hows your rhubarb?

Strepsy

AAngel wrote: »

Mine is taking over the world. We inherited a 2m row with our house last year, picks loads last year and gave it to anyone who we could send home with some and its looking like it will be even better this year. I put bins over a third of it so we have had a few forced rhubarb crumbles (yum!) but now its all growing like mad. In fact I have made a trifle with it this afternoon for tea because I am trying to think of new things to make with it. Any ideas?
AA

Rhubarb schnapps? lol

nodwah

AAngel wrote: »

Mine is taking over the world. We inherited a 2m row with our house last year, picks loads last year and gave it to anyone who we could send home with some and its looking like it will be even better this year. I put bins over a third of it so we have had a few forced rhubarb crumbles (yum!) but now its all growing like mad. In fact I have made a trifle with it this afternoon for tea because I am trying to think of new things to make with it. Any ideas?
AA

Watch out coz rhubarb is poisonous to humans too!!

honest , the oxalic acid in them is toxic and causes kidney stones, but you would have to be a rhubarb nutter to eat enough to harm you thoough! Maybe distilling it is the best idea!

Anyway, I got a rhubarb and apple jam recipe with my BM and it's very tasty

demented_2

Hi, Don't forget that the leaves can be used to make a Old style or greenish insecticide. Its great for keeping cabbage fly away. Just put the leaves into an old bucket or large ish container, cover them with water and hold the leaves down with a brick, leave in a secluded place for about 1 week cos it stinks like mad. Then water the leaves and roots of your cabbage plants with the smelly stuff. keeps the cabbage whites away and not a chemical has been used. Nettles can be used in the same way as well, only this time the liquid is used as a liquid fertiliser... don't know if thats spelt right.... too tired after day on the allotment.. off to bed now. Sweet dreams. demented

:: Hi Folks. We've seen some comments concerned with the legality of rhubarb as an insecticide. Please take a few minutes to read the posts that follow this one and please be safe. FM :

kippers

Lovely lovely rhubarb..i planted mine at my lottie 2 years ago after my lottie neighbour split his and gave me 3 crowns (lucky me). I am picking but only a little at a time as still only 2 yrs old...but it tastes bill.

Did you know you CAN compost the leaves even though they are poisenous...compost, compost, compost!

Strepsy

demented wrote: »

Hi, Don't forget that the leaves can be used to make a Old style or greenish insecticide. Its great for keeping cabbage fly away. Just put the leaves into an old bucket or large ish container, cover them with water and hold the leaves down with a brick, leave in a secluded place for about 1 week cos it stinks like mad. Then water the leaves and roots of your cabbage plants with the smelly stuff. keeps the cabbage whites away and not a chemical has been used. Nettles can be used in the same way as well, only this time the liquid is used as a liquid fertiliser... don't know if thats spelt right.... too tired after day on the allotment.. off to bed now. Sweet dreams. demented

Using rhubarb leaves as an insecticide is actually illegal I believe, so please do be very careful. I don't think it's suitable for use on edible crops as it is poisonous but have heard it is successful on roses.

I'm not an expert, not trying to be a pain but please research this properly before attempting it.

nodwah

True strepsy, home made insecticides are a bit dodgy - you have no way of knowing the strength you've made of the active compound.

BTW according to the rules, squirting your greenfly with fairy liquid is also illegal!!! The rozzers will be after me!

moanymoany

Just been on hols in France and had rhubarb ice cream. It is simply divine. There are lots of recipes on the web. A neighbour on the allottments gave me some that I will freeze for icecream making later.:T

torbrex

I have just had the first of this seasons rhubarb out of my garden, nothing fancy, just stewed with a little custard but very tasty.
I will need to start thinking about getting some sugar in for making jam, it's just a pity that I cant grow it or can I, anyone any experience of growing sugar in Fife?


PS. for all you wine buffs I have a recipe dating from 1920's for making rhubarb wine in bulk, pm me if you would like a copy as it is written, I will lift it straight from the book.

Cacran

Oh goodness, just wrote the formula for the Rhubard insectacide down then read it was not safe. Is it or isn't it?????

Solomon_Broad

It used to be legal to make a rather broad scale insecticide by soaking fag ends in water. That's now illegal, because all the chemicals we spray on our veg that are designed to kill things are so much safer. :rolleyes:

With regard to the Rhubarb insecticide, I personally wouldn't risk it. I don't like using any chemicals, irrespective of where they come from. I don't think it's systemic, though, so you might be OK with a good washing. I'm not saying you will be OK, though.