Plant labels

[Barnowl]

I planted two 'autumn' varieties and two spring varieties in two blocks, but the rain washed the writing off my labels so I don't know which is is which. 

I was just writing the above when it occurred to me that I haven't got a solution to my labelling problem. Being a newbie I'm trying lots of different varieties and I actually carefully wrote on around 40 of those plastic labels and none of the writing survived. No problem if it's cabbage & leeks next to each other, but leeks, leeks and salad onions is another story.

Can anyone help, please?

[Barnowl]

[teresa]

I found a chinagraph pen or pencil good for lasting, untill the children thinking its great to mix the labels up or throw them over lottie.
So now I have a note pad and write down what I have done where just marking it with sticks or stones. The kids havent worked that one out yet.
You could always have a sheet in excel on comp to keep a perment record or a piece of paper at home. Pencil what you intend to do and pen it when done. I like things simple.

[manicscousers]

we use lolly sticks and permanent markers, not very environmental but we had the same problem as you last year

[ACE]

DYNATAG  with the metal tape. expensive but good.

[Barnowl]

Great idea Ace - except for the expensive bit!  :)

[saddad]

I keep saying I will make some of those big wooden tags used in show gardens... Painted on. I'm certainly never going to be able to buy them!
;D

[prink13]

Copied these links from a previous thread, its a labeller which I use for plant tags

see website for info:
http://www.woolworths.co.uk/ww_p2/product/index.jhtml?pid=50668697

Seems Woolies don't do it anymore, but similar one at:
http://www.woolworths.co.uk/ww_p2/product/index.jhtml?pid=50661123


Dymo do make other versions, so have attached link to their website, which is US but various suppliers in UK, Office World, WH Smiths, Woolies etc.

http://global.dymo.com/enUS/Products/default.html

[cambourne7]

the wollies link does not go anywhere

[Apple Dumpling]

If you use a permanent marker make sure that it's a lightfast one, and then it shouldn't fade. I use a Lumocolor Permanent made by Staedtler. Be careful as you choose it, as they look almost the same as the non-lightfast ones, except they have a gold strip about half an inch from the end that says lightfast (in three languages). Mine also has the number 318 printed on it.

Hope this is useful. I've had other pens fade on me before, but this one lasts.

Apple

[wahaj]

it's something i actually worry about. i end up putting plants and bulbs in...and then forget where they are.....till i'm digging a hole to plant something and it flies past my shoulder along with the soil.

this year when i planted my alliums....i just took some twigs off my cherry tree and stuck them in where the bulbs are. so far so good because we've had no rain....but i'm assuming as soon as there's a heavy shower, they'll wash off.

i'm thinking getting some pebbles and using a permanent marker? so they won't look so AS unnatural as labels.....but still work?

[mr plasma]

use a colour code system. all you do  for example is to mark a lollipop stick with say a light blue pencil and then right down in a note book in the same pencil what it is thats in the row.you can then reuse the label for anothe  crop simply by writing down the new crop name in your book with the same pencil,remebering to cross out the first crop in your book.

[Deb P]

My OH bought me a label maker as a pressie last Christmas; not at all impressed with the blue printed tapes, all faded beyond recognition! The black printed tapes fared slightly better, but most still faded quite a lot, particularly in the greenhouse. I find ordinary pencil lasts pretty well on plastic!

[flytrapman]

I have a large collection of carnivorous plants which have to be labelled & use the following- Steadler write 4all is one of the best marking pens and is UV resistant. I also either spray labels with clear lacquer or use clear nail varnish, another method is to push the label down so the writing is below soil level & finally as mentioned pencil is one of the longest lasting markers