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My Gardening Days

I’m wondering if it isn’t time to give up gardening. I have one 4 x 8 raised bed of asparagus. I have a 4 x 4 raised bed of strawberries. That leaves two 4 x 4 beds and two 4 x 8 beds. This year I planted peppers in the one of the 4 x 4 raised beds and oregano, squash and lemongrass in the other raised bed. The two 4 x 8 beds have tomatoes in one and okra in one.

I garden mainly for tomatoes and okra but both plants cause me to itch and break out in hives. I’ve been wearing a long sleeve shirt and even started wearing cotton gloves covered by latex gloves when working with those two plants but my sleeves go up when I raise my arms to cut the okra but early last week, I got what looked like burns on both arms and on my right hand where the okra had touched my arms and I’m not sure how I got it on my hands. It started out as the usual itching and hives but then developed into this and, like I said, it looks so much better now. The doctor said is similar to phytophotodermatitis. She said “we can get rid of this but you need to stop working around tomato and okra plants.”

In the grand scheme of things, I’m lucky to be as healthy as I am but okra and tomatoes? I need those things in my life! For now, Vince is cutting the okra and picking the tomatoes. I haven’t had any trouble with cutting up the okra or tomatoes once they’re off the plants but I’m wearing gloves just to be safe.

The picture is kinda gross and you can thank me for not showing it til it was much better but I think my days of growing okra and tomato may be over.

The blisters are starting to dry up on my right arm, not so much on the left arm and the one on my hand never got as bad as the ones on my arm.

It’s pretty sad when even my garden is trying to kill me!

Reader Interactions

Comments

    • That might would work. Hadn’t thought of those. Thanks! I think it’s best for now just to have Vince cut the okra and then decide if he’s willing to mess with it next year.

  2. I react to my tomato plants as well. I’m sure you’ve done this but I go to the sink and scrub up to above my elbows the second I come in the house. And like you, I don’t react to the fruit once off.

    Consider trying 1 more year? Use veterinary gloves that go to the shoulder. You can use a velcro band below your armpit to hold them in place. Then you can dispose of them and have zero risk of spreading any micro particles around to react to later.

    Like you, I cannot imagine giving up my garden. May your blisters heal quickly and without further incident.

  3. I react to things too. I made myself arm gaiters out of ribbed cotton fabric (think socks with no toe and with a thumb hole) that go over my sleeves and under my gloves. This was my solution to the first time I got poison ivy in that gap you mentioned and THAT was miserable and lasted forever.

  4. Oh wow, you need to be careful!! If you do plant these, make sure Vince picks them so you won’t have to touch them!!

  5. I have some bug reactions which produce a blister, so I use liquid bandage to close up the open wound. Blocking the oxygen getting to the open blister stops the itch factor. And, once there is a scab, keeping the scab covered with the liquid stuff stops it from washing off. I remember using clear nail polish at camp a long time ago and the liquid bandage is like that with some good stuff in it.

    BTW, both tomatoes and okra are in the nightshade family. So, be careful with the other veggies in that family, like potatoes, eggplants, and peppers. Nightshade can cause issues with joints so while touching causes the welts, perhaps eating might be causing some joint issues. I think you mentioned that you have some issues with knees.

    • I think I’m going to let Vince do it for now at least. The spines on the okra poke me through the latex gloves and that’s why I’ve been wearing cotton gloves under the latex – trying to stop the pricklies.

      • I was just joking. I would never have known about these gloves, but a co-worker of mine had a dairy farm. She sent one of these to my husband as a joke when we had a few beef cattle. She knew the idea would freak him out. LOL.

        • Hey . . at this point I would try anything. I don’t think I’d want to use them for the intended purpose but if I thought it would help me with my okra issues, I’d do it.

    • I had sleeves with thumb holes but they still went down when I raised my arm up. At this point, it isn’t worth messing with it. Vince can cut the okra. I’m not taking any chances.

      • I totally understand. When I work with tomato plants, I flare up, too, but not as bad as that. The other day I was skinning, chopping, etc. tomatoes from the garden to can and I flared. I didn’t think I reacted to the fruit, but looks like if I spend too much time with them, I will.

        • Just be careful because for probably 6 years, I’ve had a bit of itching and then the last couple of years, I’ve had the hives and now this. I’ve been wearing gloves to work with both the tomatoes and okra, and of course, the hot peppers.

    • Really? Do you always eat it cooked or can you eat it raw? I have a fear that some day I may not be able to eat tomatoes or okra but the doctor said that was unlikely.

  10. Now that I am a “senior” I take no chances with issues like this. I fell a few years ago and my would was healing well. Something happened and the healing process went south. I developed sepsis and then needs. I came close to losing my leg …it was horrible. Finally with the help of a wound doctor and lots of time, I healed. When I get stung by a bee, wasp or hornet, I get cellulitis. I don’t take any unnecessary chances anymore.

    Hope this clears up for you soon, Judy. Our wellbeing is so important.

    • I’m glad you got over all that. I think with what’s already happened, I’ll just leave the okra alone. If Vince will commit to cutting it every day next year, I’ll plant it but if not, we’ll just pass on the okra. Same with tomatoes and then I’m kinda at the point of why mess with it if I can’t have those two things.

  12. Judy, a pair of leather welding type gauntlets might work for you? You wouldn’t have to mess with latex at all and they would go on and come off easily.

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