You could possibly laminate them? I'm sure there are mini laminators that would do the job. Hope that might help

I find ordinary pencil lasts as long, if not longer, than anything else.

I haven't yet found anything that lasts. I, too, now have plain labels. This is okay if I can recognise what I've planted, but so often what comes up is just a few leaves initially and I need to know what it is before I attempt to dig it up. Or not. I've now taken to keeping the garden centre labels that are tied on in a large envelope but, of course, the more plants I buy, the more I need to look through to remind myself of the variety. Or even the name!

Good luck with your search.

I discovered that what the sticks are made of makes a difference too. Wooden sticks with permanent marker seems to last very long.

Have you tried sharpies? If they don't work I would use a clear varnish or a clear nail varnish.

I've just bought a labelling machine that produces printed tape that you stick onto the label. Haven't tried it yet but will be very upset if it doesn't work!

Thanks for all the suggestions. I think laminating might work but may require a degree of organisation that I don't possess as it wouldn't be possible to do it at the same time as planting. I can see that wooden labels might be better than plastic ones and might buy some lolly sticks to see how I get on. Jan2003, what are sharpies please? Steragram, is your labeller similar to a dynatape machine - I'd been interested to know how you get on with it.
It seems I am not alone in having difficulty with labelling :)

My machine is a Brother P-touch. I'm not very good with mechanical things and keep putting off trying it - daft really as there are heaps of things that need labels before I forget what they are...

Try a plain label, use india ink and a nice pen to dip it into. India ink never bleeds. Go to any natural history museum and look at the old specimen bottles. Some of the labels written with India ink are over 200 years old and they can still be read

I agree with Owdboggy--plain #2 pencil has been the longest lasting on plastic labels. Alternatively, get labels made of copper or zinc sheet on wire frames, put a piece of cardboard behind them, temporarily, and write on them with a ball point pen. That makes a permanent impression in the metal, and the copper ones can last decades.

Sharpies are a make of permanent markers you can use them to write on anything. I've heard they are really good. I wouldn't laminate your labels, I work in a school and laminate things to go in the out door area and as soon as we get some rain they get wet inside and the ink disperses and fades.

sharpies last about 18 months in my garden. yet I have some labels from 8 yrs ago that haven't faded. no idea which pen it was either.
I have the same machine stera and so far so good.

I would go with a sharpie and wooden Popsicle sticks - cheap, neat, quick, easy.

I used to swear by permanent markers but have become disillusioned -they last longer than pencil for me but they are not permanent. Also some plastic labels degrade and break in two. Pencil's fine if you only need it to last for a couple of years but it does fade.

Thank you all, I will be buying some wooden lolly sticks and a sharpie :)

Stera - except for when I get it on my clothes - that's permanent! :)

Oh yes...