A use for rhubarb leaves?

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Goldfinger

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A use for rhubarb leaves?
« on: May 04, 2013, 09:45 »

Is it true that if you put rhubarb leaves into a barrel of water and then spray your brassicas with the liquid after it's stood a while, it'll keep off bugs etc?

Was told this, but would like it comfirmed before I do it and maybe destroy everything.....  :ohmy:

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fatcat1955

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Re: A use for rhubarb leaves?
« Reply #1 on: May 04, 2013, 09:47 »
I might have heard this before and it might be true but as the leaves are not licensed as a pesticide i cannot confirm it.

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Beetroot queen

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Re: A use for rhubarb leaves?
« Reply #2 on: May 04, 2013, 09:49 »
I didn't think this was legal to use anymore  :unsure:

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JayG

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Re: A use for rhubarb leaves?
« Reply #3 on: May 04, 2013, 10:23 »
Because home-made pesticides will not have been approved for use as such by the EU, by default they are illegal to use in the UK, and regular users of this site will be aware that for that reason it cannot be seen to be promoting such practices.

Having said that, some work, some don't, some are probably harmless to other wildlife and the environment, some not. I'm saying nowt, other than that the contents of my garden sprayer remains a secret at all times!  ::)

Site owner John's statement on the subject:

http://www.allotment-garden.org/vegetable/general/home-made-pesticide.php
Sow your seeds, plant your plants. What's the difference? A couple of weeks or more when answering possible queries!

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Stree

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Re: A use for rhubarb leaves?
« Reply #4 on: May 04, 2013, 11:09 »
Highly effective plant food tea or dug into compost.

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Agatha

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Re: A use for rhubarb leaves?
« Reply #5 on: May 04, 2013, 11:24 »
I always compost mine.   (Bob Flowerdew once gave a talk to a local gardening group, and apparently told them putting rhubarb leaves in your compost heap would 'poison' the soil - I had a client threaten to sue me for ruining her compost, so I had to ask the RHS to confirm it is safe, which it is!)
'The love of gardening is a seed that once sown never dies, but always grows and grows to an enduring and ever-increasing source of happiness.'  Gertrude Jekyll

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hasbean

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Re: A use for rhubarb leaves?
« Reply #6 on: May 04, 2013, 16:07 »
What does Bob Mildew know? - I always compost mine. I'm pretty sure they're ok if left to break down properly.

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Stree

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Re: A use for rhubarb leaves?
« Reply #7 on: May 04, 2013, 17:29 »
In my old garden I had an old plain chimney pot about 4`6" high stood on a paving slab in the middle of the flower beds, I used to stuff all the old rhubarb leaves and stalks in it and let them rot in there.
When it rained it washed all the liquids out all around the paving slab and the surrounding plants certainly showed the benefit.
Uncooked it is full of oxalic acid and must not be fed to any animals or poultry.
PS I originate from within the rhubarb triangle, and I spent a lot of my toddlership in and amongst the tusky sheds.

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vanessa.xx

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Re: A use for rhubarb leaves?
« Reply #8 on: May 04, 2013, 18:53 »
I wish you had told my chickens that Stree, mine got into my netted off rhubarb and ate every leaf (lots of big leaves) and had no ill effects at all  ::)

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Goldfinger

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Re: A use for rhubarb leaves?
« Reply #9 on: May 05, 2013, 09:55 »

Better just compost them in small amounts at a time then.....

Thanks for the info peeps....  ;)



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