LABELS OF LOVE

Labels are pretty essential when it comes to identifying what you have sown. But they can be decorative too! Here are some non-plastic alternatives Emily Cupit has been trying out

- Emily Cupit

Before shoots begin to show, it can be a real struggle to identify pots without labels. I often get confused or lazy when sowing trays of my favourite fruits and veggies. Usually I tell myself that I’ll be able to remember what I sowed where, then two months on I’m asking my lovely community of followers if they can identify my mystery tray of plants. Some can have long and difficult names to remember, but by marking everything you’ll always know exactly what variety you have in your garden!

So, this year I’m determined to become more organised when sowing. I want to label my plants in a sustainable way that’s going to be kind to the environment. There’ll be no plastic featured in this article (apart from repurposing single use plastic).

There’s a wide range of options available. Whether home-made, bought or repurposed, plant labels and markers are an ideal way to distinguish one plant from another. They’re also great with helping identify different species to any admirers of your garden or plot.

I’ve put some markers to the test too. If you’ve gone to all this effort to label every single plant in your garden, making sure what you’re writing with is weatherproof is very important.

SLATE MARKERS

Possibly one of the more aesthetically pleasing options are slate markers. I found these beautiful hand-painted ones from Witherwood Designs on Etsy (from £3). Each marker has a small illustration and is sprayed with a sealing spray, so suitable for outdoor use.

On testing them, I found they withstood multiple downpours of rain and watering so you can clearly identify your plants.