Markers????

dipchip2000 · November 25, 2009

I am planning on starting 4 or5 hundred tomato plants this coming season. Thanks to many on this site I will have 80 to 100 different varieties. My question, what do I use to make markers for each seedling pot. I can mark the cell trays for the germination process with no problem but once I have to pot up what do most people use to mark the variety in the pot. Im sure somewhere the plastic sticks that you write on are available but I havent seen any on any sites. Any help is appreciated.

thanks
ron

icelord · November 25, 2009

You can use an old plastic venetian blind cut up, works great!

Icelord

mjc · November 25, 2009

Or go to the Dollar Store (or similar) and buy a couple of packs of popsicle sticks from the craft section. I write the name and then color code them...I've used dots of nail polish (wife doesn't like it when I raid her stash...) on the sticks and then make a 'key' with the name and a dot of the same polish as on the stick to keep in my journal.

You could do the same with the strips from the blinds (but remember, a number of the cheap import blinds have been recalled because of lead contamination).

TZ-OH6 · November 25, 2009

I went ahead and bought a box of 1000 plant tags.

http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/P...tinfo/CN-1000/

I mark just the upper margin, and then for reuse the next year I snap that section off rather than try to erase the pencil.

recruiterg · November 25, 2009

I have a method that is virtually cost free.

Print out the name of the variety in a spreadsheet in a column going down. Copy the name in as many cells as you need. Print out the spreadsheet. With a scissors, cut out the variety names. Then cut out 1.5 inch pieces of scotch tape. Stick the variety name to the scotch tape with the name viewable from the outside. Then stick the scotch tape to the cup.

b54red · November 25, 2009

I use white Styrofoam cups and mark with a Sharpie. Poke a few hole in the bottom and after they are transplanted out into the garden I just stack them up and reuse next year. Just mark through the old names and put a new one on somewhere else until the cup falls apart or their is no where to write.
For markers to attach to the plants I cut up white plastic milk jugs into tags about 3/4 x 4 in. then poke a hole in one end and use a loop of green flower arranging wire and put around the base. Make sure you make the loop that goes around the plant large enough to handle the growth so it will still be loose at the end of the season. I mark my tags with a Sharpie on both sides because the sun can fade it fairly badly. I just pulled up some tomatoes planted in May and could still read the name and the date set out on all of them; some were only clearly legible on one side.
You can also make markers to stick in the ground by cutting up stiff white plastic containers like clorox or liquid fertilizers come in but it is more difficult work.

Barbee · November 26, 2009

Paint pens work on pots or cups. No tags to get lost.
You can buy at Walmart in the craft section or at craft stores. I get oil based and they last a long time.

I use metal markers on my tomato cages. Just use any type of thin metal or cut up a pop can. Etch the name on the metal, and wire to the cage. I wire them on up high so I don't have to bend over to see them or to remove them at the end of the season

Wi-sunflower · November 26, 2009

I've found that Pencil on the plastic sticks works best to last thru the season. The pencil will write thru water. Just don't rub them.

Some of the so-called "permanent" markers really aren't. The worst are the Office Max own "Basic" brand. They fade out in the sun. They also don't work for marking a germination test. They "run" all over the paper toweling.

Carol

dcarch · November 26, 2009

Here you go:

http://tomatoville.com/showthread.ph...ighlight=label

dcarch

OneoftheEarls · November 26, 2009

ink fades, tape comes off...I use cut up vinyl siding, engraving pen, then mark with ink and attach with wire.

good luck

Earl

JerryL · November 28, 2009

Hope I'm not hyjacking the thread but I'm also interested in places to buy plastic pots. In the past I've used peat pots but I'm thinking of going to the plastic re-useable ones for next season.

Blueaussi · November 28, 2009

Ahem.

If you make a map of the garden, which I usually do, take care not to put it where the cat will not knock it off the table for the new doggie to shred.

dice · November 29, 2009

Quote:

Hope I'm not hijacking the thread but I'm also interested
in places to buy plastic pots.

I rarely see better prices than at Novosel (occasionally
someone else will have a better price on a larger quantity):
http://www.novoselenterprises.com/products/specials.asp

Another place for labels:
http://www.earthstarproducts.shoppin...m/catalog.html

Wi-sunflower · November 29, 2009

One hint about buying pots and flats -- their price varies a lot with the price of oil. Plastic is made from oil, Duh. So in years gas prices are high the pots will also be sky high.

When gas is low, the prices will be better and it might be worth buying more if you find a real bargain and know you will eventually use them. Especially if you grow the plants for sale. Helps keep your prices competitive.

