After years of using a Sharpie marker on plastic labels, none of which I could then read at the end of the growing season, I finally (last year) bought an inexpensive Brother P-touch labeler and made labels for my tomatoes and peppers that I stuck onto old mini-blind slats -- they lasted through the entire season without any fading at all, so I can use them over this year. Since that's just one year of use so far, I can't say how long they would last for more permanent plantings, but I think I'll try putting some on metal markers to use in my perennial flower bed.
