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View Full Version : How to label in-ground banana plants?


harveyc
11-17-2008, 03:27 PM
I've used a variety of methods to mark plants, and sometimes just relying on memory. All of them have had their problems. Some tags have faded, others were tied to a petiole but became untied or overlooked when trimming dead leaves (especially after a long winer), others were tied to stakes that got lost as well. I've got some metal stake plant markers with copper tags and thought I might try them, though sometimes the weeds can get pretty thick in spring and I'm afraid I may yank them out unknowingly.

I'm just wondering if anyone has any great ideas that have worked really well for them, especially if you have many plants and they die back in your winters.

Thanks,

Harvey

momoese
11-17-2008, 04:03 PM
The nursery where some of my plants came from had cool little hand painted signs that were attached to stakes driven in the ground. I suppose you could make the stakes as high as you want so they don't get lost in the weeds. The signs they made were about 6" x 12" x 3/4" thick and really added to the look of the garden.

john_ny
11-17-2008, 04:09 PM
I'd be interested in this, also. One thing I've done, from time to time, (so far, with other plants, not bananas) is to make a diagram of where various plants are located. Then, if a tag or marker goes missing, I can figure it out from the diagram. Ex: sixth one in from front road, along left side of driveway, or 50 feet south of SW corner of house, etc.

Chironex
11-17-2008, 04:38 PM
Why not attach a metal tag with a zip tie around the base of the pstem?

jeffreyp
11-17-2008, 05:53 PM
pound a stake into the ground spray painted a particular color, then keep a spreadsheet for each color, ie. red - cavendish, blue - praying hands, green - ice cream, etc...

bepah
11-17-2008, 07:12 PM
Harvey,

If you have the budget; Plant Signs Home Page (http://www.plantsigns.com)

Botanical garden style and very nice looking. You could also invest in a sign engraver and perform a service for all of us who need signs....I would be forever in your debt (figuratively).

austinl01
11-17-2008, 07:36 PM
If you have a digital camera, take a picture of your landscape and then use a photo-editing program (some are free to download) to type labels right on the picture near each plant.

Gabe15
11-17-2008, 11:05 PM
I use a map, it doesn't help people who are out in the garden looking around very much, but its the best way I have found to keep track of all the relevant info regarding a plant.

It is very simple, I just draw the shape of my planting area, and then divide it into sections where a plant could potentially go. I then assign each potential planting location a fixed number, and when I plant something, I have a table I keep which has: what I planted, where I planted it (using the number system), when I planted it, and an area for notes. I can take my map out into the garden and easily see what is planted where, exactly how old it is and any other notes about it.

Magilla Gorilla
11-17-2008, 11:55 PM
I use a map, it doesn't help people who are out in the garden looking around very much, but its the best way I have found to keep track of all the relevant info regarding a plant.

It is very simple, I just draw the shape of my planting area, and then divide it into sections where a plant could potentially go. I then assign each potential planting location a fixed number, and when I plant something, I have a table I keep which has: what I planted, where I planted it (using the number system), when I planted it, and an area for notes. I can take my map out into the garden and easily see what is planted where, exactly how old it is and any other notes about it.

Harvey,

I have used a similiar map/diagram of what is in the garden. I also use wooden signs for the vegie garden. I use old 2x4 and my wife paints them and I attach a wire so they can hang. When I visited the botanical gardens in Hilo, Hawaii last year they use plastic signs that are engraved on a stake. These are really cool and pricey. Maybe a local sign maker may be able to help you. I have yet to check out my local sign maker. I also recently purchased 8 inch plastic labels on e-bay for both in pot and in garden plants until I go all plastic engraved. Good luck! I will be on the look-out for the garden on AeAe in Hawaii in two days!

Bananaman88
11-18-2008, 07:16 AM
I have used various methods, too. Like Harvey said, they all have their problems. I recently purchased some stakes that are about 10" tall and have a galvanized (I think) face plate that can be written on with the provided grease pencil. However, I am worried about the grease pencil fading away. The TX sun is very harsh on everything down here. I am thinking about buying some of the waterproof tape for my label maker and printing out the names of my plants and affixing the label to the face of the stake. We use this waterproof tape where I work and it holds up really well. I supposed I could also engrave these but then if a plant dies and I don't replace it with that variety, I have an unusable plant stake. With the tape, I can just remove it and reprint another one.

