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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: pumkinlover on May 27, 2011, 07:35:07

Title: rhubarb and soot
Post by: pumkinlover on May 27, 2011, 07:35:07
We are having two chimneys swept today.
I always thought that as we do use solid fuel at times it would not be advisable to ask the sweep for the soot.       ( Goodness knows what chemicals are in it)

However I was listening to a radio programme and they said that the reason Rhubarb was originally grown in Yorkshire was because people used the soot from the chimney's as it likes sulphur.

One room will only be used with wood from now on so any thoughts on using the soot from that chimney in future?

Title: Re: rhubarb and soot
Post by: saddad on May 27, 2011, 07:49:05
Molluscs don't like it... can be used as a barrier..  :-\
Title: Re: rhubarb and soot
Post by: Larkshall on May 27, 2011, 14:51:51
Soot was always used for onions in East Anglia, whether they liked the chemicals in it or benefited from the extra warmth absorbed from the sun is anybodies guess.
Title: Re: rhubarb and soot
Post by: woodypecks on May 27, 2011, 16:39:14
Hmm... ours also due for sweeping now after that dreadful winter !  I wonder if he,ll let me have the soot ?  How /where does he empty it and how do you store it ?        What do sweeps usualy do with all the soot they collect anyway ? Never thought about it before ..just wondering  !  :D
Title: Re: rhubarb and soot
Post by: pumkinlover on May 28, 2011, 06:38:06
Apparently the sweep takes the soot to his local allotment sites so I didn't ask for any this time.

Larkshall- maybe the onions like the sulphur too- could explain certain attributes of onions! ;)
Title: Re: rhubarb and soot
Post by: diggerrick on May 28, 2011, 07:39:35
i can rember my granparents saving soot for the garden, what they used it for im not sure! :)
Title: Re: rhubarb and soot
Post by: non-stick on May 28, 2011, 08:20:58
When we had our chimneys swept I asked the sweep for the soot and he advised against it - cant for the life of me remember why