Garden Label Questions

[Plant Lady]

I have been giving this a lot of thought and need in put from everyone.

The questions are:
What kind of labeling system do you use in your garden?
How does this work out for you?
Do you keep a paper list of the layout of which plant is where?

Labeling is not a problem for me until my plants get outdoors...Then what to do to make sure they are correctly labeled is what I am trying to figure out. Any and all help is appreciated!!!

[feldon30]

I do have a map, and also cut up old venetian blinds and use permanent markers to label each plant.

My map for fall 2006:

http://www.feldoncentral.com/garden/..._Spacing12.png

Update: my map for Spring 2007, awaiting tomato selections:

http://www.feldoncentral.com/garden/...gChart2007.png

[garnetmoth]

I second that Feldon- blinds written on in pencil. Just about any marker looks great until a summer full of sunshine, then theyre pretty useless. Pencil isnt as easy to read from afar, but unless you rub it with a gritty finger, will stick well!

[Worth1]

HI Plant Lady,
I have found that a Sharpie (use black) works fine with me on one of those plastic stick in critters like they use at the nursery.
A paint marker is also good,
But the absolute best way to make sure you have your plants organized is to make a map of the garden and update the thing as the squirrels carry off the plants.
Grid paper is a good way to do this.

Some folks get a little fancy with this whole plant marking thing but I believe in KIS
(Keep it simple)

Worth

[Plant Lady]

Old mini blinds cut to size work well for potted plants and plants staying indoors, but like garnetmoth stated most will fade out even using so called permanent markers.

Here is an I have:
I have started saving the ends off of tin cans, I then am going to take some model paint and write/paint the name on the tin can lid, punch a hole in the tin can lid and tie to each cage or a stake for each plant. The model paint works well on a mailbox and stays for years, it would be time consuming...but I have months yet before I can plant outdoors & these could be reused for years if you are growing that same kinds.

[Plant Lady]

Originally Posted by Worth1

HI Plant Lady,
A paint marker is also good,
But the absolute best way to make sure you have your plants organized is to make a map of the garden and update the thing as the squirrels carry off the plants.
Grid paper is a good way to do this.
Worth

Squirrels are not a problem around here, I need to worry more about human critters I always plan my garden on graph paper and mark it well, so I don't need to worry about that either...its just the marking of the different tomato plants I am concerned about...But keeping it simple is the best way, I am sure.

[Worth1]

I haven’t done this but a person could get aluminum flat from where-ever about 1/6” thick and 3/8” wide.
Then drill holes in the ends and use number punches to make a code to compare with a particular variety.
Or use letter punches and forget the code.
Sounds like a lot of work but they would last forever.

Worth

[landarc]

In the nursery business there were tags like you are describing Worth. They used punches to create a permanent code, usually numbers, to track plantings. I remember them as a kid. I would have no idea where they came from or where they can be purchased. But I remember them.

[Plant Lady]

Originally Posted by Worth1

I haven’t done this but a person could get aluminum flat from where-ever about 1/6” thick and 3/8” wide.
Then drill holes in the ends and use number punches to make a code to compare with a particular variety.
Or use letter punches and forget the code.
Sounds like a lot of work but they would last forever.

Worth

I was thinking numbers also instead of names, they would be reusable no matter what you grow, year after year.

[Rena]

After many years and crumbled up maps (I drug them all over the yard almost every day). I always double check everything when I am saving seed.
1. Label with black sharpie on plastic tags.
2. Stick the tag in the exact location on every plant.
3. Make a map and photocopy. Insert into plastic sleeve.
4. Label the cage with a strip of duct tape and name.

I am not always picking, I have children and a woman who works for me. It makes it easy for her to tell me what tomatoes she collects when I am out of town. I carry a sharpie and write on the tomato itself if it is for seed. I do call and get a tomato report

[bcday]

I use 2 labels and a map.

1. Pencil or black Sharpie on plastic label tied to top of stake/cage.
2. Black Sharpie on plastic label at base of plant, where it's in the shade and doesn't usually fade much.
3. Map on computer
4. Same map printed out.

Make sure all 4 match, lol.

I tried black Sharpie on strips cut from from plastic cups that have white interiors. They didn't fade, but after a hole is punched, the plastic sometimes rips from the hole outward.

I tried Sharpie on duct tape but the Sharpie didn't fare well on the glossy surface of the tape.

Maybe this year I'll try Sharpie on a paper label sealed inside clear duct tape.

[Plant Lady]

It appears that everyone has a good way of labeling, But the problem seems to be a good permanent marker that doesn't fade away. Besides sharpie what other markers have you used that faded away also? Writing on the tomato which is for seed is also a very good idea and I will be using that method for sure!

The idea of having more then 1 "hard"copy of anything is always very important for me, So that is an excellent suggestion about having more then one copy of you planting lay out. I also love those plastic sheet protectors with the holes to place in a notebook, paper doesn't get crumpled, wind blown or wet when outdoors.

[giardiniere]

Sharpie makes a Paint Pen that supposedly doesn't fade too quickly.

[Tormato]

I don't label at all.

I keep a map, indoors, until I can remember the location of each and every plant. With 100+ varieties, it does take a little time.

Tormato

[Ard]

I have been thinking of trying China Markers this season, a.k.a Wax Pencils.
Has anyone tried tihis?