Tog Tan
11-18-2008, 09:05 AM
A bit of DIY. What I do is to use a 3ft hollow square aluminum tubing for the stand and a piece of 3x8in plywood. I paint the plywood a gloss green with a black edge. The plywood is then screw on with two small screws to the stand. I then write the name of the 'naner on it in white. If I have to change the name, I just sand it off and repaint it.
Normally for stability, I knock 1ft into the ground. The aluminum doesn't rot and the plywood with the gloss paint as protection last a long time.
It works out well with the tropical sun and rain here. And I think it looks kinda nice.:lurk:

hydrojeff
11-18-2008, 09:54 AM
i use a similar method to tog but mine is u shaped aluminum about 3' and then i cut 1"x2" pieces of 1/16" aluminum plate and rivit them to the u shaped stakes then with a number and letter punch, punch the name on the plate, its forever....

Magilla Gorilla
11-18-2008, 10:02 AM
A bit of DIY. What I do is to use a 3ft hollow square aluminum tubing for the stand and a piece of 3x8in plywood. I paint the plywood a gloss green with a black edge. The plywood is then screw on with two small screws to the stand. I then write the name of the 'naner on it in white. If I have to change the name, I just sand it off and repaint it.
Normally for stability, I knock 1ft into the ground. The aluminum doesn't rot and the plywood with the gloss paint as protection last a long time.
It works out well with the tropical sun and rain here. And I think it looks kinda nice.:lurk:

I have used various methods, too. Like Harvey said, they all have their problems. I recently purchased some stakes that are about 10" tall and have a galvanized (I think) face plate that can be written on with the provided grease pencil. However, I am worried about the grease pencil fading away. The TX sun is very harsh on everything down here. I am thinking about buying some of the waterproof tape for my label maker and printing out the names of my plants and affixing the label to the face of the stake. We use this waterproof tape where I work and it holds up really well. I supposed I could also engrave these but then if a plant dies and I don't replace it with that variety, I have an unusable plant stake. With the tape, I can just remove it and reprint another one.

[/QUOTE=hydrojeff]i use a similar method to tog but mine is u shaped aluminum about 3' and then i cut 1"x2" pieces of 1/16" aluminum plate and rivit them to the u shaped stakes then with a number and letter punch, punch the name on the plate, its forever.....[/QUOTE]


Can either of you post pictures? I will try to do the same. Thanks!

harveyc
11-18-2008, 10:44 AM
Yes, I'd like to see photos also. I wish I had prettier writing to paint my own signs. Brent, your comments about fear of plant death made me chuckle. I bought either 50 or 100 stakes similar to the ones you mentioned, but with pretty copper plates and had planned on inscribing them with plant names but haven't used a single one of them fearing I'd ruin it forever for a plant that would either die or one which I'd give up on. Also, I have 3 or 4 bananas that I thought I knew the variety but which are now classified as "unknown" or at least "uncertain".

Aluminum tubing is probably pretty pricey these days. Electrical conduit might hold up pretty well and be a less expensive option, though drilling holes in round tubing is a little more difficult.

Thanks for the ideas!

hydrojeff
11-18-2008, 11:49 AM
i maybe can, i just got rid of my kodak easy share program which would not let me post pics earler, so maybe now i can if some one can pm me with directions on how to do it i would be glad to....

Bananaman88
11-18-2008, 12:48 PM
Once I actually do this I will post some pics. I still haven't gotten around to purchasing the waterproof tape yet.

pitangadiego
11-18-2008, 02:59 PM
Draw a map and keep it in the house. After a season or so, you will know all of your plants and their locations, just like they were children, anyway.

john_ny
11-18-2008, 03:08 PM
Thinking some more on this, I used to have a sign and silk screen business. I started out, as a kid in high school, doing some for local businesses. In the beginning, everything was hand painted. Later, when I got some jobs where the customer wanted hundreds of the same sign, we got into doing them by silk screen. (mostly real estate, political, and traffic signs) Along the line, we also, mainly, switched from painting individual signs to computer generated pressure sensitive vinyl letters.
These would be good for plant markers. They come in sizes ½ inch and up, in over 100 different fonts, and in any color you want. They are pre-spaced; you just peel off backing, and stick them on. They last for several years.

As an alternative, you could print the markers from your computer, with a laser printer. You would want to use a laser printer, because laser printing can take the rain; ink jet runs when it gets wet. You also want to print on pressure sensitive polyester, or mylar. Paper deteriorates in the rain, and vinyl doesn't do well with the heat in the laser printer.

