Fruit, Veg or Composting?

**veggiechicken** · 29-05-2012, 07:15 AM

I put the leaves down around the rhubarb plants as a mulch. I'm sure I was told to do this by somebody but I've no idea why! Sorry - I know that's little help!

**Florence Fennel** · 29-05-2012, 07:16 AM

I didn't realise they were beneficial to bras BM, what, steeped in a bucket? I have some very awkward rhubarb that appears every year in a flower bed and I dig it up and compost it every time.

**Bigmallly** · 29-05-2012, 08:02 AM

They can be boiled, add a little washing up liquid & used as a pesticide. I believe they can also be dug in around the Brassicas, I think I read something By Zaz on this particular method so she may be able to confirm.

** please be aware it is illegal in the UK to make your own pesitcides!

**Two_Sheds** · 29-05-2012, 09:18 AM

According to this, rhubarb is lower in oxalic acid than parsley (and we never even knew to be worried about parsley

)

**jacob** · 29-05-2012, 09:26 AM

Blimey, I've always put my leaves on the compost. I can't see they'll much harm given the rhubarb vs other stuff proportions. Also, the slug tend to eat them as soon as they start to wilt.

**Bigmallly** · 29-05-2012, 10:31 AM

Originally posted by Two_Sheds View Post

According to this, rhubarb is lower in oxalic acid than parsley (and we never even knew to be worried about parsley

)

And I was lead to believe that Oxalic Acid can cause the heart to stop.......well that theory is blow clean out of the water. I'm more confused than ever ...... Cheers TS......

**Maccabee** · 29-05-2012, 11:19 AM

Originally posted by Two_Sheds View Post

According to this, rhubarb is lower in oxalic acid than parsley (and we never even knew to be worried about parsley

)

I don't think people are likely to eat 100g of parsley though

. Spinach on the other hand

**alldigging** · 29-05-2012, 01:04 PM

Compost them. It's unlikely anyone eats enough compost to get a toxic level of anything that hasn't quite broken down yet.

**Alison** · 29-05-2012, 01:06 PM

I just chuck mine on the compost heap

**veggiechicken** · 29-05-2012, 02:27 PM

Originally posted by Bigmallly;998723It's regarding [B

Rhubarb Leaves[/B].
My question is:
If composted seperately, due to the high acid content, would the resulting compost be suitable as a mulch for ericaceous plants or is it the wrong type of acid

.

Going back to the question and raising a few more!
Rhubarb leaves contain Oxalic acid - and so do many other plants, including spinach and sorrel.The oxalic acid and oxylates break down when in contact with the soil and are not toxic. BUT are they still acidic enough to affect the soil?
AND what acid makes soil acidic?
If "acid" is just a generic term for any acid, you could alter the acidity of soil by say, watering it with vinegar - but nobody does this (or do they?)
So, if rhubarb leaves were used around blueberry bushes would their decomposition be beneficial, have an adverse effect or have no effect whatsoever?
Since I would take the easy option, I'd put the leaves around one of the blueberry bushes and see whether it makes any difference! You could even do a soil test before and after to check - and let us know the result.
If you don't want to do that you could make a hair dye from the leaves instead!
http://www.rhubarbinfo.com/other

**Bigmallly** · 29-05-2012, 02:36 PM

Originally posted by veggiechicken View Post

Going back to the question and raising a few more!
Rhubarb leaves contain Oxalic acid - and so do many other plants, including spinach and sorrel.The oxalic acid and oxylates break down when in contact with the soil and are not toxic. BUT are they still acidic enough to affect the soil?
AND what acid makes soil acidic?
If "acid" is just a generic term for any acid, you could alter the acidity of soil by say, watering it with vinegar - but nobody does this (or do they?)
So, if rhubarb leaves were used around blueberry bushes would their decomposition be beneficial, have an adverse effect or have no effect whatsoever?
Since I would take the easy option, I'd put the leaves around one of the blueberry bushes and see whether it makes any difference! You could even do a soil test before and after to check - and let us know the result.
If you don't want to do that you could make a hair dye from the leaves instead!
http://www.rhubarbinfo.com/other

Thanks VC, I thought I was going to have to re ask the original question. I had the same idea of composting some leaves down then doing a pH test.

**Bigmallly** · 29-05-2012, 02:39 PM

Originally posted by Alison View Post

I just chuck mine on the compost heap

And here was I trying to help improve blueberry soil conditions.

**veggiechicken** · 29-05-2012, 02:50 PM

Originally posted by Bigmallly View Post

Thanks VC, I thought I was going to have to re ask the original question. I had the same idea of composting some leaves down then doing a pH test.

Yes, I thought your underlying question had been lost along the way!!

**Feral007** · 29-05-2012, 02:53 PM

Actually, using vinegar to kill weeds is something people are doing now

And yes it's true I'm totally obsessed by ways to kill 90 acres of weeds!
Perhaps I should boil up some rhubarb and pour that on them as well? Maybe I'll tell the weeds inspector I'm planning to do that next, his brains will probably explode if I do.

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