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Outsider
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« on: July 20, 2012, 05:29:17 PM » |
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Besides dry skin, I can't figure out why my hands stain black after handling tomato plants. Well, actually, first it is a sticky, slimy, green sap goop and after washing my hands the skin will turn a dark brown. My plants do not get any rain or spray of anything on them.
Lemon or lime juice will bleach the stains for about half an hour. After that my hands will turn unfit for public viewing again. So I watched a friend pinching lots of tomato shoots and didn't get the slightest skin discoloration.
I am really puzzled why this reaction is happening. Anybody got some great tips?
Becky
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gardendoc
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« Reply #1 on: July 20, 2012, 05:37:35 PM » |
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I always wear nitrile gloves when handling any potential messy things, which is usually everything
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My grandfather used to say that once in your life you need a doctor, a lawyer, a policeman, and a preacher. But every day, three times a day you need a farmer
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morganmac
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« Reply #2 on: July 20, 2012, 05:39:47 PM » |
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Mine get a greenish tint, but they don't feel slimy or sticky. It's almost dry feeling, kind of like antiperspirant? An odd example, I know.
Is the darker stain the actual stuff from the plants, or is it the sticky stuff gathering other dirt as you continue to work? Have you tried something like acetone fingernail polish remover to get it off completely?
Otherwise, sounds like you need a good pair of gloves!
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Morgan
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cushman350
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« Reply #3 on: July 20, 2012, 09:26:26 PM » |
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In the 60's, as a young teen, I got the not to pleasureable opportunity to pick tomatoes on my brother's-in-law farm, Bedford, TX. This would happen to my hands, but can you imagine picking acres of toms? They would be black and at exposure level, it would just have to wear off. Something in the plant juices oxidizes on your hands like a plant based dye. Gloves. He grew toms, cantaloupes, squash, cucumbers, turnips, mustard, collards, spinach, onions. Hot and very hard labor, cold, wet work in the fall. Tomatoes had to be culled (separated into firsts and seconds) by appearance/ cracks. Greens (in the fall) had to be washed in a big concrete vat and crated and iced down once at the market or Kroger after trucked to Dallas. He turned down a football scholarship in 1958 to truck farm. My mom and dad weren't impressed with the logic. Me neither, but a great guy with a LOUSY retirement plan.  |
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« Last Edit: July 20, 2012, 09:42:40 PM by cushman350 »
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INFESTED DIGESTED COMPOSTED
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PaulB
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« Reply #4 on: July 20, 2012, 11:35:14 PM » |
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Every time I harvest my tomatos, both of my hands end up with a yellowish green residue. I just wash it off with soap and hot water. They only get sticky when I have to pull off (and throw away) the tomatos that the critters have taken a few bites off of. Some for them, most for me. My hands haven't ever turned black from picking.
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Southeast New Mexico, zone 7
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Outsider
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« Reply #5 on: July 21, 2012, 01:39:14 AM » |
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Yeah, I guess, it'll have to be gloves, either to prevent the stains or cover them up! Just not like me. I'll put a box of those exam gloves wherever needed.
Makes sense that the greenish goop will oxidize.
Cushman, your brother in law may not have the best retirement, but being able to grow food for a crowd is worth a lot. My family did not farm, but we strictly adhered to the age old tradition of helping with the grape harvest, grape stomping, drinking wine and be merry!
Becky
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kathy
The EarthBox
Hero Member
Posts: 3568
Horticulturalist. Zone 5, almost 4
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« Reply #6 on: July 23, 2012, 11:07:48 AM » |
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I use a product called Yard Glove, it's a lotion protector. I use it all the time, keeps me from having those dirt stains in the cracks and crevices of my hands. Also, keeps sap, residue and the stick off. I also use it for painting, staining. I used to do the nitrile glove thing, but find, I can't stand them when the temp is over 80 degrees. The Yard Glove allows a quick washing, I even kind of put it under my finger nails and the dirt comes out easily.
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kath, gardening is my game, EarthBox is my fame.
BER...happens.
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baileyj
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« Reply #7 on: July 23, 2012, 11:38:26 AM » |
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Kathy, Do you use the Yard Glove Brand lotion? I googled it and it looks like it is discontinued   I am looking for something like this... I cannot wear nitrile gloves either for long periods and I cannot weed in gloves...so I have not only the staining but also contact dermatitis when I weed for long periods of time....(unknown culprit but get it every year after weeding) Anyone tried any of the other brands with success, if Yard Glove is really discontinued  Judi |
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kathy
The EarthBox
Hero Member
Posts: 3568
Horticulturalist. Zone 5, almost 4
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« Reply #8 on: July 23, 2012, 12:37:15 PM » |
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Yes, I do, another one of those, things that I stocked up on....I am sure paint stores must still have this type of product available. I also saw another one, in Canada...something like gloves in a bottle...not sure. Boy, I will be bummed, when my big pump bottle is gone, I even use it when fishing!
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« Last Edit: July 23, 2012, 12:48:51 PM by kathy »
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kath, gardening is my game, EarthBox is my fame.
BER...happens.
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mjb8743
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« Reply #9 on: July 23, 2012, 01:05:17 PM » |
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I sent an email asking about the status of this product... we'll see.
Mickie
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111 EBs and growing... so how come there are never enough boxes??
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kathy
The EarthBox
Hero Member
Posts: 3568
Horticulturalist. Zone 5, almost 4
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« Reply #10 on: July 23, 2012, 03:44:07 PM » |
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I will even see the guys who were marketing this product in the upcoming show season, I will ask what happened. Why they aren't marketing it anymore, they may know what happened to the owner/company.
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kath, gardening is my game, EarthBox is my fame.
BER...happens.
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potatohead
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« Reply #11 on: July 23, 2012, 04:17:52 PM » |
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Some medical students I knew would put a cream on their hands called Avon Silicone Glove prior to dissecting in gross anatomy lab. It sounds similar to what you are describing here. Gross anatomy lab is brutal on your hands, but they swore by it. I never tried it so I can't attest to it.
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morganmac
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« Reply #12 on: July 23, 2012, 04:49:43 PM » |
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I use Invisible Glove when painting (I paint sets for theatres) because I have tiny hands and it's hard to find any gloves that don't make me feel like I have flippers, latex or otherwise. Don't know how it would stand up to yard use, but it's pretty good stuff for keeping paint, stain, and glue off your hands. http://www.amazon.com/BlueMagic-5216-Invisible-Glove-Coating/dp/B000ID0H6Q |
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Morgan
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mjb8743
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« Reply #13 on: July 23, 2012, 05:12:44 PM » |
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I use Invisible Glove when painting (I paint sets for theatres) because I have tiny hands and it's hard to find any gloves that don't make me feel like I have flippers, latex or otherwise. Don't know how it would stand up to yard use, but it's pretty good stuff for keeping paint, stain, and glue off your hands. http://www.amazon.com/BlueMagic-5216-Invisible-Glove-Coating/dp/B000ID0H6QProblem is, it washes right off, which is no good if you're getting your hands wet, such as when setting up boxes. I got a reply re Yard Glove from cleanairgardening.com "Thanks for your email. I'm not sure when we will get this item in again. Sorry, you might want to check back with the website in couple of months."Too bad... it appears that's the only place that sold it online  Mickie |
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111 EBs and growing... so how come there are never enough boxes??
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cushman350
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« Reply #14 on: July 23, 2012, 08:37:25 PM » |
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« Last Edit: July 23, 2012, 08:39:07 PM by cushman350 »
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INFESTED DIGESTED COMPOSTED
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