The vinyl letters, or the mylar can be stuck on aluminum, or corrugated plastic poster board, etc. We use sheets of little mylar labels to make plant tags, that can be stuck on the side of pots, or on pastic stick-in-pot tags. I know, though, that it comes in larger sizes, like full 8½ X 11 sheets

Here is a vinyl letter supplier.
Vinyl letters, vinyl lettering, vinyl, letters, lettering (http://www.lettersunlimited.com/)

lorax
11-18-2008, 03:18 PM
I live in a third-world country where brass engraving is still very cheap, so I have botanical-garden style tags made up whenever I get a new plant. These get screwed onto wooden stakes and whumped into the ground close to the plants. I also have garden layout diagrams just in case.

sandy0225
11-19-2008, 08:15 AM
Plastic mini blinds work well-- if you write on them in pencil, not marker--it doesn't fade off in the sun. Put two or three of them around each plant in case something happens to one. They're super cheap too.
They do tend to get brittle after 2 years or so, but they can be easily replaced.
You can also make little "id bracelets" for your plants by poking holes in each end of a section of mini blind, and using fishing line or galvanized wire to loop around the plant at the base if you're afraid of them blowing away. We get a lot of wind here though and they usually stay in the ground real well if you bury a length of them.

microfarmer
11-19-2008, 04:11 PM
I did the map thing for all my fruit trees, but haven't added my bananas to it yet. Seems like I can scrape something up in a computer program.

For out in the yard, I like the conduit/aluminium stakes with a sign on top...

Patty in Wisc
11-20-2008, 06:34 PM
As Sandy just said, I use old mini blinds cut to size - mostly for potted plants.
JoeReal posted that he cuts aluminum soda cans into strips. Then, he lays them onto something cushioned (cork -phonebook etc) & engraves with a ballpoint pen. Doesn't matter if the pen works or not, just to use the ball point. He punches a hole in one end to tie to plants. Inexpensive & easy.

harveyc
11-20-2008, 08:16 PM
I already have a nice aluminum label maker (much easier to read than my own writing!), but those strips are just 1/4" and I'd like something much larger for my nanners.

The USDA germplasm repository staff use labels that come out of some sort of printer that look sort of like from a regular laser printer, but the labels are clear and are stuck to white labels. They are very durable (I've had plants with some of their labels that are already about two years old). I'd like a much bigger font, however.

john_ny
11-21-2008, 09:13 AM
The polyester, or mylar, labels, that I mentioned in my previous posting, come in white, or clear. (maybe colors, too)

harveyc
11-21-2008, 02:40 PM
The polyester, or mylar, labels, that I mentioned in my previous posting, come in white, or clear. (maybe colors, too)

Thanks again, John. I did check out the vinyl letters and will check more into that later. That vendor linked in your first post didn't seem to have the mylar lablels but I'll do some searching for that later.

Since I have a pomegranate test plot with about 130 plants I may want to get something that can serve my needs for that as well.

Harvey

D_&_T
11-21-2008, 05:07 PM
I'm planning on getting some letter stamps from Habor Freight and stamp some metal strips with them. Be permeant if faded (discolored) just little cleaning and its back to NEW!! or clear coat them!!

Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90125)

john_ny
11-21-2008, 05:21 PM
Harvey-
The link is for the vinyl letters only. If you're interested, I'll dig out the name of the outfit I get the polyester labels from. Let me know.

Michael_Andrew
02-05-2009, 07:02 PM
plant labels - Google Image Search (http://images.google.com/images?q=plant+labels&btnG=Search+Images&um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&sa=2)

Tog Tan
03-18-2009, 12:59 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=16188 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=15735&ppuser=3823)
This is the simplest way I can think of when I have to shift my plants around as they grow.
Basically, I use a piece of bamboo and split it a little at the top and then push in a piece of white plastic. Then a permanent marker is used for the ID and date of planting. You will be surprised how long this can last out in the field here with the strong sun and frequent rains. If it falls apart, I just replace it as bamboo is plentiful here for the taking.

alpha010
03-28-2009, 09:51 AM
The method I would use (which can be a bit pricey) is to go to my local vocational school and seek out the Machine shop teacher. ( I graduated as a skilled machinist from my local trade school) Talk to him or her about whether the students learn basic CNC programming. Ask them if they would be interested in taking on a small project of machining the names into either aluminum or acrylic 3/8" thick plates.
It is a bit pricey for the materials, but you help out students at a school to learn and the plates look awesome especialy if the acrylic is colored or bi-colored (I made 2 plates like this both were bi-colored blue over white and one was freehand on a bridgeport 3/4 horse 20" mill and another on an okuma cnc vmc) or the aluminum is annodized prior to macining.

Like I said, it's a bit pricey, and will take a bit of time to do but, if you are going to have the same things planted each year, the plaques will last forever.

Chironex
03-28-2009, 02:42 PM
Cool ideas! Thanks!

