I usually grow around 30 varieties of tomatoes and peppers each year. When it's time to transplant, I make a map and plant according to that. I also make several copies of the map, so if I lose one, I am not growing a mystery garden. If a plant dies, or I pull a plant to replace it with a more vigorous one of a different variety, I make a note of the change on the map. I think faded plant markers are unsightly in the garden. I memorize which plants are which after a few trips through the garden with the map.
You can plant them in groupings such that varieties which are the most similar to each other in size, shape, and color are the farthest apart. Separating new varieties that you haven't planted with familiar varieties also serve as mental dividers.

I cut up the slats from small blinds-cheaper than plastic plant labels. Use soft pencil to write on them. The so-called permanent markers fade in the sun.

john

A twist tie on the trunk or branch works with a piece of plastic cut from a cottage cheese container.
I just wrap a twist tie loosely on the plant and punch a hole in the lable to run the twist tie through.
Soft lead works best for me too.

I have about 40 pepper plants ranging from 1-4yrs. old.

When I planted the seedlings I put plastic labels stuck in the soil next to them - you can make them out of strips cut from plastic container (like large size yoghurt) and a sharpie. I too can't remember well, especially names. It was overwhelming.

But after weeks of tending to the plants you get to know them - their individual traits in leaf, fruit, etc. Now I can easily point to any plant and name it. A few have lost the labels over the years, but I don't need them anymore.

I made mine from thin slats of hard wood then woodburn on any information you want. This winter I will make some and then spar varnish.

I use flagging tape and a permanent marker. It can be tied onto cages or onto a thin stick (bamboo?) so that it sits above the plants. The marker fades slowly but can be read for a full season.

I use coffee stir sticks and soft lead pencil.

Picked up at 5000 stick box a Costco for $0.29 (not sure what they cost but it was cheap and they'll last me for a looooong time). Bio degradable to boot.

Bill

I find Sharpie brand fine line black markers last longer than other "permanent" markers when used on cut up mini blinds. However, even a few of them have faded and become unreadable. So I write on the back side in pencil, also. The pencil is harder for me to see from a distance so I like to use the Sharpie, too. This year I tried a marker especially made for garden labels. It did not fade, but I could only do a few labels at a time since the ink did not flow well after a few were marked. After a "rest" the marker could do a few more. Next year I may try paint markers from the craft store and see how they last. I like a label that is large and easy to read right by the plant. However, I also do a map for the times the markers get moved by critters or the neighbors' kids.

Old mini blinds grabbed out of other people's trash work great. But my DH usually makes me go back alone to get them if I spot them when he is with me :)

If you get a soft lead pencil they are nice and dark and easier to read.

Whatever you do, DON'T use a colored Sharpie! The black fades within a season, or sooner, but the colored fade within a month. I now have no idea which pepper is which, let alone my tomatoes! I will never use Sharpies again. I found the aluminum labels I bought at HD for about $4.00 work well. They come with a twist tie also.