Topic: Rhubarb leaves

[Auntie J]

Is it safe to put Rhubarb leaves on the compost, and to rot them in water to make a feed.
Auntie

[Tee Gee]

Is it safe to put Rhubarb leaves on the compost,

Yes!

and to rot them in water to make a feed.

No!

[baz621]

Hi Auntie,

                  On my last plot,i had a huge collection of rhubarb,i used to put several leaves in a plastic container,full up with water,and leave for a couple of weeks,stirring occasionally.It used to stink,but i put the liquid into a watering can,and water the sprouts,cabbages,broccolli and kale,and those cabbage white hated it,and i had very few problems even without netting,so something to consider.


                                                                                   Baz

[allaboutliverpool]

I found this on :-

http://www.rhubarbinfo.com/rhubarb-uses.html

Insecticide

Rhubarb leaves can be used to make an effective organic insecticide for any of the leaf eating insects (cabbage caterpillars, aphids, peach and cherry slug etc). 6,15

12.3.1 - Recipe 1

Basically you boil up a few pounds of rhubarb leaves in a few pints of water for about 15 or 20 minutes,
allow to cool,
then strain the liquid into a suitable container.
Dissolve some soap flakes in this liquid and use it to spray against aphids.
So, next time you pick some rhubarb stems to eat, you can put the leaves to good use rather than just composting them (which isn't in itself such a bad use, I guess).

12.3.2 - Recipe 2

Shred 1.5 kg (3 lbs.) rhubarb leaves
and boil in 3.5 liters (1 gallon) of water for 30 minutes.
Allow to cool and then strain. (use old utensils if you can - the rhubarb will stain most things and poison the rest.
In a small saucepan heat to boiling point 2.5 litters (2.5 quarts) of water and mix in 125 g (4 oz) of softened soap ends (any bits of soap left in the shower).
Allow to cool (stirring regularly to make sure all the soap is dissolved).
Add to the strained leaf mixture, stir vigorously, and the spray directly onto infested leaves.
The unused spray can be kept for a day or two, but keep your kids away its still quite harmful.

[shirlton]

Someone on here gave me a really good tip. Put the leaves under your gooseberries and it keeps the sawfly away. I didn't believe it till I tried it

[Mr Smith]

I have made a nice little Rhubarb bed in a raised bed with just two crowns, can't wait till next year or is it the year after that?, :)

[Robert_Brenchley]

Depends on the size of the crowns.

[Fork]

Why is it not safe to make a feed with the leaves?.......if you are spraying the veg  anyway!

[Robert_Brenchley]

IT contains oxalic acid, which is harmless in small quantities, but a larger amount can clog your kidneys to the point where it kills you.

[Digeroo]

Put the leaves under your gooseberries and it keeps the sawfly away.

Sounds good I will give it a whirl.  There are a lot about on site.