Best way of Marking plant labels?

TUVOK

I've tried several so called "indelible" pen markers, none were particularly successful.
I've noticed Monty Don on gardeners World using one and I assume his would be a good one that lasts more than a few months?
I have used a Wilko label which you scratch the surface to write the identity etc, this works well duration wise, but its a once only use and is a bit dearer than a pen.
So any proven recommendations for a marker which would last a winter season at least and hopefully longer would be most appreciated.
Thank you.

unrecordings

I think I recognised Monty's as a Sharpie - I've used them for years, and they will fade during the season - mainly down to exposure to sunlight. I just refresh them if need be or clean them up and start again (in the sink to get he mud off, then nail polish remover to get the remaining marker off)

Davesnave

Easy. Scrape plastic label with a Stanley knife blade to remove the shiny surface and write in standard HB pencil.

The loony who owned our property before us ran a plant nursery, of sorts, and for reasons best known to himself, buried hundreds of labels. Apparently, he thought the perennials and shrubs 'deserved' pen written labels, but his veg plant ones were just written in pencil.

12- 20 years on, we have an excellent record of the vegetables grown here, but very little in the way of labels for anything else, unless commercially printed. There's also the fruit, mostly bought from a nursery on the Isle of Wight that labelled in pencil.

If you must use a pen, the Pilot range of waterproofs aren't bad, but they still fade in a year or two. Tried Sharpies, but didn't find them special.

Waterlily24

Wire wool is good for getting anything off. I quite often use Brillo pads if I can't find the wire wool.

NeverInDebt

the pink stuff or barkeepers friend cleans (sharpies) I use it every year on plastic labels as I reuse them every year

shortcrust

I also use a pencil but my labels already have a rough/matt side so no need to scrape.

There's something very gardeny about a pencil.:)

TUVOK

Thanks for all replies, any other tips would be welcome.

DaftyDuck

These are the only marker pen I use, and they last a good six years in perfect condition. They rub out less than pencil, my second favourite.

Best of all would be copper or lead strip, and hammer letters into it. Slow, very pricey.

Davesnave

Thanks for that, I'll splash out and get a couple of packs, Dafty. Needed an idea for her outdoors' Christmas present! :beer:

DaftyDuck

Make sure you order the "garden" variety. The almost identical ones that don't have the garden moniker have a much finer point, but aren't sunlight proof. The only way I have ever been able to remove the ink is using cellulose thinner, which removes a thin layer of label.

Their one drawback is they aren't that fine, so no essays!

I looked ('cos it woz you asking): I have labels over ten years old, perfect marking still.

madjackslam

Davesnave wrote: »

Easy. Scrape plastic label with a Stanley knife blade to remove the shiny surface and write in standard HB pencil.

I also use a pencil but my labels already have a rough/matt side so no need to scrape.

Agree with both these responses. I love Sharpies but not in the garden!