rhubarb leave insecticide = safe in edible garden?

14 years ago

I have a lot of aphid in my dill plants.

I have found on many garden forums, including this one, many messages from people suggesting, as a safe anti-aphid insecticide for an edible garden, to boil rhubarb leaves into water and to apply the resulting liquid.

I thought i would be ok, after all, we do eat rhubarb...

But I found on internet that rhubarb leaves are toxic and to not apply this mixture into edible garden. See these web pages:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/pesticides/recipes.html

http://www.savor-the-rhubarb.com/rhubarb-aphid-spray.html

So, what do you think about that?

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Comments (6)

ksrogers
14 years ago
Neem spray is the safest. I have a TON of dill growing here and never see a single aphid on it. My roses have a few here and there, but the aphids are not damaging any other plants. Oxalic acid is what is in rhubarb leaves and is toxic. Spraying it on dill may render the dill a bit toxic too. Neem sprays are much safer to use on any herb leaves.
snorkyller
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you for your suggestion about neem.

The fact that your dill has never been convered by aphids doesn't means that it will never happen in any place in the world.
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Daisyduckworth
14 years ago
I have no qualms about using rhubarb spray on edibles, if I need to. I always wash them before eating them. And anyway, we eat oxalic acid whenever we eat any green, leafy vegetable (though not in the same quantities as that contained in rhubarb leaves).

Ksrogers, you are aware, aren't you, that neem seeds (from which the insecticide is made) are spermicidal? Which can be a good or a bad thing, depending on your plans for the future!

Also, pregnant or breast-feeding mothers should avoid neem.
ksrogers
14 years ago
At 64 years old, I doubt if I will want any kids right now. Its only negative effect for that would be if it was absorbed through the skin in large amounts. I mix in a pump sprayer with water and wash my hands after use.
francescod
14 years ago
Alternate organic insecticides: insecticidal soap and pyrethrum.

Rhubarb stems, with the leaf blades removed, are what is eaten due to the high levels of oxalic acid found in the leaves. High doses of oxalic acid can make a person sick or at least give them an upset tummy.

Neem toothpaste is on the market now. In India, they chewed on neem branches for oral hygiene. I don't think they have a widespread problem with infertility.

-F. DeBaggio
Rosie Bond
3 years ago
F DeBaggio. It‘a the seeds of Neem that are spermicidal, if you read the post above!

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rhubarb leave insecticide = safe in edible garden?

Comments (6)

ksrogers

snorkyller
Original Author

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rhubarb leave insecticide = safe in edible garden?

Comments (6)

ksrogers

snorkyllerOriginal Author

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Daisyduckworth

ksrogers

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snorkyller
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