soil I wouldn't worry about eating plants grown in it)

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46245
Location: yes

Posted: Fri Jul 15, 16 11:49 am Post subject:

i have always composted em.

they are useful for a few things,if you boil them in water they will clean the pan and remove rust stains from tea towels or carbon steel the liquor will remove rust stains from leaving a brillo pad in the wrong place (do folk still use those?)

allegedly they can be used to "fix" any free tannins in the leather that have not bound to the protein to prevent the leather "bleeding" stains if the product gets damp between oak tanning and the final rinse but i haven�t tried it cos vinegar seems to work quite well

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Fri Jul 15, 16 12:32 pm Post subject:
I believe the leaves have anti-fungal properties, so can slow down the decomposition in the heap.

Slim

Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Posts: 6612
Location: New England (In the US of A)

Posted: Fri Jul 15, 16 12:45 pm Post subject:

Hairyloon wrote:

I believe the leaves have anti-fungal properties, so can slow down the decomposition in the heap.

The active composting process is from aerobic bacteria, fungi don't start to make a sizable population until things are cooling down (at which point one would expect the leaves to be well gone)

If one has a less active composting process (slow pile, not a hot pile) then I imagine the leaves would likely only affect the fungal community directly adjacent, and not the whole pile. But at that point you don't have a fast decomposition process to slow down anyway

gregotyn

Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area

Posted: Fri Jul 15, 16 2:22 pm Post subject:

They are often used as an insecticide, by simply putting the leaves in water, stirring for a few weeks, and then using the liquor to kill, according to somebody, all raiders, but they have worked as a killer for aphids on roses at 10 to 1 dilution for me a few years back-about 35years actually! Not been used since. I don't like rhubarb it was her who was that liked the stuff, and so only reason I grew it.

Woo

Joined: 19 Sep 2011
Posts: 787
Location: Mayenne, Pays de Loire

Posted: Fri Jul 15, 16 2:26 pm Post subject:
Today, Terry on radio 2 allotment slot mentioned them as good protection for brassicas if stewed down to a smelly broth in a bucket for a few weeks.

gregotyn

Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area

Posted: Fri Jul 15, 16 3:20 pm Post subject:
Does that mean that Terry boils or heats the rhubarb leaves, or as I did just let them decompose in a bucket, Woo?

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15993

Posted: Sat Jul 16, 16 6:43 am Post subject:
I don't think they would upset the compost heap unless you were harvesting loads; the amount you would pick at one time for a family meal would just rot down. I have always put them on. Didn't know they would take rust stains out of washing; I must try that. Brillo pads have been superceded by stainless steel pad sehich are much more civilised and don't rust.

Woo

Joined: 19 Sep 2011
Posts: 787
Location: Mayenne, Pays de Loire

Posted: Sat Jul 16, 16 8:08 am Post subject:

gregotyn wrote:

Does that mean that Terry boils or heats the rhubarb leaves, or as I did just let them decompose in a bucket, Woo?

I think he just leaves them to stew down outside.

arvo

Joined: 04 Dec 2006
Posts: 3321
Location: Somerset

Posted: Sat Jul 16, 16 9:42 am Post subject:
I am so pleased that we have the DS masterbrain to refer to Especially since I'm such a dimwit gardener!

NorthernMonkeyGirl

Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Posts: 4630
Location: Peeping over your shoulder

Posted: Sat Jul 16, 16 8:09 pm Post subject:
You can also lay them out as slug traps - wee beasties crawl under and hang out, all you have to do is remember to remove the leaf and its tenants. Arvo, check the veg patch for really old, slug-nibbled rhubarb leaves will you?

gregotyn

Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area

Posted: Tue Jul 19, 16 2:34 pm Post subject:
Squeezed oranges do the same thing NMG, slugs go in during the day and you get to them before they come out to feed at night and dispose as you deem fit!

arvo

Joined: 04 Dec 2006
Posts: 3321
Location: Somerset

Posted: Wed Jul 20, 16 12:33 pm Post subject:

gregotyn wrote:

Squeezed oranges do the same thing NMG, slugs go in during the day and you get to them before they come out to feed at night and dispose as you deem fit!

Chicken food in this house

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Thu Jul 21, 16 7:36 am Post subject:
None of my chickens will eat them unless they are titchy. You don't need traps here - going out at night means practically falling over them. I only need some sort of proddy thing and I could herd them. Slowly.

gregotyn

Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area

Posted: Thu Jul 21, 16 2:18 pm Post subject:
I don't keep hens, arvo, they are just as partial to greens as the slugs.

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