Why do I always get so itchy when I've just come in from my vegetable garden?

Question

There's no mosquitos. I was only there a few minutes picking some beens and snow peas but now my ankles and arms are so itchy.

Answer 1

the leaves on a lot of vegetables that we grow are slightly toxic..
not enough to make you sick, just enough to cause the itching .splash cool water on yourself when you come in that should take care of it.
enjoy your garden

Answer 2

You are possibly allergic to a plant in your garden. Everyone knows of poison ivy but you could be having a mild allergic reaction to the leaves of mint, tomato or any number of other plants.

Try to isolate if it is your plants by working in just one part of your garden and limiting your contact with just one type of plant. If you have no reaction, try a different plant. You might have to wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and tuck your pant legs into your socks if something in your garden is causing a mild allergic reaction.

It could be a tiny insect but it sounds more like a plant allergy to me.

Answer 3

You might be having an allergic reaction to something out there. I'm assuming from your question that you are wearing shorts and short sleeves in your garden. Try wearing long sleeves and pants and see if the problem goes away. Good luck!

Answer 4

Yo uare rubbing against some type of weed in the garden, not necessarily poison ivy, but something that irritates. be careful if they spread to your neck area, they will go away with some topical benadryl. Do you grow winter squash or a viny type of veggie? They are worse!

Answer 5

Could be Chiggers, or the little filments on leaves of certain plants like tomatoes.

Answer 6

my wife gets itchy from the tomato plants rubbing against her skin ,you may be allergic to something in the sap of these plants main shoots as they are not edible .and many plants give of protective saps to potect themselves from insects .she used antihistamine tabs and cream this helped her a lot.