How to Label Tomato Plants

Thousands of tomato varieties, from time-tested heirlooms to high-yielding hybrid favorites, bring color and flavor to gardens each year. Though tomatoes differ in shape, size and color, most tomato plants look similar until the fruit begins to form. Labeling tomato plants allows you to track what is growing throughout the gardening season, plan for late season plantings and preserve necessary information for seed saving at harvest time. In just a few quick steps, you can organize and track the progress of prized tomato plants from beginning to end.

• 1

  Write the tomato plant's name, date of planting and other identifying information, such as purchase location and special care instructions, on the plant marker name plate. Use information listed on seed packet labels and plastic tag inserts in store-bought plants.

• 2

  Complete one marker for each plant or each group of tomato varieties within the garden.

• 3

  Place the plant marker in the soil, inserting the prongs away from the roots, in a location that allows for easy reading as the plant grows.