TAGS is a Four Letter Word!!

TAGS- it is a four-letter word in the world of horticulture.  It would be thought that this is the “easy” part of what we do.  In our minds, they are simply printed and stuck in the pot.  We think we have other more serious challenges that we face as growers as unpredictable as growing can be!  However, they remain something frustrating.  Why?

One reason is a matter of multiples.  Unrooted cuttings are ordered in multiples of 100 with a buffer of approximately 5 cuttings.  These extra cuttings are sent just in case a few do not thrive for whatever reason.  Tag companies sell the tags in multiples of 100.  Growers stick all the viable cuttings received.  If all the cuttings root and are planted, these five plants will not have a label!

The other challenge can be tag back orders.  The tag companies do their best to supply the needed tags on time.  But fulfilling our orders is not always under their control for many reasons including unexpected demand, raw materials in short supply, and manufacturing delays. To help avoid these pitfalls, RCOP strives to pre-order our tag needs in the summer prior to the following spring to meet forecasted needs.  In cases where they are not received on schedule, we here at RCOP seek to carefully track what tags have not yet arrived at time of planting, mark the crop per location in our greenhouses, and do our very best to make sure our beautiful plants are delivered tagged to your door!