Taking a risk with squash?

[OverWyreGrower]

I've got 5 squash plants of different varieties ready to go outside now... I had previously labelled them up in their pots.

Should I attempt to label them up outside as well, knowing that it will wash off/get lost etc? Or should I just chuck them in and see what I get?

[Jelliebabe]

Won't it be fairly apparent what they are when they start to fruit?

Stick a cane in next to the plant when you put them in so you know where to water later and tie a tag to the top of that. Write with a sharpie (other indelible ink pens are available) on a plastic tag and It "should" work!

Hmmm YEP thats what I'm going to do!

[buzzingtalk]

Where can you get 'sharpies' from?? I had that exact problem last year - used labels but the ink washed off. D'oh! The cane tip is good too, thanks! I might stick an upside down drinks bottle next to where I plant mine (with the bottom cut off) so I can get the water to the roots, I remember last year using a LOT of water, and thinking back, a lot of it would have been wasted. Thanks for the tips!

[pipscariad]

Are they going into the ground? If so,why don't you draw a little 'plan' of what you put where, that's what I do with the things I put down at the plot.

It's quite nice to know what's what just in case you like one lots more than the others, or one in particular does really well for you.

[chris]

I label everything, but I'm a bit.. erm 'CDO'.

(OCD, but in the correct order, as it should be).

[rustylady]

Where can you get 'sharpies' from??

Any stationery shop - Wilkinsons sell them too.

[Incy]

CD markers work well on plastic labels. I'm still finding last years ones which the kittens have hidden all over the house/garden and they are still clearly legible.
(everyone knows that labels are kitten toys, and therefore should not stay put!)

[chris]

Oh - I also use pencils (a soft type, the hard types are a bit difficult to see) on the plastic labels, that way as I learnt from here last year you can rub them off and wash 'em at the end of the year to re-use if needed.

The pencil lead doesn't wash off in the road either.. so far they've not faded in the sun either.

[Alison]

I use those chinagraph pencils (I know that's not how they spell it but can't think how) which are great, never fade but can be rubbed off with those special foam rubber things so you can use the labels over again. I label everything as I like to know what it is and the thought of not doing so is a bit alien to me.

[Bren In Pots]

I label everything using those white labels and a pencil because I don't like surprise plants.

[Jono]

I cut up my margarine tubs and make labels from them.

[chris]

butter > marg

[Headfry]

I label and draw plans - still get it wrong sometimes.....how does that happen?????

[Florence Fennel]

White labels and pencil cheap as chips from Wilkinsons, use again and again. If grandchildren want a rubber, they know to find Nanny's garden label box and it's in there. Pumpkins and squashes I use big bits of stick with waterproof marker. It also then marks where to water.