[yorkiegal]

I've been repotting tomato plants today and now my hands are itching like crazy. I'm not allergic to tomatoes. I eat tons of them. Is it possible to be allergic to the leaves? In which case I'm really upset because I was looking forward to growing three different varieties of them this summer.

[catweazle]

you sound worse than most but the hair/fur on the tomato stems has evolved to do just that!

[snowdrops]

They make me itch too so I wear gloves when handling them,either fine gardening gloves or 'surgical' style rubber gloves. 

[yorkiegal]

you sound worse than most but the hair/fur on the tomato stems has evolved to do just that!

i tend to get itchy rashes as reactions to stuff, usually medications or perfumes. Never occured to me that i'd get one from tomato stems lol. I'll be more careful in future.

[JamPan]

Me too, Yorkiegal.  I have to wear gloves when handling them.  They also affect my breathing on a hot day in the polytunnel.  I have to open up and let the air in for a bit before I venture in myself.  It's all worth it though when you taste those lovely homegrown tomatoes.  Commercially grown stuff can't match them.

[Stratts]

I never knew this so something to watch out for!  The smell of the plants now makes me feel sick though unfortunately.

5 years ago I grew my 1st ever toms in growbags but it coincided with me developing a brain tumour which made me throw up and go dizzy at the time.  Now I think my brain associates the smell with the sickness but I just put vicks under my snout, lol!! 

[mumofstig]

Ocasionally I get tiny little itchy blisters if I do too much with tomatoes, not usually til later in the year though.

Anthisan works for me 

[Mysteik79]

I regulary take antihistamines but still suffer a reaction from tomato plants I think I have now developed a phobia and refuse to go near them gives OH a job to do.
I also experience this with strawberries, anyone else notice this?

[yorkiegal]

the itch had cleared up by the following morning so i'm sure it was down to the strawbs.