Plant labels

[myvolvohasavulva]

Every year I find myself on the search for plant labels that last more than a week outside in the wet/sunny/wet South west. I've tried plastic, wooden, metal, sharpies, biro, pencil and can't find anything that lasts a season...
does any one have any genius solutions? I've even tried embossing with little letter press letters but it's pretty unreadable...
I would love to keep track of what's planted where..

Can't you draw a map?

I find pencil on plastic lasts years.

something that may be difficult to source - the sort of metal that tubes of hydrocortisone come in - cut into strips, place on a soft surface and write the name firmly with a ballpoint pen or a barbecue skewer, so it’s indented into the metal. So much easier when toothpaste came in metal tubes.

Are you just wanting to indicate where you’ve planted rows of seeds or are you wanting a permanent label on a permanent tree or plant?

Sharpie or permanent marker on plastic easily lasts a season. I cut up plastic 2 litre ice cream containers for this with a diagonal cut at one end.
I also have a map of the garden with permanent planting on my computer

Cut up milk bottles into strips and write on with a sharpie. I live somewhere with extremely harsh weather and I'm reusing plant lables I wrote 3 years ago.

Unfortunately sharpie on plastic just doesn't seem to last here at all, I think perhaps the combination of constant wet and blasts of bright sun? No idea but they don't last on 'proper' labels or recycled milk bottles..My potatoes put out a week ago have already faded and have to be redone. A map would work in theory but it's a very big plot and I prefer to interplant things rather than rows which is more paperwork than I'd like. I also like to label things so that dc can see what's growing and make sense of it. Soft metal may well be a good idea though, will see what I can source.

On the plastic labels, one side is usually rough and I find pencil stays pretty well on that.
On wood, you could use a Sharpie and then apply a coat of varnish. That might help stop the fade

I use an Artline Garden Marker on the usual white labels. Seems to last until I need it clean again - I do them in a big batch using acetone (nail polish remover).

I like the idea of wooden labels but they rot within a few weeks in my damp garden.

China graph on plastic

For permanent labels, I find those black ones with white permanent pen last the best. Except I have a lot of blackbirds in the garden and they seem to like digging them out and redistributing them. But the writing lasts

I've used acrylic pens on slate. They have lasted.

You can also get a label maker on amazon that prints onto plastic I'll see if I can link it.

I used slate plant labels. Most are 5+ years old and fine. I label with chalk pen

Write on both ends of the label - the one in the soil doesn't fade as much as the one in the light.

I bought these last year and they are the only ones which haven't faded or rubbed off. Black plastic and a white sharpie type pen.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CKYNHPL5?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

Make some with air dry clay maybe so nothing can fade.

My white plastic labels and black sharpie have also faded to nothing. So frustrating.

Interested to see what does work. I'd really like ‘no plastic’ too.

I use these pens too, they are great. Much better than sharpies.

Following with interest.

I've started using coloured labels in an attempt to bypass the fading issue. I keep a note of the colour/location, I sometimes write on them as well. Works well when you have lots of interplanting.

These slate ones.

https://www.hettysherbs.co.uk/product/slate-plant-tags/

Another vote for chalk pen on slate. I also have some wooden ones (cut up slats with black sharpie) which have lasted. I sometimes take photos of the seed packets next to the rows when I’m planting

I am using rocks and permanent marker at the moment. I am going to collect some nice rocks and try painting them with acrylic paint when I get the chance.