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Post by lottielady on Apr 23, 2007 9:52:12 GMT
On watching the Big Dig, Terry from the Welsh allotment site soaked his Rhubarb leaves in a bucket of water to make a liquid deterant which he sprayed on all his brassicas against the Cabbage White, which he says has made them free from the butterflies so has had no trouble from caterpillers. Now I thought Rhubarb leaves were poisonous so is this safe?
LLx
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2007 14:56:28 GMT
Is cabbage safe too?... depends on who's eating it  Never heard of this before but sounds like a good idea. Would need to know more myself before I tried it though but I would think that it is as safe as using pesticides, but an organic approach. |
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Post by jean on Apr 23, 2007 18:13:59 GMT
I have heard of this before LL and its supposed to work a treat. I suppose the way to look at it is that insecticides aren't much good for us either:  There are 2 recipes in the link below www.rhubarbinfo.com/rhubarb-uses.html |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2007 18:55:56 GMT
In terms of toxicity, Rhubarb and its leaves it contains oxalic acid. To cause death a 10 stone person would have to consume very approximately 10 pounds of leaves in late Summer (less potent earlier). Although burning mouths/stomach can be at a much lower dose. Long term over consumption of rhubarb can lead to kidney stones. Spinach also contains some oxalic acid, so Popeye is probably is probably in agony ;D
Steeping it in water will only remove some of the acid and then spraying it on your brassicas will see only a minor uptake of it by the plants. Not an issue in my book.
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Post by lottielady on Apr 23, 2007 19:24:26 GMT
But will it work without boiling it? It is supposed to stink I think I shall I get me a big saucepan from a charity shop and try to boil it up on the incinerator at the lottie ?? Thanks peeps! LLx |
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Post by jean on Apr 24, 2007 5:21:39 GMT
It will clean your pan at the same time LL. ;D Don't worry about the compost issue with the leaves too much either, as its all mixed in with everything else, and get well distributed. CPC I love my greens but even I couldn't eat 10lbs at a sitting |
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Post by borderbabe on Apr 24, 2007 8:55:31 GMT
I saw this on the Big Dig as well - but I thought he just steeped the leaves in water for a couple of weeks - no cooking involved! I'm going to have a go as I'll have Rhubarb ready to pull from this weekend.
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