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Rhubarb

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by Fat Controller, Jul 9, 2017.

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  1. Scrungee

    Scrungee Well known for it

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    It's Malic acid in the stems and poisonous Oxalic acid in the leaves. If making an (Illegal) home made insecticide by boiling up the leaves, using an aluminium pan will also give the nasty bugs Alzheimers :thumbsup:
     
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      Scrungee, Aug 10, 2017
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    • shiney

      shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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      Oxalic and Malic acid are similar oxylates. The concentration of Oxalic acid in the stalks is approximately half of that in the leaves so is less of a problem.

      Although the leaves are considered poisonous you would need to eat a large amount of them for them to have a serious effect. During the war they had this problem when people were, wrongly, advised to eat the leaves.

      If I remember my organic chemistry correctly (and it's a long time since I studied it - nearly 60 years) the main difference, for purposes of the rhubarb effect, between the two is that Oxalic has two pi bonds and Malic has one pi bond with lone pair conjugation. :rolleyespink:

      Also, if I remember correctly :scratch:, there are about another half a dozen acids in rhubarb. Most of them are goodies :thumbsup: - in the small quantities in the plant. I do remember that one of the acids in it is used in skin care products, but can't remember which and don't have time to look it up. Another creates the most sour taste in rhubarb.

      Todays homework for GC members:-
      Find out which is which and hand in papers to headteacher @"M" :lunapic 130165696578242 5:
       
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        shiney, Aug 10, 2017
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      • Heucherella

        Heucherella Gardener

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        All I can remember about oxalic axid from my years as a lab tech is that we used it to get rust stains off test tubes!
         
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          Heucherella, Aug 10, 2017
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        • Sandy Ground

          Sandy Ground Total Gardener

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          After reading through this thread, I must be doing something wrong with my rhubarb plants. They are in a north border, in fact most is surrounded on all four sides, I've never given them any kind of feed, but yet they usually crop twice a year! Not sure of the variety, other than it must be an old one, probably planted in the early 1950's

          Guessing, thats because they are north of my Siberian Pea hedge, which puts nitrogen into the soil, and south of my compost heap. The ground is always wet, as its above an underground spring, but also, always dark.

          As usual, I'm confused. Are things so much different here? :dunno: Or maybe its because things really were so much better before....:)
           
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            Sandy Ground, Aug 10, 2017
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          • "M"

            "M" Total Gardener

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            [​IMG]
             
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              "M", Aug 10, 2017
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            • shiney

              shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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              @Sandy Ground I'm not sure what you think is different. Ours crops twice a year and is currently producing 15lb - 20lb a week. It doubles that during the late Spring crop. It's also about the same date as ours was planted in 1953.
               
              shiney, Aug 10, 2017
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            • Sandy Ground

              Sandy Ground Total Gardener

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              It was just the comments regarding early/middle/late cropping that suggested to me one crop from some varieties, as well as needing light and feeding.

              At a guess, mine was planted in the same year, as the house was built '51/'52. Same variety perhaps?
               
              Sandy Ground, Aug 10, 2017
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            • shiney

              shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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              Varieties? :noidea:
               
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                shiney, Aug 10, 2017
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              • Sandy Ground

                Sandy Ground Total Gardener

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                Maybe...some for rhubarb crumbles, and some for flavouring vodka...that makes two varieties! :snorky:

                Which reminds me..the vodka is almost ready to drink..Now theres something for next years Shineyland....:Wino:
                 
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                  Sandy Ground, Aug 10, 2017
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                • miraflores

                  miraflores Total Gardener

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                  Hi Sand - they sell some cactus and vodka drink in the Lithuanian shop over here. I am absolutely mad for that drink. Do you think one could replicate it? (and if so, how?)
                   
                  miraflores, Aug 10, 2017
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                • Verdun

                  Verdun Passionate gardener

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                  Vodka Shiney? You make your own? Shineyland has suddenly become even more a must visit place :Wino:
                  It has been a decent rhubarb year for me but not as good as past years. Smaller stalks this year despite mulching thickly and feeding well. It has been pretty warm and dry this summer, the rain seems to have regularly passed by, and I think this is the reason.
                   
                  Verdun, Aug 10, 2017
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                • shiney

                  shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                  Sorry, @Verdun it's Sandy that makes the Vodka :noidea: - but we do serve Pimms (as well as tea/coffee, homemade cakes and cream teas) on Open Day. As we don't have a licence we, of course, don't sell the Pimms. We give that away but everyone tends to make a donation for the container it is served in ;) :thumbsup: :whistle: :heehee:

                  We don't feed our rhubarb and have only recently started mulching it. The mulch is just our compost but it contains some horse manure and ash.
                   
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                    shiney, Aug 11, 2017
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                  • Verdun

                    Verdun Passionate gardener

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                    Ah! Impulsive is what I am Shiney :noidea:
                    Just saw "vodka" and went for it :hapfeet:
                     
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                      Verdun, Aug 11, 2017
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                    • shiney

                      shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                      Oh dear! That statement will be all over the media like a shot! :lunapic 130165696578242 5: Where's the News of the World when you need it? :heehee:
                       
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                        shiney, Aug 11, 2017
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                      • "M"

                        "M" Total Gardener

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                        Pretty sure I was given that as wedding advice :whistle:

                        If it's not all gone by then, I'll risk being Chief Taster :whistle: (note to self: book B&B within stumbling distance)
                         
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                          "M", Aug 11, 2017
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