Carol

November 25, 2009	#1
dipchip2000 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Muskogee, Oklahoma Posts: 664	Markers???? I am planning on starting 4 or5 hundred tomato plants this coming season. Thanks to many on this site I will have 80 to 100 different varieties. My question, what do I use to make markers for each seedling pot. I can mark the cell trays for the germination process with no problem but once I have to pot up what do most people use to mark the variety in the pot. Im sure somewhere the plastic sticks that you write on are available but I havent seen any on any sites. Any help is appreciated. thanks ron

November 25, 2009	#2
icelord Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: 23463 copemish Mi 49625 Posts: 180	markers You can use an old plastic venetian blind cut up, works great! Icelord

November 26, 2009	#7
Barbee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 1,818	Paint pens work on pots or cups. No tags to get lost. You can buy at Walmart in the craft section or at craft stores. I get oil based and they last a long time. I use metal markers on my tomato cages. Just use any type of thin metal or cut up a pop can. Etch the name on the metal, and wire to the cage. I wire them on up high so I don't have to bend over to see them or to remove them at the end of the season __________________ *Barbee*

November 26, 2009	#9
dcarch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NY Posts: 2,618	Here you go: http://tomatoville.com/showthread.ph...ighlight=label dcarch __________________ tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato

November 28, 2009	#11
JerryL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: S.W. Ohio z6a Posts: 736	Hope I'm not hyjacking the thread but I'm also interested in places to buy plastic pots. In the past I've used peat pots but I'm thinking of going to the plastic re-useable ones for next season. __________________ Jerry

November 25, 2009	#3
mjc Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: WV Posts: 603	Or go to the Dollar Store (or similar) and buy a couple of packs of popsicle sticks from the craft section. I write the name and then color code them...I've used dots of nail polish (wife doesn't like it when I raid her stash...) on the sticks and then make a 'key' with the name and a dot of the same polish as on the stick to keep in my journal. You could do the same with the strips from the blinds (but remember, a number of the cheap import blinds have been recalled because of lead contamination).

November 25, 2009	#4
TZ-OH6 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mid-Ohio Posts: 847	I went ahead and bought a box of 1000 plant tags. http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/P...tinfo/CN-1000/ I mark just the upper margin, and then for reuse the next year I snap that section off rather than try to erase the pencil.

November 25, 2009	#5
recruiterg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Edina, MN (Zone 4) Posts: 945	I have a method that is virtually cost free. Print out the name of the variety in a spreadsheet in a column going down. Copy the name in as many cells as you need. Print out the spreadsheet. With a scissors, cut out the variety names. Then cut out 1.5 inch pieces of scotch tape. Stick the variety name to the scotch tape with the name viewable from the outside. Then stick the scotch tape to the cup.

November 25, 2009	#6
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	I use white Styrofoam cups and mark with a Sharpie. Poke a few hole in the bottom and after they are transplanted out into the garden I just stack them up and reuse next year. Just mark through the old names and put a new one on somewhere else until the cup falls apart or their is no where to write. For markers to attach to the plants I cut up white plastic milk jugs into tags about 3/4 x 4 in. then poke a hole in one end and use a loop of green flower arranging wire and put around the base. Make sure you make the loop that goes around the plant large enough to handle the growth so it will still be loose at the end of the season. I mark my tags with a Sharpie on both sides because the sun can fade it fairly badly. I just pulled up some tomatoes planted in May and could still read the name and the date set out on all of them; some were only clearly legible on one side. You can also make markers to stick in the ground by cutting up stiff white plastic containers like clorox or liquid fertilizers come in but it is more difficult work.

November 26, 2009	#8
Wi-sunflower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,591	I've found that Pencil on the plastic sticks works best to last thru the season. The pencil will write thru water. Just don't rub them. Some of the so-called "permanent" markers really aren't. The worst are the Office Max own "Basic" brand. They fade out in the sun. They also don't work for marking a germination test. They "run" all over the paper toweling. Carol

November 26, 2009	#10
OneoftheEarls Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Up North Posts: 660	ink fades, tape comes off...I use cut up vinyl siding, engraving pen, then mark with ink and attach with wire. good luck Earl

November 28, 2009	#12
Blueaussi Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Carolina Zone 8a Posts: 1,205	Ahem. If you make a map of the garden, which I usually do, take care not to put it where the cat will not knock it off the table for the new doggie to shred.

November 29, 2009	#14
Wi-sunflower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,591	One hint about buying pots and flats -- their price varies a lot with the price of oil. Plastic is made from oil, Duh. So in years gas prices are high the pots will also be sky high. When gas is low, the prices will be better and it might be worth buying more if you find a real bargain and know you will eventually use them. Especially if you grow the plants for sale. Helps keep your prices competitive. Carol