Cucumber vine itch

[HonoluluGirl]

Hi,

Everytime I brush against my cucumber vines, my arms start to itch. I do wash with soap and water, but they still itch for days. And sometimes the itch spreads to other parts of my body that I touch, even after I washed my hands. I don't see a rash - my skin doesn't get red or bumpy but still itches. Ok, ok, I'll wear long sleeves and gloves from now on... Maybe... If I remember... but it's so hot, so maybe not, ha ha.

Once I get the itch, how do I get rid of it fast?

Thanks!

[ExcitableGardener]

Hi,

Everytime I brush against my cucumber vines, my arms start to itch. I do wash with soap and water, but they still itch for days. And sometimes the itch spreads to other parts of my body that I touch, even after I washed my hands. I don't see a rash - my skin doesn't get red or bumpy but still itches. Ok, ok, I'll wear long sleeves and gloves from now on... Maybe... If I remember... but it's so hot, so maybe not, ha ha.

Once I get the itch, how do I get rid of it fast?

Thanks!

I've never gotten an itch from cucumbers, but I know when mosquitoes get me I just rub aloe on them so maybe that will help. Do you have some sort of strange cucumber allergy or are you just brushing up against the little spikes?

[HonoluluGirl]

Yeah, it's the spikes that's making me itch. Next time, I'll build a better, longer trellis. My cucumber vines are large and bushy, and I have to reach waaaay inside to pick the cucumbers. My trellis was too small, and I had to improvise by putting stakes in the ground all around the trellis and running strings between them. The result is a huge bush radiating out from the trellis in all directions. I had no idea the cucumber plant would get so big. This is my first year gardening.

[ExcitableGardener]

Ah, yeah I think your best bet is just to wear gloves then. I feel like no matter how long I grow my trellises I end up scraping up against their spiky little vines, but I've kind of grown accustomed to it.

They are fun to grow though aren't they?

[HonoluluGirl]

Thanks, ExcitableGardener. Yes, they're fun to grow. Just not fun to pickle, ha ha. I can't keep up!

[gumbo2176]

I use to have that issue with picking okra and figs from my garden. I guess I've picked so much of both over the years that it no longer bothers me.

That kind of reminds me of a job I had many years ago installing air conditioning ductwork in residential and commercial businesses. There is a lot of fiberglass insulation involved in the process and when I first started doing that work I'd itch for days, especially in the summer. I either got use to is or just learned to ignore it after a while.

[gumbo2176]

I use to have that issue with picking okra and figs from my garden. I guess I've picked so much of both over the years that it no longer bothers me.

That kind of reminds me of a job I had many years ago installing air conditioning ductwork in residential and commercial businesses. There is a lot of fiberglass insulation involved in the process and when I first started doing that work I'd itch for days, especially in the summer. I either got use to is or just learned to ignore it after a while.

[greenstubbs]

I get the same thing but only lasts a hour or 2. I get the same drill from squashes as well. I hate it when that happens!

[Ohio Tiller]

Take a Benadryl you're a bit allergic to them Okra gets me all the time. The wife got me a Benadryl in a tube and I just rub some on and it goes away.

[ExcitableGardener]

Thanks, ExcitableGardener. Yes, they're fun to grow. Just not fun to pickle, ha ha. I can't keep up!

Haha, I know what you mean. I thought about throwing some in the juicer the other day just to see what it would taste like.