As I plant the seeds right in to the ground, I label every cross not knowing whether they will germinate.Living in zone 5b , winter time can sometimes be a help(lots of free insulation-snow) or no snow and freezing and thawing cycles. I have come up with a new labeling scheme. Each collection year plus a code no. recorded on both paper and computer document. I trim off most of the marker flags, print a label from my BROTHER LABEL MAKER and attach to the flag.I press the wires down deep in the ground. They stay with the seeds-seedlings-selected seedlings till I decide to register or compost.The labels never fade and yes I have no pets or young children to move them on me.
