[squiffy2]

Hi all,

Sorry, once again for not being around much, the good ol' MS, work and general mayhem have kept my head down lately  

Still, this weekend was a cracker and I have (finally) gotten my shallots, onions and potatoes (!) in    Had to plant the pots a foot down as the chits were so big!

My question is about rhubarb leaves. I always used to put them on the compost heap, but Mrs Squiffs read a piece which said they should not be composted due to the indwelling poison in them......

Any clues either way to allay her fears that we are all going to die      

Hoep all are well and that your crops are finally growing!

squiffs  

[Ruby Red]

I would think that the heat and action of the compost heap would render whatever poison in them to be harmless. Just my opinion wait for others praps. I do though.

[DD.]

Perfectly safe.

[olde9856]

Ive always used rhubarb as a compost plant, Ive so much we cant eat it all. I just spread the whole plants in layers on the heap as with anyother material. As yet we have come to no harm.

[squiffy2]

Thanks everyone, as I expected  

Olde, why do you not freeze the Rhubarb???

[olde9856]

We really do have far too much. We started with 4 small plants and now have over 10 in the orchard. It is better use to me as compost bulk than in the freezer.

[Celtic Eagle]

Compost 'em too good to waste The oxalic acid in them breaks down during the composting process .

[kentishlad]

We really do have far too much. We started with 4 small plants and now have over 10 in the orchard. It is better use to me as compost bulk than in the freezer.

I'm told it makes a great country wine, the other best choice being parsnip! (My parsnip wine is nearly fermented out and is tasting good already)

[tiredmum]

sorry to hijack this thread..I've just harvested some rhubarb from my lottie (inherited, never grown it before) as I don't particularly like rhubarb can i just ask whats the best way to keep it and deliver it to people I'm giving it to?  Do I chop the leaves off? Keep them on? Keep it in water until I give it? Wrap it in newspaper? I know this is a really stupid question but I don't want to spoil it. Thanks for your help!

[GreenOwl]

sorry to hijack this thread..I've just harvested some rhubarb from my lottie (inherited, never grown it before) as I don't particularly like rhubarb can i just ask whats the best way to keep it and deliver it to people I'm giving it to?  Do I chop the leaves off? Keep them on? Keep it in water until I give it? Wrap it in newspaper? I know this is a really stupid question but I don't want to spoil it. Thanks for your help!

Just chop the leaves off.  That's how you'd buy it in the supermarket.

[senrab_nhoj]

how much can you harvest from a rhubarb plant in a season... is there a cut off point when to stop or is it a limit on number of shoots to leave on?

[GreenOwl]

how much can you harvest from a rhubarb plant in a season... is there a cut off point when to stop or is it a limit on number of shoots to leave on?

Depends how mature the plant is.  Don't pull any in the first year, minimal in the second, after that pull as much as you want but always leave a couple of stalks per crown.

[purplebat]

also don't harvest after July