A couple of years ago, I noticed after picking green beans one evening that my arms were kind of itchy and burning. Not bad, just irritating. I looked it up and found that this was not uncommon with regard to green beans, so I began to wear a long sleeved shirt and gloves when picking them. Problem solved?

Not so much. Since then, I've gotten the same reaction from my cucumbers and zucchini.

No problem with the fruit whatsover, just the plants. What the heck?

I can do without the beans, but I've got to have my pickles!

Anybody else have this problem?

Not the same, but a few weeks ago, I was digging out what I think was part of the nettle family and barely touched it as it was covered in thorns. I got a pretty extreme reaction on the palm of my hand that thankfully went away after washing. It was a combination of itch and pain. A weird feeling I've never felt before.

Same for cucumber and zucchini for me. It goes away in an hour or so for me. I'm more strategic with my approach while picking and that reduces 50% of my issues. I'm too lazy for plant PPE, I just deal with the redness, discomfort, and itching.

As you probably know, the common factor is the small, hair-like fuzz on the vines.

Yep. Just interesting to me I guess that the different species would have the same reaction, and that it wouldn't affect me before now. Long sleeved shirt and gloves for everything I guess going forward.

quote:

Anybody else have this problem?

No, but I'm with you on gotta have my pickling cukes (also slicer cukes).

I originally started gardening to grow salsa and marinara. When I expanded a few years ago, I added cucumbers and those are now my 2nd favorite crop (tomatoes still #1). I love homemade dill pickles utilizing cukes, dill, and pepperoncini from my garden. I also like trying to replicate Famous Dave's sweet n spicy pickles.

Bread and butter for me. Occassionally I'll put up dills though. And relish (which is just basically minced up bread and butters). Gotta have it for my brats.

And man they are starting to come in. Time to fire up the canner!

I don't know how these dang things grow so fast. My bees are doing a good job apparently.