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How tough are your hands?

wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
in The potting shed
I didn't want to hijack another thread about nettles but I'm curious how many gardeners bother with gloves to weed out young nettles? I got stung a bit weeding out big tough nettles today even with gloves on but for the little ones in the veg beds, or when I'm picking them for teas and things, I never bother with gloves now.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
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  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I don’t wear gloves, if I see the nettle I can pull it out without pain, if it catches me out I do feel it,  I just tell it not to hurt me, sort of mind over matter, but it I don’t see it, ouch! 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    If it's got more than 2 sets of true leaves I use gloves, I have a lot of strawberries (over 1000 plants) and sometimes a nettle sneaks in and gets me when I am picking. nettles are the only weed I will drop everything I am doing at the time to remove, I HATE being attacked by my plants! I also feel a nettle sting for 8-9 hours after it has stung me so gloves all the way.
    To be honest I almost always have gloves on in the garden anyway it really saves your hands.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Interesting.
  • BigladBiglad Posts: 3,265
    In answer to the thread title, as old boots ;)
    East Lancs
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited June 2021
    Mine are tough as old boots too ... always have been. I grew up playing in hedgerows and ditches on the farm. I learned to steer clear of the big mature nettlebeds but take no notice of little ones ... I certainly wouldn’t go and find gloves to weed one out ... but when I’m weeding I always have a small hand fork with me ... loosen the roots with the fork and grasp the stem firmly. I rarely get stung but if just do a small sting doesn’t bother me ... if it’s a bit worse I find a dock leaf, scrumple it in my hand and rub the sap into the stung area. Better in a few minutes. 😀 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    When I saw the title I was about to write about arthritis!

    My hands are not at all tough where nettles are concerned. I come up in small stinging lumps which sting for hours. Antihistamine eases it. I always wear gloves when gardening, fairly thin ones so I can move and feel. I get through loads. Hate mud in my finger nails.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    edited June 2021
    Dock leaves are interesting because I believe there is no scientific reason why they work other than the cooling effect of the evaporation of sap. Most likely it’s simply the placebo effect in operation.

    I loosen the roots, like Dove, and grab the beast just below soil level. I have noticed they have a propensity to lean towards you when you do this, nasty buggers. Unlike Dove, I am a wuss and wear gloves for any nettle bigger than about 4”. Even wearing gloves a little nettle stung me yesterday so I stamped on it. That taught it a lesson.

    Edited to correct the spelling of wuss - thanks @B3.
    Rutland, England
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I even use gloves for old pulmonaria leaves. What a wuss!
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    The stinging doesn't bother me, it's a temporary annoyance, it's the itching the following day that drives me mad!
    I use gloves most of the time anyway, we are rural and there are rats about.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I wear gloves for most gardening. Nettle rash lasts for days on me, and bramble prickles also cause a nasty rash. 
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
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