Tomsamba
10-02-2009, 02:46 PM
I use brass shim stock and those "U" shaped wire staples that are used to hold down weed block fabric. Hammer each letter of the name into the soft brass shim stock and Voila! help for an aging memory!

harveyc
10-02-2009, 03:11 PM
never seen brass shim stock....where do you buy it?

Tomsamba
10-02-2009, 06:29 PM
There are quite a number of sources...but I realize if you are not in my field they may be unknown to you. Try < www.mcmaster.com>

BIGDAWG69
10-03-2009, 10:56 PM
I use plastic cutlery knives - 100 for $1 at the dollar tree - then I write in sharpie on both sides and stick it in the dirt - on side gets sun fade - flip it around or just rewrite it - I guess I will try writing in pencil someday so it wont fade out

Abnshrek
10-04-2009, 11:34 PM
You don't need a plate if you do a digital diagram of your property and list all the plants in the key. the only plants you write on are in pots (the pots or use marker plates) since they are mobile.

harveyc
10-05-2009, 12:01 AM
Bucko, for the area I cover and number of plants I have, that isn't really practical. When I'm out in my garden and am wondering how close one of my many bananas might be to flowering, I like to look at a label and confirm the variety, etc. without having to go in and look at my computer. I have a digital map of a 4 acre chestnut orchard which has had thousands of grafts of around 30 varieties and it's a pain having to go in to confirm some of them, though I have them memorized pretty well after 10 years. My bananas change much more often, though.

planetrj
10-05-2009, 04:24 AM
I have a dual system, because first off, you obviously can't hang something on the trunk, because in a couple years (or sooner), you'll be chopping it off. So, I use Zinc "stick in the ground" type markers, then I have a Brother PT2700 which label writes on vinyl (I buy white/black letters). These tend to last for about 5 years. By then, I've needed to move the ground label anyway (because of the mat growth). So, if you're putting them in pots (I'd imagine being in NY), then you should be fine. My secondary backup (in case the metal tag gets pulled out), I stick a Bamboo stake into the middle of the mat (if using a pot, the edge of the soil line would be equivalent), and write on it with a china marker. Those don't fade like Sharpies do, and it should last as long, so you have a secondary backup to know what's what.
The best part of my Brother label writer is that it works on USB, and I print directly from my Excel worksheet, so I always have my inventory of my plants. This is a great fail-safe (but not fail-proof) way of keeping track very efficiently and effectively. I always know what I have and what I don't.

Good luck!

harveyc
10-05-2009, 08:35 AM
Hey, RJ, thanks. But this is my thread and I'm not moving to NY! :P

planetrj
10-05-2009, 08:40 PM
I'm not moving to NY!

OH! Sorry.. (Blonde Moment) :D

I just realized, and you're up by Antioch.. so you should be fine. hehe

harveyc
10-06-2009, 01:30 AM
We get cold enough as it is, though only to 28-30F the past two winters. Turning cool early this year it seems, though, so I'm wondering if it will be a tough year. Labeling things in my greehouse isnt so bad as I don't hoe around plants, etc.

Richard
11-12-2009, 12:23 PM
Here's another company in the tag & label business:

National Band & Tag Co. (http://www.nationalband.com/)

cherokee_greg
11-13-2009, 04:07 PM
We get cold enough as it is, though only to 28-30F the past two winters. Turning cool early this year it seems, though, so I'm wondering if it will be a tough year. Labeling things in my greehouse isnt so bad as I don't hoe around plants, etc.

your about two hrs from me. Yes it has been cold the last few days and we finally got some rain :woohoonaner:

Brandon1971
07-04-2014, 04:58 PM
I am thinking a square concrete markers lying on the ground. I bought mini aluminum pans for 15 cents each. A bag of premixed dry sandcrete (no rocks). I am going to fill each pan with wet concrete and etch in the name with a pencil. I am going to set at the base of each mat. The mini blinds idea is interesting. I've done almost everything else. I grow 30 varietys in ft Myers fl.

Abnshrek
07-04-2014, 07:07 PM
I think a yard diagram works just as well as anything..

austinl01
07-04-2014, 10:35 PM
Brandon, that seems like an awful lot of work when you can photograph your landscape and digitally label them within seconds.

Brandon1971
07-05-2014, 06:34 AM
Photos need to be redone often due to the sun. Stakes have to be picked up to weed whip. Hanging anything on the plant is temporary. What's a extra minute or two stirring some wet concrete in a bucket for a permanent flat marker? Kinda like a cemetery with the cheap flat tombstones. Mowers will drive right over them.

austinl01
07-05-2014, 10:13 AM
Go for it and post some pics. We'd like to see them.