Tip for labels for newbies

[Jeannine]

Hi, a tip worth sharing for newbies.Plant labels can be expensive and I object to the cost,among other things I have found venetian blinds,plastic or aluminium works super, it  cuts easily with scissors , doesn't rot and is easily written with permanent pen.I usually pick one up in a charity shop for about £1 and it lasts for years. XX Jeannine

[Jeannine]

[glow777]

we use margarine/icecream tubs if you cant write on the plastic put a bit of tipex on and write on this.

[mikey]

the 4 pint plastic Milk bottles cut up easily and no prob writing on them with garden pen

keep an eye open in Poundland and other 'all for £1' shops, we picked up 100 x 4" white labels for £1

also wooden 'lolly' sticks, but they seem to getting quite rare

We have a store 'Tickety Boo' which has incredible deals on many gardening bits (maybe only local to us at Humberstone / Cleethorpes) ?

Mikey

[Biscombe]

we use margarine/icecream tubs if you cant write on the plastic put a bit of tipex on and write on this.

Great idea, also the lolly sticks! My problem is that whatever so called light resistant pen I use It's never long before the sun bleaches it!! Thanks to Geordie's brainwave I'm waiting for a label maker from dymo label maker and will never have this problem again!!  ;D

[markfield rover]

If you go into Cafe Nero or stabucks before leaving with spent
grounds ,nicley bagged up and free, the drink stirry stick
things make good labels too .After coffee  though,.....

[manicscousers]

we got wooden lolly sticks from ebay last year but are going down the cut up milk carton route this year  ;D

[cambourne7]

wow just found 100 lolly sticks on an online shop for £1.32 although the £1.80 post stinks

total comes to £3.47 still thats 3.4 pence a lolly

[markfield rover]

Some' The Works' book shop had lolly sticks in the craft bit
last year and were very cheap

[kitten]

I was just about to recommend The Works too, or any other shop that sells craft stuff - look in the children's craft section, they usually come in diff colours too!

I tried the milk carton thing on Sunday but when i came to water my seeds the writing ran off & smudged - charming!  Think it was something to do with my non-waterproof pen tho...  ::)

x

[cornykev]

I'm using the milk carton idea, I'm also still choking on the fact that lolly sticks are sold on ebay, I collected thousands when I was a kid, now where did I put them.    ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[mikey]

[ My problem is that whatever so called light resistant pen I use It's never long before the sun bleaches it!!

I use 'Stabilo - Write-4-All'  permanent pen, Fine Black,  their stock code
'Art. No. 156/46

Labels written Aygust 2005 (when we moved here) still clear on white plastic labels

Mikey

[manicscousers]

still using 8 year old papermate permanent markers, not sure they make them any more  ;D

[cocopops]

I wish I had this information a few days ago as it's excellent. 

My children love lollies and have a 'mini' one each day (after the fruit, yogurt etc ;)).  They just get thrown onto the fire. I spent ages printing off the names of the seeds on the pc, covering them with sellotape, making a hole with a punch, and threading a food bag tie.  I was going to clip them onto tent pegs.  It was a bit of a long shot as I am sure the water will get through and I would have to check my planting plan to know what is where!

[Marymary]

I use the cut up milk cartons which work fine - I also have a permanent marker but when I lose it [which is often] I find pencil works quite well even if I have to squint a bit to read it I can still make it out.

[quizzical1]

Just found this on the internet. Lakeland sell wooden lolly sticks @£2.50/100

=http://www.lakeland.co.uk/product.aspx/kitchenideas/icecream!10351_1741

or this @£1.00/pack of multicoloured.

http://shop.kidzcraft.co.uk/products.asp?cat=45

[Georgie]

I liked the idea of lolly sticks and I bought some (from the Organic Gardening Catalogue if I recall correctly) a couple of years ago.  But a word of warning: they rotted really quickly.   :(

G x

[tiller girl]

would agree with G- rotted far too fast and dont like the idea of green mould right beside seeds and seedlings

[Common_Clay]

If you don't want to buy as many as 100, Tesco's are selling 25 4" plastic labels (inc. a pencil!) for 92p or buy two for £1!

[ACE]

The venetian blind idea is a good one, I have been using proper plastic ones but I am always breaking them.

[sawfish]

I have used the milk cartons for some time but they look a bit rubbish. Venetian blinds on the other hand seem like a great idea.

thanks Jeannine