Rhubarb is a popular perennial vegetable grown for its sweet, sour red stalks that make pies, jams, and other desserts taste even better. The big, triangular green leaves of the rhubarb plant, on the other hand, are not edible because they have a lot of oxalic acid in them. This makes a lot of gardeners wonder if it’s safe to compost rhubarb leaves.
To give you a short answer, yes, you can compost rhubarb leaves! Raw rhubarb leaves are poisonous to both people and animals, but composting breaks down the oxalic acid in the leaves, turning them into healthy compost for your garden.
In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about composting rhubarb leaves including
- An overview of rhubarb leaves and their properties
- How composting works to break down toxins
- Step-by-step instructions for composting rhubarb leaves
- Tips for safe handling of rhubarb foliage
- The benefits of composting rhubarb leaves
Today we’re going to talk about how to safely compost your rhubarb leaves to make garden gold!
Rhubarb, or Rheum rhabarbarum, is a hardy perennial plant with thick, edible stalks that can be bright pink to deep red. Rhubarb has big, wide, triangular leaves that can get up to 2 feet wide on some types.
While the stalks are commonly used in sweet and savory dishes, the leaves contain high levels of oxalic acid and are toxic to humans and pets if ingested. Oxalic acid is found in many common plants, and in rhubarb leaves it serves as a natural pest deterrent.
Consuming the leaves can cause symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and even kidney damage or death in severe cases. For this reason, gardeners are often hesitant to compost rhubarb leaves.
However, the composting process transforms the leaves into a safe, nutrient-rich amendment for garden soil. Next, we’ll look at how composting neutralizes toxins.
How Composting Neutralizes Toxins
Composting relies on microorganisms like bacteria and fungi to break down organic materials. As they decompose the leaves, these microbes also digest and neutralize toxic compounds through chemical changes.
Specifically, the oxalic acid in rhubarb leaves is metabolized and diluted during the composting process. The acids are degraded into carbon dioxide and water or integrated into the cell tissues of microbes.
Maintaining the proper conditions in your compost pile helps ensure thorough decomposition. Your compost should have:
- A carbon to nitrogen ratio around 25-30:1
- Moisture level of 40-60%
- Temperature between 110°F – 160°F
- Plenty of oxygen flow
Providing the right balance of ingredients, moisture, and aeration gives microbes what they need to neutralize toxins and produce finished compost.
Step-By-Step Instructions for Composting Rhubarb Leaves
Composting rhubarb leaves is easy and safe when done properly. Follow these steps:
1. Chop or Shred Leaves
Chopping the leaves into smaller pieces gives microbes more surface area to work on, speeding decomposition. Use pruners, a lawn mower, or shredder to break leaves down into 1-2 inch pieces.
2. Mix Leaves Into Compost Pile
Add the chopped leaves into your compost pile, mixing them with other yard and kitchen scraps. Rhubarb leaves can make up 25-50% of the total volume.
3. Maintain Proper Conditions
Monitor the moisture, aeration, and temperature of the compost. Turn or stir the pile weekly to refresh oxygen levels.
4. Allow Full Decomposition
Leave rhubarb leaves to decompose for 2-3 months before using the finished compost. This allows toxins to fully break down.
5. Apply Compost to Garden
Once finished, you can spread composted rhubarb leaves in garden beds and around plants just as you would any other compost!
Safe Handling Tips for Rhubarb Leaves
When managing rhubarb foliage, follow these basic safety precautions:
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Wear gloves when handling leaves. Oxalic acid can irritate skin.
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Keep leaves away from pets and livestock to prevent accidental ingestion.
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Monitor compost piles containing rhubarb leaves to keep kids and animals away until decomposition is finished.
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Wash hands after working with rhubarb plants and leaves.
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Dispose of excess leaves in secured compost bins or yard waste bags.
Simple common sense precautions allow you to safely reap the benefits of composting rhubarb leaves!
The Benefits of Composting Rhubarb Leaves
Composting rhubarb leaves offers a range of benefits:
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It recycles yard waste into a useful garden product instead of sending it to the landfill.
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Adds organic matter and nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium to improve soil health.
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Helps soils retain moisture and nutrients better.
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Contributes beneficial microbes that support plant growth.
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Is a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to buying fertilizers.
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Reduces the need for chemical pesticides and fertilizers.
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Creates a natural mulch and soil amendment directly from your own garden!
While raw rhubarb leaves have too much oxalic acid for human or animal consumption, the leaves can be safely composted to create an excellent fertilizer and soil conditioner for your vegetable and flower gardens.
Follow the simple steps above to successfully compost rhubarb leaves. Take basic safety precautions when handling the leaves, and allow time for full decomposition. The finished compost can be worked into garden beds to boost nutrients and organic matter in the soil.
Composting leaves prevents waste from going to landfills and transforms it into “black gold” to nourish your plants. Reaping the benefits of composted rhubarb leaves is easy, affordable, and eco-friendly!
Can You Compost Rhubarb Leaves?
The genus Rheum is in the family Polygonaceae, and rhubarb is a herbaceous perennial plant that grows from short, thick stems. It’s easy to spot because it has big, triangular leaves and long, fleshy stalks or petioles that are green at first but turn a bright red over time. Rhubarb is actually a vegetable that is primarily grown and used as a fruit in pies, sauces, and other desserts. Also referred to as the “Pie Plant,” rhubarb contains vitamin A, potassium, and calcium – as much calcium as a glass of milk! It is also low in calories and fat, cholesterol-free, and high in fiber. Nutritious it may be, but the leaves of the plant contain oxalic acid and are toxic. So, is it okay to add rhubarb leaves into compost piles?.
How to Compost Rhubarb Leaves
FAQ
Can you compost rhubarb leaf?
A: Yes. You shouldn’t eat rhubarb leaves because they have a lot of oxalic acid in them, but you can put them in the compost pile.
What leaves should not be composted?
Tough Leaves Some leaves are harder to compost be- cause they take longer to break down. Examples are: Hol- ly, arbutus, cedar, pine, and oak.
Can I use rhubarb leaves as mulch?
Yes, rhubarb leaves can be used as mulch. While they contain oxalic acid, which is toxic in large quantities, it breaks down during decomposition and is safe for use in the garden as mulch or in compost.
Is there anything you can do with rhubarb leaves?
Make an organic pesticide for plants – The toxic oxalic acid in rhubarb makes it very effective at eradicating bugs. For an all-natural and chemical-free bug spray you can make at home, chop up 3–4 rhubarb leaves into small pieces. Boil 4 cups of water, add the leaves and then simmer for 30 minutes. Mar 28, 2022.