Tomato Harvest Gloves

Ed of Somis · August 5, 2016

I am not really an inventive mind....more of a copycat, really. But, I think I might have a good idea to save my hands and arms while harvesting. I bruise and cut so easily...I look like a gosh darn street fighter half the time. I see Amazon (and stores) have inexpensive dishwashing gloves that are cotton lined. They come up about mid-forearm. That seems like it might be perfect to protect me...and still allow some dexterity while picking. My leather gloves are OK...but they are short and I lose dexterity. What do you think??

KarenO · August 5, 2016

I think they would work well. I also like medical gloves for fine dexterity work like potting and transplanting and they keep my hands and fingernails clean which I need.
KarenO

AlittleSalt · August 5, 2016

I think they sound like a good idea.

HudsonValley · August 5, 2016

What about wearing fruit-picking sleeves with your regular gloves? Like these: http://www.horticulturesource.com/pr...FclZhgodlCIHWw

I once tried wearing long-cuffed dishwashing gloves while pruning some forsythia. They tore within five minutes. Fruit-picking sleeves work much better for me -- they even prevent scrapes when I trim (or attempt to remove) the horrible clumps of decorative grass (reeds?) the previous owners of my house loved so much.

Ed of Somis · August 5, 2016

I will consider those sleeves. thanks

habitat_gardener · August 5, 2016

I used Foxgloves gardening gloves for a while (until I moved and misplaced them!). Not cheap, but really comfortable, and much sturdier than they looked. They're a close-fitting supplex-lycra blend, comfortable enough to stay on my hands all day in the garden, and I was even able to handle small seeds with them. The only times I ever had clean fingernails were when I wore those gloves.

To protect your arms, you could use old socks. Or, if you have a Daiso store nearby, get "driving gloves" -- thin full-length gloves, with regular gardening gloves on top.

The other really good gardening gloves I've used are Atlas brand (Atlas 370 nitrile). I get them at garden shows, and have seen them online.

Ed of Somis · August 5, 2016

thanks habit....it looks like folks really like the atlas 370's (amazon)

Starlight · August 5, 2016

One thing you might think about which would just about go completely up your arms is those gloves vets use to check cows for pregnancy. If you call a vet, maybe they could tell you where to get some or check with a local store that carries farm supplies and equipment. They go just about all the way up to the shoulder.

gorbelly · August 5, 2016

Maybe a long-sleeved shirt is a simpler solution?

I'm one of those people mosquitoes are very attracted to, and this time of year, the mosquitoes are so numerous and aggressive that I can't work in the garden without covering up with long sleeves and long pants and closed shoes and a hood and a hat! So I wouldn't even know if I have a problem with things scratching my arms.

Ed of Somis · August 6, 2016

Thanks for all the ideas. All I can say is....Getting old is not for sissy's!

Chosemerveille · August 9, 2016

Like gorbelly I go long with sleeves and pants. My neighbor's daughter said I look like a beekeeper! I do it less for the mosquitoes and more for the sun protection and problems I have when I keep brushing up on plants with my bare skin.

For my gloves I buy a three pack of general work gloves from Home Depot. They cost about $10 a 3-pack. They have great dexterity, are washable, and breathable on the hottest days. I get a bit over a year of gardening, woodworking, and general mechanic work out of each pair. Hope this helps.

bower · August 9, 2016

The atlas type glove with nitrile palm and fingertips are my go to work gloves for just about all jobs. There are quite a few variants, some nicer than others, but even the low end dollar store variety are very good.

I've used dishwashing gloves when I was pruning tomatoes - dirtiest of jobs! but had to beware cutting myself because of not really knowing where your fingers are. The work gloves are more snug. And they breathe a bit through the tops so don't get hot the way rubber gloves do.

August 5, 2016	#1
Ed of Somis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Somis, Ca Posts: 649	Tomato Harvest Gloves I am not really an inventive mind....more of a copycat, really. But, I think I might have a good idea to save my hands and arms while harvesting. I bruise and cut so easily...I look like a gosh darn street fighter half the time. I see Amazon (and stores) have inexpensive dishwashing gloves that are cotton lined. They come up about mid-forearm. That seems like it might be perfect to protect me...and still allow some dexterity while picking. My leather gloves are OK...but they are short and I lose dexterity. What do you think??

August 5, 2016	#6
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,543	I used Foxgloves gardening gloves for a while (until I moved and misplaced them!). Not cheap, but really comfortable, and much sturdier than they looked. They're a close-fitting supplex-lycra blend, comfortable enough to stay on my hands all day in the garden, and I was even able to handle small seeds with them. The only times I ever had clean fingernails were when I wore those gloves. To protect your arms, you could use old socks. Or, if you have a Daiso store nearby, get "driving gloves" -- thin full-length gloves, with regular gardening gloves on top. The other really good gardening gloves I've used are Atlas brand (Atlas 370 nitrile). I get them at garden shows, and have seen them online. Last edited by habitat_gardener; August 5, 2016 at 05:08 PM.

August 5, 2016	#2
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,931	I think they would work well. I also like medical gloves for fine dexterity work like potting and transplanting and they keep my hands and fingernails clean which I need. KarenO

August 5, 2016	#3
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	I think they sound like a good idea.

August 5, 2016	#4
HudsonValley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Hudson Valley, NY, Zone 6a Posts: 626	What about wearing fruit-picking sleeves with your regular gloves? Like these: http://www.horticulturesource.com/pr...FclZhgodlCIHWw I once tried wearing long-cuffed dishwashing gloves while pruning some forsythia. They tore within five minutes. Fruit-picking sleeves work much better for me -- they even prevent scrapes when I trim (or attempt to remove) the horrible clumps of decorative grass (reeds?) the previous owners of my house loved so much.

August 5, 2016	#8
Starlight Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: AL Posts: 1,993	One thing you might think about which would just about go completely up your arms is those gloves vets use to check cows for pregnancy. If you call a vet, maybe they could tell you where to get some or check with a local store that carries farm supplies and equipment. They go just about all the way up to the shoulder.

August 5, 2016	#9
gorbelly Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Southeastern Pennsylvania Posts: 1,069	Maybe a long-sleeved shirt is a simpler solution? I'm one of those people mosquitoes are very attracted to, and this time of year, the mosquitoes are so numerous and aggressive that I can't work in the garden without covering up with long sleeves and long pants and closed shoes and a hood and a hat! So I wouldn't even know if I have a problem with things scratching my arms.

August 6, 2016	#10
Ed of Somis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Somis, Ca Posts: 649	Thanks for all the ideas. All I can say is....Getting old is not for sissy's!

August 9, 2016	#11
Chosemerveille Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: West Orange, NJ Zone 6a/b Posts: 37	Like gorbelly I go long with sleeves and pants. My neighbor's daughter said I look like a beekeeper! I do it less for the mosquitoes and more for the sun protection and problems I have when I keep brushing up on plants with my bare skin. For my gloves I buy a three pack of general work gloves from Home Depot. They cost about $10 a 3-pack. They have great dexterity, are washable, and breathable on the hottest days. I get a bit over a year of gardening, woodworking, and general mechanic work out of each pair. Hope this helps.

August 9, 2016	#12
bower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 6,794	The atlas type glove with nitrile palm and fingertips are my go to work gloves for just about all jobs. There are quite a few variants, some nicer than others, but even the low end dollar store variety are very good. I've used dishwashing gloves when I was pruning tomatoes - dirtiest of jobs! but had to beware cutting myself because of not really knowing where your fingers are. The work gloves are more snug. And they breathe a bit through the tops so don't get hot the way rubber gloves do.