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NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

I read this on a site about rhubarb. Is it ok for AG pumpkins?
Many folks have been concerned about adding rhubarb leaves to their compost piles. If the leaves are poisonous, they must be bad for compost as well, since rhubarb stalks contain a high concentration of oxalic acid which slightly toxic. What actually occurs when rhubarb is added to a compost pile is that the oxalic acid is decomposed and pH balanced rather quickly. People do not eat compost piles as a rule anyway, and even if a child were to eat compost dirt, there would be problems other than residuals from the decomposing rhubarb stalks. Experience has also shown that the level of acid does not inhibit the microbial action of composting. Compost piles which were nearly all rhubarb leaves and stalks have decomposed very nicely and the compost has behaved like ordinary compost and no inhibition of plant growth was noticed from the compost. Note that some items are a problem for composting including: eucalyptus leaves and bark, omnivore (cat and dog) pet feces, diapers, meat scraps, and treated lumber. 29

3/28/2006 10:21:36 AM

Long Island,New York

If your child is eating compost you have more problems than just rhubarb leaves..............

3/28/2006 3:55:13 PM

Norton, MA

lol!

3/28/2006 7:24:30 PM

NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

I guess some people have time to make fun of a question, so I will ask it a different way. Rhubarb leaves are poisonous. Will the oxalic acid in the compost affect AG pumpkins? The article I read downplayed the effects of oxalic acid in humans and in compost, but I was wondering what the effects if any were on the pumpkins.

3/28/2006 7:49:46 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

In nature it has to break down or nothing would grow where Rhubarb is...We actually mulch around or rhubarb patch is with the discard leaves.

3/28/2006 8:48:13 PM

NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

That makes sense... "or nothing would grow where rhubarb is". Better explanation than the entire article itself. Much appreciated.

3/28/2006 10:14:51 PM

Norton, MA

Sorry, just laughing at the joke (it was a good one). AleX Noel.

3/29/2006 6:51:21 PM