Skin reaction to Squash

recoush 9/16/2014, 7:04 pm

Had a great success this with every thing from TO seedlings to Growing peppers and the Mason Bees
only one issue Very Happy

the butternut squash plant seem to cause a skin reaction almost blisters
if my arms touch the steams not so much the leaves as far as i can tell
it's a mild allergy but you feel the burning like Ivy but not as bad.

Going to wear a long sleeve shirt next time, has any else one had any reactions to their squash or zucchini ?

just seems odd as this has never happened before and i am guessing it a predator protection?

boffer 9/16/2014, 7:20 pm

My wife gets reactions similar to yours; sometimes I get a little itchy for a few minutes.

One purported feature of the Three Sisters planting concept (corn, beans, squash) is that the squash plants protect the corn and beans from 4 legged pests.

NHGardener 9/16/2014, 7:36 pm

I noticed that this summer! I'd pick squash and then by the time I got in the house, I'd have itchy little bumps on my arm.

**donnainzone5** 9/16/2014, 7:40 pm

I can only say, OUCH! I get actual scratches on my forearms when I pick squash. So, today, I bought some long gloves, which should also be useful for roses.

I also have an allergy to hyacinth bulbs--or at least the chemicals used to treat them.
I have to don plastic gloves to avoid the reaction. Oddly, if and when I dig the bulbs, no such reaction occurs.

**sanderson** 9/16/2014, 9:51 pm

All squash plants are too prickly for me to touch bare handed. Garden or plastic gloves to handle them, then shower afterwards if I worked overhead.

Dunkinjean 9/16/2014, 10:24 pm

I have had problems with cucumber vines, squash vines and pumpkin vines. I break out with a rash on my arms that stings. After I am done I have to take a shower and put cream on my arms for relief. But I still garden....

Marc Iverson 9/16/2014, 11:05 pm

boffer wrote:My wife gets reactions similar to yours; sometimes I get a little itchy for a few minutes.

One purported feature of the Three Sisters planting concept (corn, beans, squash) is that the squash plants protect the corn and beans from 4 legged pests.

Once upon a time I had a beautiful butternut squash plant. Then a litter of puppies ate it.

recoush 9/17/2014, 11:51 am

Does not seem to take much to get a reaction, with just brushing the steams.
Has any one tried the aloe plant for this reaction ?

as skin lotion did not help have to get some calamine lotion for now will wear My coat Very Happy

It is good to have this information handy as an internet search had mixed results Laughing

Thank you

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Skin reaction to Squash

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